Waldron Trail
Print
Email
Save to Favorites
Trip Ideas
View This Map
--- Click to Enlarge ---
Explore Further
Distance: 4 miles round-trip
Duration: 2–3 hours round-trip
Elevation loss: 1,020 feet
Effort: Moderate
Trailhead: Horsethief Tank, 6 miles west of Grand Canyon Village
If you have a high-clearance vehicle, the Waldron Trail offers a shadier alternative to reaching Dripping Springs or other West Rim trails. This lightly used connector trail crosses the piñon-juniper woodland of Hermit (Waldron) Basin to intersect with the Hermit Trail.
The trailhead is located six miles west of the village on a network of dirt roads, near Horsethief Tank. (A “tank” is a natural or constructed depression for capturing runoff, usually as a livestock pond.) For the most part the grade is gentle, with a steep descent about midway, as the trail climbs down the Toroweap and Coconino sandstone layers.
Hermit Basin makes a good day hike destination, or you can continue past the junction with Hermit Trail to Santa Maria Spring (another mile) or Dripping Springs (another 1.5 miles) via other trails.
© Kathleen Bryant from Moon Grand Canyon, 5th Edition
Buy Moon Travel Guides
Search
Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.