Overlooks & Points, Grand Canyon

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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. Although we reached here at a time much earlier than sunset. Restrooms are available here
Distance:
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

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

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Hermits Road Rim Trail ends to the west here. 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 (old natural types :-)) are available here. The Hermit Trail, winding steeply down into the canyon, begins about 0.5 miles, 0.8 km west of Hermits Rest.
Distance:
1.1 miles, 1.8 km east from here to Pima Point on paved trail

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This is first viewpoint on Hermits Road and offers good views of the Bright Angel Trail switchbacking through the canyon below, as well as the Historic District of the village. Several sets of stairs access two main viewing areas.
Distance:
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

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It's not easy to get there, it's not advised to drive when wet and the cars should have high ground clearance also when dry, especcialy last miles.
Better have also a good map and/or GPS, have plenty of water with you and fill the tank before you go. In case you need to stop for some reasons, it might take a long before someone pass by and you might need to keep the engine on to be cool or warm.
Always keep a slow speed and also beware at the cattle guards...
Make sure you have also a spare tire and all the tools needed to change a tyre, I had a flat tyre :(

last pic shows how is the road at end.
the cliff is nearly vertical, dropping almost straight down some 3,000 feet to the Colorado River.

To get there I drove BLM Road #109, which is the easiest route to Toroweap. It leaves Hwy 389 about seven miles west of Fredonia, there are 61 miles from the highway to the viewpoint. The way back I drove the Clayhole Route (BLM Road #5) which leaves Hwy 389 at Colorado City, I liked more beside it's along this road I had to change the tyre.
it could take also 2-3 hours to drive from the highway to the overlook or back.

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There is a whole string of view points, lookouts or as the Americans would call them outlooks, along the South Rim of the canyon in the territory belonging to the National Park. The Grand Canyon village is centrally located but the view is not a perfect one. Perfection comes with a rock formation that jets out into the canyon and gives the onlooker a view of almost 360 degrees. There are more than a couple of those as well but what makes Shoshone point like no other is the fact that it is not advertized by the park authorities. So the hordes are off and the few in the know enjoy this natural wonder almost privately.

Hermits Rest was built in 1914 by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter (for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway) and for owner Fred Harvey Company and is on the list of U.S. National Register of Historic Places and U.S. National Historic Landmark.

Located at the end of the West Rim Drive, (Hermit Rim Road) This historic retreat on the west rim offers some of the best views of the canyon, along with a selection of Native American crafts, t-shirts, books, postcards and a snack bar.

Open daily year-round, 9am to 5pm, additional open hours.

For more information:
Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce
Tusayan
www.grandcanyonchamber.com
or the National Park Service web page.

The National Park Service collects a $25 per vehicle entrance fee that is good for seven days on both the South and North Rims.

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For more information:
Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce
Tusayan
www.grandcanyonchamber.com
or the National Park Service web page.

The National Park Service collects a $25 per vehicle entrance fee that is good for seven days on both the South and North Rims.