If you're looking for an epic hike into the Grand Canyon away from the crowds, the Hermit Trail is your move. This hike to Santa Maria Spring takes you to a beautiful shelter with views into Hermit Canyon.
Where is the Hermit Trail?
For most of the year, you must take the red shuttle bus to Hermit's Rest, where the hike starts.When you get to Hermit's Rest, you're greeted by the iconic gate, which has been here since the mini-resort was built in 1913.To reach the trailhead, walk past the Hermit's Rest building to the far end by the parking lot.The store at Hermit's Rest is a great place to stop and get a snack or drink.
Gear Recommendations
Most people thing the Grand Canyon is always hot, but it can get snow and freezing temperatures in the winter and shoulder seasons. For this guide, shot in March, we started with winter clothes at sunrise and ended sweating in short sleeves.
This is a backcountry hike and you should prepare accordingly.
The Grand Canyon is a place of extremes. Prepare accordingly by checking the weather.
In the winter, the trail can be covered in snow and ice. You'll need micro-spikes and poles.
In the summer, temperatures can be deadly. If it's hot out, skip the hike or leave before sunrise when temperatures are cooler.
When it's hot, I bring 2L of water. Other times 1L is okay.
If you want to refill at Santa Maria Spring, you must tread the water with a filter.
Overall the Hermit Trail is easy to follow and the trail intersections are all signed.Most of the Hermit Trail was originally surfaced with big smooth slabs of rock. The builders wanted to make it as easy and inviting for tourists to use. The trail's wide walkway, switchbacks, and reinforced cribbing became a model for other National Park trails in the early 1900s. You can still see some slabs of the original walkway on the hike.
Here's the one-way profile. Hike down, then hike back out. As they say, "going down is optional, coming back up is mandatory."
3D Map
From Hermit's Rest you descend into the Hermit Basin, then there's a short stretch off the basin to Santa Maria Spring.
Santa Maria Spring Hike Directions
Start the trail board.Continue downhill on the switchbacks.There's a flatter part in the middle of the descent. This will be nice on the way back up.Then another steep downhill section to Hermit Basin.At the bottom of the climb is the Waldron Trail junction. Continue straight on the Hermit Trail.Shortly after that is the junction with the Boucher Trail. Bear to the right and stay on the Hermit Trail.Then you'll get a stunning view down into Hermit Canyon. We'll be following the trail down to the other wall.Shortly after the descent you'll arrive at Santa Maria Spring.If you drink from the spring, treat it with a filter first.Just past the shelter is a great viewpoint to have a snack before the climb back out.
