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)