Boucher Trail

Start west of Hermits Rest and descend on the Hermit Trail. The first stretch is steep and rocky, with switchbacks through Kaibab Limestone, Toroweap, Coconino Sandstone and Hermit Shale. At the signed Dripping Springs junction, turn west onto the narrow connector. It undulates around the head of Hermit drainage, with open views across the Esplanade. Dripping Springs is a short side trip at the old home site. The Boucher Trail junction is about 2.7 miles from the trailhead; stay on the route rather than following the spring as your destination.

The Boucher Trail runs north along the open Esplanade below Yuma Point. This is the route’s most spacious stretch, but it is not a smooth walk: small, steep drainages and rockslides under the Coconino cliffs break up the traverse. The broad view across Hermit Canyon is the best photo opportunity; Cope Butte and The Alligator make useful landmarks in the layered view. Seasonal water pockets below Yuma Point are not dependable. Keep enough water for the long, dry descent ahead.

After passing below Yuma Point, the trail stays fairly level for roughly half a mile toward Travertine Canyon. Then it drops abruptly through the Supai cliffs in a short, loose hand-and-foot downclimb. Take your time and look for the established holds; this is an exposed, eroded section where a slip can have serious consequences. Below it, the route crosses the west side of Travertine Canyon and the open saddle between Cocopa Point and Whites Butte. The descent through the Redwall is steep, loose and hard on the knees, with long switchbacks to the Tonto Trail. Fresh snow can hide the tread.

A large cairn, without a sign, marks the Tonto junction. Turn left, west, toward Boucher Creek; the other direction leads toward Hermit Creek. The final descent crosses Tapeats Sandstone and reaches the creek and campsites about 9.3 miles from Hermit Trailhead. Boucher Creek is the route’s reliable natural water source; treat it before drinking. A further rock-hopping walk down the creek reaches Boucher Rapid, but it adds about 1.5 miles each way and is outside the mapped 18.6-mile route.

Louis Boucher was a Canadian-born prospector who lived at Dripping Springs and near Boucher Creek, and built the trail that bears his name. Stone remains near the creek mark his lower camp and work area. The route also makes the canyon’s geology easy to read: the rim-side Kaibab, Toroweap, Coconino and Hermit layers give way to the Supai cliffs, Redwall Limestone and Tapeats Sandstone. The pale travertine deposits near the canyon are another reason to slow down and look closely.

The trailhead is just west of Hermits Rest, down the dirt road beyond the restrooms. When Hermit Road is shuttle-only, day hikers cannot park at the trailhead; take the Hermit (Red Route) shuttle to Hermits Rest and walk the access road. Valid Hermit or Boucher backcountry permit holders may drive through the restricted gate using the code on their permit. Overnight camping below the rim requires a backcountry permit. The spring-fed station near the trailhead is non-potable, so treat spring water. Pets are not allowed below the rim; service animals assisting a person with a disability are permitted.