Hermit Point (Hermits Rest)

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Updated May 2026

What Hermits Rest Is

Hermits Rest is the western terminus of Hermit Road, 8 miles from Grand Canyon Village. The name refers both to the viewpoint and the 1914 stone building designed by Mary Colter for the Fred Harvey Company. Colter was one of the most significant architects working in the American Southwest in the early twentieth century, and Hermits Rest is among her most recognized works. The building was deliberately constructed to look ancient and improvised — native stone, a collapsed-looking chimney arch at the entrance, wooden beams, and massive iron lanterns. The effect is a prospector's camp that has somehow grown into a rest stop.

Inside is a great room with a fireplace large enough to walk into — the fireplace is functional and lit on cold days from October through April. A gift shop occupies one side and a snack bar serves drinks, packaged snacks, and light food. These are the only food and restroom facilities on the 8-mile Hermit Road corridor. If you have been on the shuttle for 40 minutes and need a stop before heading back, Hermits Rest is the answer. The building is one of seven Mary Colter structures in Grand Canyon National Park and is a National Historic Landmark.

The viewpoint — Hermit Point — is the wide promontory immediately adjacent to the building, looking south and west over the canyon's expansive western section. The view is distinct from anything visible at the Village overlooks: the canyon here has widened significantly, and the sweep visible from Hermit Point extends toward a canyon scale that makes the Village viewpoints feel narrow by comparison. See the viewpoints overview for how Hermit Point fits into the full South Rim corridor.

Getting Here via Shuttle

From March 1 through November 30, Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles. The only way to reach Hermit Point during this period is the free Hermits Rest Route (Red) shuttle from the Village. Board at the Hermits Rest Transfer stop near Market Plaza. The shuttle makes nine stops on the way out — Trailview Overlook, Maricopa Point, Powell Point, Hopi Point, Mohave Point, The Abyss, Pima Point, and finally Hermits Rest. The full ride from the Village takes approximately 35-40 minutes without stops.

Shuttles run every 15-20 minutes in peak season (May through September) and every 30 minutes in shoulder season. The last outbound shuttle typically departs the Village transfer point about 30 minutes before sunset. The return shuttle from Hermits Rest runs until approximately 30 minutes after official sunset during summer months — this is the hard cutoff, and the NPS does not run shuttles after this time. Confirm the current posted schedule at the transfer stop before you board for an evening visit.

From December 1 through February 28, private vehicles may drive Hermit Road to the terminus parking area. The lot at Hermits Rest holds approximately 20-25 vehicles. Winter driving conditions apply — the road can be icy and is sometimes partially closed. No fee beyond your park entrance pass. The shuttle also continues to run in winter as an alternative. See the travel planning guide for seasonal shuttle schedules and winter road condition resources.

The Hermit Trail

The Hermit Trail begins at Hermit Point and is the starting point for one of the Grand Canyon's most significant inner canyon routes. The trail descends 9.6 miles to the Colorado River. It is an unmaintained trail — unlike Bright Angel or South Kaibab, the NPS does not repair or maintain the Hermit Trail surface, making it significantly more technical from the first mile. There are no water sources along the trail: no pumping stations, no reliable springs in the upper section. Every drop of water you need must be carried in from the rim.

Day hikers do not need a permit to use the Hermit Trail. The reasonable day-hike turnaround for most visitors is at the Hermit Shale layer, approximately 1.5 miles and 1,200 feet of descent from the trailhead. The trail surface is rocky from the first step. Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support, at least 3 liters of water per person, and sun protection are minimum requirements. Do not hike below the Hermit Shale on a summer day without additional planning. For overnight camping anywhere below the rim on the Hermit Trail, a backcountry permit is required — permits are available through the NPS Backcountry Information Center lottery system.

The Hermit Trail connects at the bottom to the Tonto Trail, a long horizontal route traversing the Tonto Platform east and west. Experienced backpackers use the Hermit-Tonto-Bright Angel loop — descend Hermit Trail, traverse east on the Tonto to Bright Angel Creek, ascend Bright Angel Trail — as one of the most rewarding multi-day canyon routes. Read the full logistics in the Grand Canyon hiking guide before committing to anything below the Hermit Shale.

What You See from Hermit Point

Hermit Point provides the westernmost South Rim view on Hermit Road. Looking south and west, the canyon has widened dramatically from the more channelized views at the Village. The Esplanade — the broad red Supai sandstone shelf — extends east and west in both directions at roughly 3,000 feet below the rim. The Tonto Platform is visible in the inner gorge, and the Colorado River appears as a narrow line in the deepest section. Late afternoon sun from the east illuminates the north-facing canyon walls across the gorge in particularly vivid tones.

The promontory at Hermit Point extends into the canyon airspace farther than the building itself, and visitors who walk to the rim edge get a sensation of standing above open canyon in three directions. The rim is unfenced along much of the Hermit Point rim edge — stay on established paths and do not approach the edge in the dark or in wet conditions. The viewpoint is open to the south and southwest, giving late afternoon and sunset color that builds slowly over the western canyon walls.

For the return journey, the stop before Hermit Point on the return shuttle is Pima Point — worth disembarking for 15-20 minutes on a calm evening to hear the rapids audible from the rim. Before that, Mohave Point offers the clearest Colorado River view on Hermit Road. Planning all three stops in a single afternoon is realistic if you board the outbound shuttle before 3 PM.

Combine Hermit Point With

The natural full-day Hermit Road itinerary: board the first morning shuttle to Hermits Rest, spend 30 minutes at the building and viewpoint, then work back east by shuttle stopping at Pima Point for the auditory rapids experience, Mohave Point for the Colorado River view, and Hopi Point for sunset. This sequence covers Hermit Road's four most distinct sensory experiences in a single day without backtracking.

If you are planning a Hermit Trail day hike, depart the Hermits Rest trailhead before 7 AM in summer to complete the descent and return to the rim before peak heat. Carry more water than you think you need. The building will be open when you return, and the snack bar is the closest resupply point if you come back depleted. Check the travel planning guide for water-carry recommendations by season and trail-condition resources from the NPS Backcountry Information Center.

Hermit Trail hikers heading into overnight routes will want to review the full Grand Canyon hiking guide which covers permit logistics, water sources, and the Hermit-Tonto-Bright Angel loop in detail. The viewpoints overview puts Hermit Point in context against all 12 South Rim overlooks and includes the sunrise versus sunset decision matrix for Hermit Road.