Boucher Trail

One of the canyon's toughest, least-traveled South Rim descents

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Tusayan, AZ

About

The Boucher Trail drops from the South Rim near Hermits Rest into one of the more remote corners of the canyon, and the National Park Service is blunt about it: this is one of the most difficult and demanding of the south side trails, a primitive route best left to experienced backcountry hikers. Reach it by hiking the Hermit Trail about two miles, then the narrow Dripping Springs Trail roughly another mile to the junction where the Boucher proper begins. From the Hermit trailhead (6,640 feet), the trail passes Yuma Point at 5.2 miles, tops the Redwall at 7.6 miles, and reaches Boucher Creek at 9.3 miles, dropping nearly 3,900 feet.

What to expect

Exposed hand-and-toe climbing through a break in the Supai cliffs, plus a steep, eroded descent through the Redwall Limestone
Long traverses across the Esplanade with views of Travertine Canyon and the camp below Yuma Point
The only reliable water is Boucher Creek itself and the often silt-heavy Colorado River — carry what you need
Can be linked with the Tonto and Hermit Trails for a loop, with about five waterless miles between Boucher and Hermit Creeks

The trail is named for Louis Boucher, a 19th-century prospector and guide who lived seasonally near Dripping Spring and Boucher Creek and called his route the "Silver Bell Trail."

Best Time for Boucher Trail

Given the exposure and difficulty, cooler shoulder-season months are the more forgiving window; the only reliable water is Boucher Creek itself and the often silt-heavy Colorado River, so summer heat raises the stakes on water planning considerably.

Trail Tips for Boucher Trail

Carry all the water you'll need — Boucher Creek and the silt-heavy Colorado are the only reliable sources.
The trail can be linked with the Tonto and Hermit Trails for a loop, with about five waterless miles between Boucher and Hermit Creeks — plan water accordingly.
Named for Louis Boucher, a 19th-century prospector who called his route the "Silver Bell Trail" — a piece of history worth knowing given how little-changed this primitive route remains.

Getting to Boucher Trail

Reach it by hiking the Hermit Trail about two miles, then the narrow Dripping Springs Trail roughly another mile to the junction where the Boucher proper begins. There's no direct trailhead — this route is an extension of two other trails, so budget the approach mileage into your total distance.

What to Expect on Boucher Trail

The Boucher Trail drops from the South Rim near Hermits Rest into one of the more remote corners of the canyon. The National Park Service is blunt about it: this is one of the most difficult and demanding of the south side trails, a primitive route best left to experienced backcountry hikers. From the Hermit trailhead (6,640 feet), the trail passes Yuma Point at 5.2 miles, tops the Redwall at 7.6 miles, and reaches Boucher Creek at 9.3 miles, dropping nearly 3,900 feet. Expect exposed hand-and-toe climbing through a break in the Supai cliffs and a steep, eroded descent through the Redwall Limestone.

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