Hermit's Rest

Hermits Rest is the final stop on the Hermits Rest Route, and it’s one of the most beautiful and peaceful viewpoints on the entire South Rim. The shuttle ride itself is scenic, with several incredible stops along the way, but reaching the last point feels extra special. The cliffs, colors, and the depth of the canyon from this viewpoint are absolutely stunning. I visited during sunset, and the lighting made the entire landscape glow in shades of orange, gold, and red — truly one of the best sunset experiences in the Grand Canyon. The area is also quieter compared to the earlier stops, giving you more space to enjoy the view without large crowds. Another highlight was spotting a few animals in the area, which made the experience even better. The surrounding nature and open viewpoints give you a great chance to see local wildlife while still staying on safe, marked paths. Overall, Hermits Rest is a must-see stop if you’re doing the Hermits Rest shuttle route. Whether you stay for sunset or just want a peaceful viewpoint with incredible canyon scenery, this final stop is absolutely worth visiting.

The Red Shuttle begins running at 8am and will arrive to Hermit's Rest around 8:30am. The store does not open until 9am. There are bathrooms that were surprisingly well maintained even during the government shut down. The hike back to thr Grand Canyon Village is pretty nice.

A Scenic Hike, A Historic Fireplace… and a Slight Oops 😅 Hermit’s Rest — what a name, right? Sounds like you’re about to uncover some ancient, mystical hideaway. Well, spoiler alert: it’s basically a cute old stone house with snacks and souvenirs. BUT — getting there? Totally worth it. The hike out was absolutely gorgeous — nature in full HD. Birds, squirrels, chipmunks, lizards doing their little push-ups... even a deer or two giving us the classic Grand Canyon side-eye. The trail was peaceful, filled with shade, sweeping views, and that kind of crisp air that makes you question your life in the city. Now, Hermit’s Rest itself? Let’s just say the journey was the real reward. It’s a charming little stop with history and character, but not exactly mind-blowing. Still, it felt great to kick back for a bit, grab a cold drink, and imagine what it must’ve been like to live out there as a legit Hermit. Small confession, though... I may or may not have accidentally leaned on Hermit’s historic fireplace (yes, that fireplace), and a few ancient stones may or may not have crumbled off. 😬 But I swear I tried to put them back as best as I could! If the fireplace looks extra rustic now — that might be on me. Sorry, Hermit. All in all? 10/10 would do again. A great hike, beautiful nature, and just the right amount of unintentional vandalism. Bring water, bring snacks, and maybe don’t lean on 100-year-old structures. 😅

The last stop on my Grand Canyon visit. Ended the day with a beautiful sunset and the colors were amazing of the canyon and the sky! The grand canon was so amazing and I loved all the stops. I first did the south kabob hike and view points then made my way to the west side of the canyon to hit the many view points along the ways. I probably stopped at about six viewpoints from the kabob hike/viewpoint, but there were so many other viewpoints and stops to see along the way as well, unfortunately I was running out of time and sunlight. At hermits rest there’s this viewpoint then there’s a really big cool looking hike that I didn’t get to on but it looked amazing, it will take you further west and down the canyon! There were bathrooms here and a gift shop! Plenty of parking too. I posted some of the “few” things I brought while there, lots of cool stickers and shirts and other cool finds there too. If you’re heading to this this is the furthest point you can drive on the south side visit. If your here I highly recommend coming down this far to see this or hike and the all the other amazing view points on the way. If your here I have time as well I would recommend attempting the hike or some it! The bus route can and will bring you down this far as well if you needed that. Helpful people working inside the gift shop if you had any questions as well. Enjoy!

Hermit Rest is the western edge of the park and is a tranquil oasis nestled among the towering pine trees of the Grand Canyon's South Rim. The area is surrounded by the natural beauty of one of the world's most iconic wonders. Here you will find vault toilets, picnic areas, hiking trails, viewpoints, a snack bar and of course, a gift shop, we cannot forget that. After arriving on foot or shuttle bus, walk west along the path to the Hermit rest house, which is now the gift shop. Make sure to read the numerous informational bulletin boards along the walkway for more information about the location and its background. If you walk a little further past the rest house, you just might get luck and spot some of the local wildlife, especially during the early morning or late afternoon hours.

This is the last stop of the free [red] bus ride in Grand Canyon Village. The bus makes several stops at other viewpoints before reaching here. This is the only view stop where you're going to find snacks and drinks. The view of the Grand Canyon is not as grand as at the other bus stops. But I recommend it.

TL;DR: Hermits Rest at the Grand Canyon is a scenic stop with restrooms, a gift shop, and incredible views. Limited parking, so plan accordingly. Hermits Rest, located on the western edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, is a great place to start your exploration of the Hermits Rest Trail. This scenic spot features pit toilet restrooms, a gift shop, a small café, and breathtaking views that stretch for miles. The location is at the end of a loop road, and parking is limited, so be prepared for that. It’s a neat stop to take in the beauty of the Grand Canyon while grabbing a snack or souvenir before hitting the trail. Definitely worth checking out!

Another beautiful spot at the end of the road of the southern viewpoints. Got to see a lot more wildlife over here. We seen elk and goats, someone also said they seen a bear. Cute little gift shop located here as well, better pricing than the welcome center. Wish I knew about this, before I bought a lot of stuff at the welcome center that I could have got here for cheaper. Nice little trail here as well. Good spot for lunch and some rest