Hermit Road on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim

Located west of Grand Canyon Village, Hermit Road follows the South Rim for 8 miles and offers access to scenic overlooks via the park shuttle and rim trails. It is closed to most private vehicles except during the months of December, January, and February. For that reason, it’s a great spot for cycling.

Hermit Road Highlights

1. Hermits Rest

Built in 1914 and designed by architect Mary Colter to resemble a hermit’s hideaway, this longtime tourist outpost is located at the western terminus of Hermit Road. The stone structure contains a fireplace and front porch as well as a gift shop and snack bar. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter). Restrooms are nearby.

2. Pima Point

This vantage point that leads out to the northernmost edge of a wide promontory offers excellent views of the canyon and the Colorado River, including Granite Rapid (you can sometimes hear its roar). In 1925, the Fred Harvey Company installed an aerial tram that dropped a 6,300-foot-long aerial tram here to ferry supplies down to Hermit Camp resort, 3,600 vertical feet below the rim. It was dismantled in the 1930s when the resort was closed under National Park Service policies aimed at returning Grand Canyon to more natural conditions.

3. Monument Creek

Peer down into the depths of the Monument Creek drainage. A paved, multiuse trail begins here and extends west to Hermits Rest.

4. The Abyss

Not for the acrophobic! The view from here is 2,600 feet straight down over sheer cliffs that descend to the Grand Canyon’s Redwall Formation and overlook the Monument Creek drainage area.

5. Mohave Point

An outstanding view of the Colorado River 5,000 feet below. From here you can see three rapids: Salt Creek, Granite, and Hermit. Use binoculars to see river runners negotiate the whitewater; Hermit Rapid’s waves can be up to 20 feet high.

6. Hopi Point

This overlook juts farther out into the canyon than any other viewpoint on the South Rim, making it a premium spot to watch the sunset. Among the famous formations that light up in the evening glow are Shiva Temple and Zoroaster Temple.

7. Powell Point

In addition to panoramic canyon vistas, a memorial is located here honoring pioneering Grand Canyon explorer John Wesley Powell, who led the first recorded journey down the Colorado River in 1869.

8. Maricopa Point

For travelers heading west down Hermit Road, this is the first stop with sweeping canyon views. Just west of the point (and fenced off to visitors) are the remains of the Orphan Mine, which operated from 1891 to 1969 extracting copper and uranium. The National Park Service acquired the site in 1987. Today, the Rim Trail detours around the closed minesite due to concerns about lingering radiation.

9. Trailview Overlook

Peer down at the snaking switchbacks of the Bright Angel Trail, the park’s most popular hiking path, and watch hikers make their way to the lush oasis of Havasupai Gardens and beyond to the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. Also visible: the majestic El Tovar Hotel on the rim.

10. Hermit Shuttle Transfer

A free public park shuttle (red route) goes between here and Hermits Rest, stopping at every overlook point. During summer months , buses usually run every 15 minutes between sunrise and sunset and every 30 minutes for one hour after sunset.Check the park site for up-to-date information. Round-trip travel time to Hermits Rest and back (without getting off the bus) is approximately 80 minutes.

It is in service March 1, through November 30, 2022.  On the bus, you can ride between Grand Canyon Village and Hermits Rest with bus stops at 9 exceptional scenic overlooks. Between March and November, you can only access the road via the shuttle bus, commercial tour, on foot or by bike. Private vehicles can drive the road between December, January and February.

Hiking Trails from Hermit Road

Hermit Trail: Following the Hermit Creek drainage for 8.2 miles to Hermit Creek campsite and ending on the Colorado River at Granite Rapid (10.3 miles), the Hermit Trail is a good option for intermediate-level backpackers. The path is named after Louis Boucher, the “hermit,” who unsuccessfully mined the area in the late 1890s and allegedly lived alone for 20 years. Explore the hermit’s stomping grounds with a 3- to 4-day loop hike that descends the Hermit Trail to the Colorado River and returns via the Boucher and Dripping Springs Trails. Backpackers with permits are allowed to park overnight at Hermits Rest.

Rim Trail: A good option for families and novice Grand Canyon hikers, this fairly level path follows the rim edge for 7.5 miles, connecting the viewpoints between Grand Canyon Village/Hermit Shuttle Transfer and Hermits Rest (best stretch to escape road traffic noise is between Powell and Hopi Points). The 3-mile section from Powell Point to Monument Creek is dirt. The multiuse, paved “Hermit Greenway,” suitable for biking and wheelchairs, extends for 2.5 miles along the rim from Monument Creek to Hermits Rest.

Biking Along Hermit Road

Biking along Hermit Road is a fantastic 8-mile, one-way trip. You can opt to load your bike on the shuttle at any point during your ride as long as you are stopped to load at a designated shuttle stop. Because only shuttle buses are allowed on this road March through November, you have very little traffic to contend with as you enjoy this bike ride. The views at the nine viewpoints are spectacular.

Watch the Video: Biking on Hermit Road