Dripping Springs Trail
A rocky descent to a perennial spring below the South Rim
About
Dripping Springs is a below-the-rim day hike on the South Rim, reached by following the Hermit Trail about 1.5 miles from Hermit's Rest before splitting off toward Dripping Springs itself. Round trip runs roughly 7 miles with around 1,000 feet of elevation change, and the National Park Service reserves it for experienced desert hikers — the tread is rocky and exposed most of the way. Plan on 5 to 7 hours.
What's there
The trail leaves Hermit Basin, cuts west across the slope, and passes a junction with the Boucher Trail before a final half-mile climb through the rock layers to the spring, tucked on the western end of Eremita Mesa. Dripping Springs is a perennial water source — groundwater seeping from sandstone and dripping down a streaked wall — but like any natural water in the canyon it has to be treated, filtered, or boiled before drinking.
- Trailhead access is via Hermit's Rest; Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles March through November, so hikers ride the free shuttle during that stretch
- No maintained route continues past the spring back toward the village — this is an out-and-back
- Summer heat above 100°F and no reliable shade make spring and fall the better seasons
Best Time to Hike Dripping Springs
Summer heat above 100°F and no reliable shade make spring and fall the better seasons for this hike.
Trail Tips for Dripping Springs
- Dripping Springs is a perennial water source — groundwater seeping from sandstone — but like any natural water in the canyon it has to be treated, filtered, or boiled before drinking.
- No maintained route continues past the spring back toward the village — this is an out-and-back.
- Budget the full 5 to 7 hours; the rocky, exposed tread slows most hikers more than the mileage alone suggests.
Getting to Dripping Springs
The trail leaves Hermit Basin, cuts west across the slope, and passes a junction with the Boucher Trail before a final half-mile climb through the rock layers to the spring, tucked on the western end of Eremita Mesa. Trailhead access is via Hermit's Rest; Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles March through November, so hikers ride the free shuttle during that stretch.
What to Expect on Dripping Springs Trail
Dripping Springs is a below-the-rim day hike on the South Rim, reached by following the Hermit Trail about 1.5 miles from Hermit's Rest before splitting off toward Dripping Springs itself. Round trip runs roughly 7 miles with around 1,000 feet of elevation change, and the National Park Service reserves it for experienced desert hikers — the tread is rocky and exposed most of the way. Plan on 5 to 7 hours.
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