Hermit Road Scenic Overlooks

 

Visit this webpage (updated daily) for a list of what is open and hours of operation.

 

Between March 1st and November 30, Hermit Road (Red Route) shuttles provide public transportation between the Village Route Transfer Station and Hermits Rest (7 miles/ 11 km) with stops at 9 canyon overlooks. On the Return Trip, buses stop only at Hermits Rest, Pima, Mojave, and Powell Points. This is an 80 minute round-trip ride (without getting off the bus).

 

Hermit Road: Need to Know

• Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles between March 1 and November 30.
• During this 9 month period, most visitors access the road via the free Hermit Road (Red) Route) shuttle bus >

• Commercial Bus Tours are also available.

• Hermit Road is accessed throughout the year by hikers, runners and bicyclists. Bicycle Rentals and guided tours are available depending upon weather and road conditions.

• Hermit Road is open to private vehicles during the winter months of December, January and February, when there is no shuttle service on Hermit Road.

Scenic Hermit Road begins on the west side of the Village Historic District. The road follows the canyon rim for 7 miles (11 km) out to Hermits Rest, and the Hermit Trailhead.

Along the canyon rim are 9 designated viewpoints. These viewpoints are described on the page and all have shuttle bus stops.

The Canyon Rim Trail also follows the rim of the canyon for 7.8 miles (12.6 km) alongside Hermit Road, and offers the opportunity for short or long walks between viewpoints — on both paved and dirt trails.

 

Photos From Hermit Road Overlooks

 

Hermit Road Transfer Station connects the Village (Blue) Route with the Hermit Road (Red) Route.

Transfer Station

0.7 miles, (1.1 km) west from here to Trailview Overlook
(paved trail)

The Hermits Route (Red) shuttle begins here, at the Hermit Road Transfer Station, and ends at Hermits Rest. On the other side of the barricade is the Village Route (Blue) shuttle stop.

The Rim Trail also begins here. From the transfer station, the trail climbs a hill to Trailview Overlook. The hill was created by the Bright Angel Fault, and is one of the steepest sections of the Rim Trail. But the views along the way are worth the climb!

 

Trailview Overlook

0.7 miles, 1.1 km west from here to Maricopa Point on paved trail
0.7 miles, 1.1 km east from here to Hermits Rest Transfer on a paved trail

This viewpoint offers good views of the Bright Angel Trail switchbacking through the canyon below, as well as the Historic District of the village, including the prominent El Tovar Hotel. Several sets of stairs access two main viewing areas.

 

View north from Maricopa Point.

Maricopa Point

0.5 miles, 0.8 km west from here to Powell Point on paved and then dirt trail
0.7 miles, 1.1 km east from here to Trailview Overlook on a paved trail

In addition to stunning vistas, Maricopa Point looks out over the former Orphan Lode Mine, claimed in 1891 by miner Dan Hogan. Originally mining copper, Hogan switched to uranium ore in the 1950s. Mining operations ended in 1967. Grand Canyon National Park acquired the property in 1987 but only began major environmental restoration in 2008

 

Visiting Powell Memorial

Powell Point

0.3 miles, 0.5 km west from here to Hopi Point on dirt trail
0.5 miles, 0.8 km east from here to Maricopa Point on dirt and then paved trail

The Powell Memorial at this viewpoint commemorates the 1869 and 1871-72 exploratory trips down the Colorado River by Major John Wesley Powell and expedition crews. Stunning vistas can also be enjoyed from Powell Point.

 

View looking across at the North Rim from an upper tier of Hopi Point.

Hopi Point

0.8 miles, 1.3 km west from here to Mohave Point on dirt trail
0.3 miles, 0.5 km east from here to Powell Point on dirt trail

Hopi Point is one of the most popular viewpoints for watching the sunset and sunrise because of its wide vistas. The Colorado River comes into view to the west. Restrooms are available here.

 

View north with Mohave Point on the right

Mohave Point

1.1 miles, 1.8 km west from here to The Abyss on dirt trail
0.8 miles, 1.3 km east from here to Hopi Point on dirt trail

Another spectacular point for watching sunset and sunrise, Mohave Point also offers views of the Colorado River deep in the canyon below.

 

Looking down into Monument Creek drainage from The Abyss.

The Abyss

0.9 miles, 1.4 km west from here to Monument Creek Vista on dirt trail
1.1 miles, 1.8 km east from here to Mohave Point on dirt trail

This viewpoint provides an almost vertical view down into the canyon, looking down into the Monument Creek drainage area where backpackers often camp next to Monument Creek or on a small beach along the Colorado River at Granite Rapids.

 

Looking northeast from the Monument Creek shuttle stop.

Monument Creek Vista

1.7 miles, 2.7 km west from here to Pima Point on paved trail
0.9 miles, 1.4 km east from here to The Abyss on dirt trail

From this viewpoint the Greenway Trail begins, accommodating hikers, bicyclists, and visitors using wheelchairs. The trail meets Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas. Much of the trail follows the 1912 alignment of Hermit Road. There are six overlooks, including Pima Point, in addition to multiple resting areas along the trail.

 

View to the west from Pima Point of the Colorado River down below.

Pima Point

1.1 miles, 1.8 km west from here to Hermits Rest on paved trail
1.7 miles, 2.7 km east from here to Monument Creek Vista on paved trail

Pima Point is one of the best places on the rim to see and sometimes hear the river. The splash and grind of Granite Rapids below can be heard echoing up the canyon walls on quiet days. The Greenway Trail continues from here to Hermits Rest, allowing bicyclists and visitors using wheelchairs to share the path with pedestrians.

 

Approaching Hermits Rest.

Hermits Rest

Rim Trail ends to the west
1.1 miles, 1.8 km east from here to Pima Point on paved trail

Mary Colter, one of Grand Canyon's most famous architects, built Hermits Rest in 1914 to look like an old miner's cabin, complete with a giant fireplace and front porch. Today Hermits Rest has a gift shop and small snack bar. Restrooms are available here. The Hermit Trail, winding steeply down into the canyon, begins about 0.5 miles, 0.8 km west of Hermits Rest.

 

Spring 2024 — South Rim Shuttle Route Map

 

This spring, three shuttle bus routes are in service from March 1, through May 24, 2024. Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route, right, transports visitors to S. Kaibab Trailhead and outstanding views at Yaki Point. Village (Blue) Route, center, connects Visitor Center with lodges, campgrounds, Backcountry Information Center, and Market Plaza (market, outdoor ATM, post office). Hermit Road (Red) Route travels a 7-mile scenic road with spectacular overlooks. Tusayan (Purple) Route resumes service summer 2024.

 

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2008 Road Rehabilitation

In November 2008 a major rehabilitation project was completed along Hermit Road that included widening the road to increase visitor safety, widening and improving the rim trail and constructing a new multi-use Greenway Trail, while maintaining the historic rural character of the roadway and protecting the park’s natural and cultural resources.

To learn more about the 2008 Hermit Road Rehabilitation Project go to The Scenic and Historic Hermit Road.

The project also included one of the largest vegetation restoration and rehabilitation efforts ever undertaken at Grand Canyon National Park. Restoration crews planted 20,000 plants and spread 200 pounds of native grass and shrub seed. The vegetation work stabilized road shoulders, maintained the genetic integrity of plant species along Hermit Road, replanted impacted areas, and continues today with invasive species management and routine maintenance.

To learn more about the revegetation project go to Canyon Sketches Vol 06 - October 2008 Hermit Road Native Plant Restoration.