Hermit Trail
A rugged 1911 trail to Hermit Creek, built for hikers who know what they're doing
About
The Hermit Trail drops off the South Rim just west of Hermits Rest, and the National Park Service is blunt about who it's for: experienced desert hikers only. The upper section loses nearly 2,000 vertical feet in the first 2.5 miles on a surface built from hand-fitted rock slabs, now eroded and uneven in long stretches — rougher going than the maintained corridor trails like Bright Angel or South Kaibab. The trail was cut in 1911 for the Santa Fe Railroad to reach Hermit Camp, a since-closed luxury tourist camp near Hermit Creek that predated Phantom Ranch.
What's along the way
- Santa Maria Spring, 2.5 miles down, has a historic stone rest house and year-round water
- Dripping Springs, reached via a side trail around 7 miles in, is also perennial
- Fossilized tracks are visible in the Coconino Sandstone layer
- Popular day-hike turnarounds range from about 3 miles round trip (Waldron Basin) to 11 miles (Breezy Point); the full descent to the Colorado River is 19.4 miles round trip
Any water from the springs or Hermit Creek needs to be treated before drinking. From March through November the trailhead is reached only by the free shuttle, since Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles for day use in that window.
Best Time to Hike Hermit Trail
From March through November the trailhead is reached only by the free shuttle, since Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles for day use in that window — factor shuttle timing into an early start.
Trail Tips
- Fossilized tracks are visible in the Coconino Sandstone layer along the route.
- Any water from the springs or Hermit Creek needs to be treated before drinking.
- Santa Maria Spring has a historic stone rest house worth the stop even on a shorter turnaround hike.
Turnaround Points on Hermit Trail
Popular day-hike turnarounds range from about 3 miles round trip (Waldron Basin) to 11 miles (Breezy Point); the full descent to the Colorado River is 19.4 miles round trip. Santa Maria Spring sits 2.5 miles down, with Dripping Springs reached via a side trail around 7 miles in.
What to Expect on Hermit Trail
The Hermit Trail drops off the South Rim just west of Hermits Rest, and the National Park Service is blunt about who it's for: experienced desert hikers only. The upper section loses nearly 2,000 vertical feet in the first 2.5 miles on a surface built from hand-fitted rock slabs, now eroded and uneven in long stretches. The trail was cut in 1911 for the Santa Fe Railroad to reach Hermit Camp, a since-closed luxury tourist camp near Hermit Creek that predated Phantom Ranch.
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