Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
A steep canyon walk to Louis Boucher’s old spring camp.
Overview
Dripping Springs Trail is a 7-mile out-and-back from Hermit Trailhead: descend the Hermit Trail to its Dripping Springs junction, take the side trail to the spring, then retrace the route. Allow 5 to 7 hours. This is a good choice if you want a long inner-canyon walk with a real destination and some history. Skip it if you are not up for a steep, rocky descent and a hard climb back out. The spring sits about 1,040 feet below the rim, but the path first drops below the spring junction and climbs back up to the water.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe spring is the payoffMap & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Grand Canyon Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Grand Canyon National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Grand Canyon audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Hermits Rest’s Cabin and Fireplace“Up ahead is Hermits Rest at the end of Hermit Road.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Grand Canyon Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
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Trail guide
The trail starts 500 feet west of Hermits Rest. The upper Hermit Trail falls through Kaibab and Coconino rock on steep, rocky switchbacks. At about 1.8 miles, the Dripping Springs junction is roughly 1,370 feet below the trailhead; take the branch for the spring rather than continuing toward Hermit Creek. A few pieces of the trail's original fitted-stone paving still show through the wear.
Fossilized, lizard-like tracks have been found in the lower half of the Coconino Sandstone, and a few are visible to hikers who watch the trail closely. They are subtle, so this is an easy place to miss something while concentrating on the descent. The route is steep and unmaintained; save energy for the return to the rim.
The trail ends at a spring in a shaded rock alcove, a place where Louis Boucher kept a camp. The spring has water year-round, but natural water must be treated before drinking. There is no drinking water along the trail; fill up at Hermits Rest before setting out. The return follows the same route, including the rise from the spring to the lower junction.
Boucher lived near Dripping Spring for about 20 years, keeping a camp and building trails and seasonal residences. The name “hermit” stuck, though he was part of the South Rim community. His Silver Bell Trail became the route later developed as Hermit Trail for Hermit Camp, a rim-to-river resort that operated until 1930.
Hermit Road is served by the Hermits Rest shuttle from March 1 through November 30; the trailhead is a short walk west of the stop. Private vehicles can use Hermit Road from December 1 through February 28 when the road is open. Vault toilets are near the trailhead access road, and water is available at Hermits Rest. Hermit Road can close at short notice in bad weather. Noncommercial day hikes do not need a permit. Pets are not allowed below the rim.
Wildlife
718 sightingsCalifornia CondorMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
533 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
169 sightingsAmerican BisonMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,891 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
59 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
27 sightingsGray FoxMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Grand Canyon. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingWaldron Trail via Hermit Trail6.1 mi · 5 hr · At the trailheadA steep descent, a quiet canyon crossing, then a switchback climb out.
ChallengingHermit Trail9.7 mi · 8 hr · At the trailheadA rough historic rim-to-river route that ends at Hermit Rapids.
ChallengingBoucher Trail18.6 mi · 18 hr · At the trailheadSteep canyon miles to a prospector’s old creekside camp.
ChallengingMonument Creek Trail3.2 mi · 2 hr · 2.1 mi awayA steep backcountry descent from Monument Creek to Granite Rapids.
ChallengingBright Angel Trail7.8 mi · 4.5 hr · 3.9 mi awayCanyon layers, mule trains and a 4,400-foot descent to the river.
ChallengingPlateau Point Trail12 mi · 10.5 hr · 3.9 mi awayA long descent earns a wide view of the Colorado River.
EasyThe Trail of Time3.3 mi · 2 hr · 5.3 mi awayA paved timeline where every meter spans a million years.
ChallengingSouth Kaibab Trail6.3 mi · 5 hr · 7.2 mi awayA steep ridge descent with a first river view at Skeleton Point.
Sight · 0.1 mi awayHermits RestA stone rest stop with a fireplace worth stepping inside for.
Sight · 1 mi awayPima PointSee the river, and sometimes hear Granite Rapids.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayMonument Creek VistaA quick view of Monument Creek and Granite Rapid.
Sight · 2.4 mi awayThe AbyssA near-vertical look into the Monument Creek drainage.
Sight · 2.7 mi awayMohave PointSee the river and three named rapids from the rim.
Sight · 3.4 mi awayHopi PointWalk the long point for five views of the Colorado River.
Sight · 3.5 mi awayPowell PointA Hermit Road overlook with Powell's memorial and wide canyon views.
3.6 mi awayGrand Canyon KennelA South Rim kennel for visitors traveling with dogs or cats.Parkwolf’s Grand Canyon ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
