The trailhead is located 0.25 miles (0.40 km) southwest of Hermit's Rest on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The trailhead is accessible by shuttle bus from Grand Canyon Village, Arizona on the Hermit Road.

Two exceptions are for vehicles with government issued handicap placards and backpackers with valid permits for overnight camping in the Hermit use area.

[1] Numerous rockslides cut through the trail and require rock scrambling and route finding to pass.

Also, water flows periodically from Santa Maria Spring, located 2 trail miles in from the trailhead, but should not be counted on.

[8] Hazards hikers can encounter along the Hermit Trail include dehydration, sudden rainstorms, flash flooding, loose footing, rockfall, and extreme heat in the summer months.