Grand Canyon Backcountry Hike: Hermit-Tonto-Bright Angel Trail Loop with Grand Canyon Employee “Tex”

Two day Hermit-Tonto-Bright Angel loop was even more wonderful than I anticipated!
Highlights were seeing the Hermit Camp ruins; my first sighting of a chuckwalla lizard; having Monument Creek campsite all to myself and cowboy camping under the stars; seeing a condor, starlink, the Milky Way, and a shooting star all in one night; and feeling like I was the only person in the entire canyon while watching a beautiful sunrise on the Tonto plateau.
One of my top adventures here so far!
Hermit Trail to Tonto Trail to Bright Angel Trail loop
June 12-13, 2023
15 miles/day, almost 4,000’ elevation loss/gain
26.8 lb total
4.4 lb- food (+4 oz rat sack)
8 lb- 4 L water
Day 1 hike: Hermit Trail to Hermit Camp ruins, Hermit Creek campground, and Hermit rapid; then Tonto trail east to Monument Creek campground
14.1 backcountry miles
10 hours 50 min
4:30 am - 3:20 pm
High- 80*, Low- 55* (Tonto at 3,000’ elev)
Day 2 hike: Tonto trail east from Monument Creek campground, Bright Angel trail to trailhead
15.3 miles (10.7 backcountry, 4.6 corridor)
11 hr 10 min
4:20 am - 3:30 pm
High- 90* (Tonto at 3,000’ elev)