Hike Description
This day hike is our Guide’s Top Choice! This is a great trail if you are looking to escape the crowds and enjoy more solitude. The trail was built by the Santa Fe Railroad in 1912 and abandoned in 1931. The steep, cobblestone trail is abundant with pinon pines & junipers, as well as some of the best fossilized reptile tracks in the park. The trail descends rather steeply before leveling off in Waldron Basin and then continuing to Santa Maria Spring, complete with a pleasant, shady rest house and incredible views into the depths of Hermit Creek Canyon.
Overview
Type: Private Day Hike
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Distance: 5 miles round trip to Santa Maria Spring
Difficulty: Intermediate
Season: September through May
Price: $950/group
(1 to 4 guests)
Addt’l Guests:
$200 each
Itinerary
*Final itineraries are occasionally subject to change due to permit/campsite availability, park restrictions/closures, weather conditions and/or road closures.
-
-
Details
What is included?
A professional, knowledgeable, local guide licensed by Grand Canyon National Park, delicious picnic lunch, trail snacks, day packs, and trekking poles.
Reserving A Tour
To make a reservation, visit our Reservation Request page. Or call our office at 928-525-1552, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm AZ time.
Cancellations
To guarantee your day hike reservation, we require a full payment. A $100 cancellation fee will be assessed for all cancellations greater than 7 days in advance of your scheduled hike. Between 7 days and 72 hours, cancellations will incur a 50% fee. Within 72 hours of the hike departing, cancellations will receive no refunds. There are no refunds for guests who arrive late or depart early from the hike.
Logistics
Meeting Time & Place
You will meet your guide at the Backcountry Information Center inside the park. The exact meeting time will be arranged upon booking your reservation. Meeting times are largely dependent on time of year, though typically about 8am (October through April) or 6am (May through September).
What should you bring?
Appropriate clothing for the weather (call us for details if unsure), water bottles or hydration bladder (3 liter capacity per person), hiking shoes/boots, waterproof jacket/poncho, hat & sunglasses, camera, sunscreen. During colder weather, warm hats, gloves, and scarves will be desirable. Guide gratuities are customary and greatly appreciated.
Guest Testimonials
List of Services
-
Emily E.
“1000% worth it! Hermit trail was spectacular and our guide, Steve, was fabulous in every way: knowledge, experience, enthusiasm, trail-side chef skills, all top notch. Thank you FSG!”
Emily E.
-
Kirk W.Kirk W.
“Four seasons is a excellent guide company that is reasonably priced and a bargain if you look back at the experience. The guide we had, Karne, is beyond compare from my past experiences. The itinerary was ideal, not to easy, not to hard, and the continual check on group's well-being, asks, proper snacks, breaks, lunch- was truly first class.
I would not only recommend Four Seasons, but I will be going back again in the near future for more experiences in the amazing Southwest!”
-
Erika V.Erika V.
“My family of four (parents and 2 teens ages 13 and 15) went on a half day hike of the Hermit Trail with Owen and had a fantastic time. Owen is both incredibly knowledgeable and personable. My son had a blast with him finding fossils in the rocks and keeping up with him on the hike, and the adults enjoyed learning more about the trail's history, the plant and animal life and also sorts of facts about the canyon. Four Seasons was a pleasure to work with, they helped us decide which trail to hike and were exceptional in bringing a special lunch and snacks for our pickier kid. My kids were very excited to have hiking poles and the adults were very happy to have them as they make the hike much more enjoyable. My kids generally do not love to hike but having Owen as a guide changed the whole experience and all four of us had a blast. I would highly recommend Four Seasons, with any luck one day we'll do a multi-day hiking trip with them sometime in the future.”
Price:
$950/group (1 to 4 guests)
Addt’l Guests: $200 each
01
Top-Ranked Tour Company
Don’t take our word for it. More than a thousand 5-Star reviews on TripAdvisor will attest to the quality of our adventures.
Exceptional Guides
03
Our guiding staff consists primarily of seasoned veterans who have been guiding professionally, full-time, for a decade or more. In addition to their extensive experience, our guides are fun, accommodating, approachable, entertaining, polite and just plain good people.
All-Inclusive Tours
04
We’re at work, you’re on vacation! We take care of all the logistics associated with a backcountry adventure and handling all the dirty work. Gear, food, permits, transportation…we have you covered and it’s all included.
Local Experts
02
The Southwestern U.S. is our home and our passion. We’ve been exploring this region for decades and know it intimately. This is our niche and nobody does it better.
Four Season Guides
Why Travel With Fsg
