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)

[@butlerA1478]

Your content is amazing. I'm doing this loop in November and can't wait to experience it with all these new fun facts. :) Thank you so much!

[@user-zk3ki1mb9m]

enjoying your history comments. thank you.

[@eddyarundale1566]

👋🏻

[@ottomatic8097]

Beautiful views all around.

[@chrischilders2188]

Thanks for sharing!

[@MetalTeamster]

This is awesome! My parents and I … age 9 , hiked the exact route in this vid. It was 1971 , and it was considered “ un maintained “ . It took us 3 overnights as I recall. We did go down to Phantom Ranch as well, which was dilapidated but still operating. I feel so fortunate I got to see all of this back 50 some years ago…..

[@austinado16]

My former wife and I Started backpacking there in 2007. We returned in 2008 with our daughter, age 8, and kept coming back just about every year. We'd always go just as monsoon season was wrapping up. In 2015, on our birthdays, which are 1 day apart, mid-Aug, my daughter and I started running R2R as a cross-country style run (no poles and no walking the ups). That was on her 16th birthday, and I'd turned 52 the day before. It's become a birthday celebration for me. She and I did 5 years in a row together, and then I started returning in early Oct. to do another. I've now done 12, and she joined me for her 6th in 2022. I showed up on the first day the park opened, in May '20, to run my first Rim2River, as a fun run, with my former wife. I've now done 4, and I'm heading back in 8 weeks, to do another one on May 25th. Can't wait to be back in the Canyon. Loved this video Lisa! The history was really cool to hear about, as was the up close of Hermit Camp and all the fossils and paintings. I appreciate your comments on safety in the Canyon. We've always taken it very seriously, and especially once we started running there. We always take extra electrolyte mix (Liquid I.V.), extra GU Roctane, and extra magnesium lysinate pills, and we, or I, have a save of a hiker, or more than 1 hiker, almost every run. It blows my mind, what I've seen people wearing, packing, doing, etc. down in the Canyon. If you see me out running, I hope you'll holler!

[@G.Photogirl]

Could you imagine if there was an aerial tramway down to Phantom Ranch, how busy it would be and the environmental impact it would have on the canyon?! 😮

[@jacoblowenstein2922]

Just finished a S Kaibab to river and up BA day hike on Saturday. Already planning my next trip in 2025 and want to tackle Hermit next. This video has me convinced.

[@richardross7219]

Victor vomit can happen anywhere. I was doing Trail Magic on the AT last year. It was hot and most water sources had dried up. It was late August in CT. I timed it to get the last NOBOs and first SOBOs. One day-hiker came in with bad symptoms of heat exhaustion. He and his friends had run out of water. I made him sit in the shade and drink a bottle of ice cold water(cramps be damned) and then a big bottle of ice cold Power Ade. He was out of the woods in 1/2 hour. In the Army, 1/2 a century ago, I saw heat exhaustion and heat stroke take out a lot of young men. Another nice and informative video. As an old soldier and Boy Scout, I'm glad that you said that you were with friends. Never hike alone. Happy Trails. Good Luck, Rick

[@J_Thomas24]

Great to see something new from you! I really enjoyed the progress videos from your thru hike.

[@lisaphikes]

Thank you!!

[@robertdyson4461]

Followed your AT hike. Glad to see you're back. I was at the SK trailhead a few years ago waiting on an overnighter to come out and saw some mule riders coming up the trail. When they reached the rim the wrangler leading the way started whooping and yeehahing pretty loud. Can't help but wonder if that was you.

[@lisaphikes]

It was probably me. 😆😆 Thank you!!

[@smoketownjane]

I love your videos. So educational, informative. I never knew all this about the canyon. If I ever get out there, I want you to be my guide! Thank so much Tex!

[@philipwohlgemuth7577]

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[@markwatson3135]

Your disclaimers are not to be ignored. I heard a hiker passed away a few days ago on a backcountry hike. It was 114 where she passed

[@lisaphikes]

Yes, very sad.

[@deborahs6978]

Love, love, love it that you are back vlogging your hikes again. I followed you on your AT thru hike and then the super mule trek (wish I was a mule wrangler, always wanted to go on the mule ride in the Canyon - husband afraid to!). Living vicariously thru these great Canyon treks…THANK YOU for sharing!

[@ronaldmittelman2054]

Tex, I have enjoyed all your videos starting with your AT thru hike. Loved this video. You really have a great way of presenting the history of the canyon and it is clear that you enjoy knowing all the details. Was following Katie on her thru hike last year and watched her videos of your hike together in the canyon. What a great combo.!!! Thanks so much. You've been a great videographer and a true inspiration to me.

[@lisaphikes]

Awwww, that’s so sweet! Thank you!!

[@marlamichellebowker]

Glad you are back!! Missed your video’s! You are one of my favorite AT hikers🏔

[@lisaphikes]

Thank you!! 😊