Road work on West road Hermits Rest Hiking limited
Posted: Jan 15 2008 12:55 pm
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park’s historic Hermit Road will be
rehabilitated this spring. Hermit Road is located on the park’s South Rim between Grand
Canyon Village and Hermits Rest. The project is expected to begin in February and be
completed by the end of November 2008.
Hermit Road is a popular roadway and destination for South Rim visitors and includes nine
overlooks, access to the historic Hermits Rest and Hermit Trailhead, seven miles of improved
and unimproved rim trails, and many popular spots for viewing sunset. Normally, visitors use a
free shuttle bus service provided by the National Park Service (NPS) to travel Hermit Road from
March 1 through November 30. During the winter months (December 1 through February 29),
Hermit Road is accessible by private vehicle. Commercial tours are also provided year-round on
Hermit Road by Xanterra South Rim, LLC (Xanterra).
The Santa Fe Railway constructed the first road to Hermits Rest in the early years of the last
century. The Bureau of Public Roads and the NPS designed and constructed the current road
between 1934 and 1935. It is now in poor condition and does not meet current safety standards.
The 18 to 20-foot-wide road is too narrow for safe bus passage, especially when bicyclists and
pedestrians are using the road. Although the road has received some periodic maintenance, the
pavement is in poor condition because the road was not built for the size of vehicles and volume
of traffic it receives today.
The rehabilitation of Hermit Road includes road widening and resurfacing to a consistent width
of 24 feet, improvements to shuttle bus stops at each of the overlooks, provision of accessible
pedestrian routes from shuttle bus stops to viewing areas, and improvements to approximately
five miles of rim trails, including construction of a new three-mile, multi-use greenway trail
which will be open to both pedestrians and bicyclists.
Construction activities on Hermit Road start in February 2008; however, visitors will continue to
have access to the entire length of the road, including overlooks and Hermits Rest, during
February and March. Beginning April 1, 2008, Hermit Road will be closed to all vehicles from
Hopi Point west to Hermits Rest to allow for construction on the western end of the road. In
addition, the Rim Trail, which runs parallel to Hermit Road, will be closed from Hopi Point to
Hermits Rest. Pedestrians will not be allowed to walk along any portion of either the road or the
Rim Trail between Hopi Point and Hermits Rest. During this time, the road will remain open
from Hopi Point, east to where Hermit Road intersects with Village Loop Road and will continue
to be served by the park’s free shuttle system. Beginning July 7, the entire length of Hermit
Road will be closed to all vehicles from the Hermit Road intersection west to Hermits Rest.
Starting at this time, the Rim Trail will be closed from the first Trailview Overlook west to
Hermits Rest. As needed temporary closures may need to occur between the Hermit Road
intersection and first Trailview Overlook for construction activities.
Access to the Hermit Trailhead will be limited from April 1 through the end of November 2008
(or until completion of construction activities). Day hiking will not be allowed on the Hermit
Trail during this time period. Visitors who have obtained an overnight backcountry permit from
the park’s Backcountry Information Center (BIC) for backcountry use areas reached by the
Hermit Trail will only be allowed access to the trailhead during the months of April, May,
September, October, and November. No access will be permitted to the trailhead during the
months of June, July and August. During the months that Hermit Trail is accessible,
backcountry permit holders will only be allowed to hike down the Hermit Trail; an alternate trail
must be used to hike out.
To help reduce impacts caused by these construction activities, the NPS will provide early
morning free shuttle service to the Hermit Trailhead for use only by overnight backcountry
permit holders during months when the trail is useable. The approximate shuttle schedule will be
as follows:
• April 1 – 30: shuttle buses will leave the BIC
At 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• May 1 – 31: shuttle buses will leave the BIC at 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
• September – November 30: shuttle buses will leave the BIC each morning; times
to be determined.
For additional trail access and hiking information visit the park’s Web site or
contact NPS rangers at the
Backcountry Information Center at 928-638-7875 Monday through Friday (except holidays)
between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. MST.
During the closure of Hermit Road, the NPS recommends the following recreational
opportunities for day hiking:
• Visitors can enjoy rim hikes of up to 6 miles along the Rim Trail from Hopi Point,
(April 1 – July 6) or from the first Trailview Overlook (July 7 – November 30) east to
Pipe Creek Vista. This paved rim trail can be reached at several parking lots and up
to six bus stops served by the free shuttle bus system.
• Visitors can also enjoy day hikes below the rim using the Bright Angel and South
Kaibab Trails. The free shuttle buses transport visitors to these trailheads.
rehabilitated this spring. Hermit Road is located on the park’s South Rim between Grand
Canyon Village and Hermits Rest. The project is expected to begin in February and be
completed by the end of November 2008.
Hermit Road is a popular roadway and destination for South Rim visitors and includes nine
overlooks, access to the historic Hermits Rest and Hermit Trailhead, seven miles of improved
and unimproved rim trails, and many popular spots for viewing sunset. Normally, visitors use a
free shuttle bus service provided by the National Park Service (NPS) to travel Hermit Road from
March 1 through November 30. During the winter months (December 1 through February 29),
Hermit Road is accessible by private vehicle. Commercial tours are also provided year-round on
Hermit Road by Xanterra South Rim, LLC (Xanterra).
The Santa Fe Railway constructed the first road to Hermits Rest in the early years of the last
century. The Bureau of Public Roads and the NPS designed and constructed the current road
between 1934 and 1935. It is now in poor condition and does not meet current safety standards.
The 18 to 20-foot-wide road is too narrow for safe bus passage, especially when bicyclists and
pedestrians are using the road. Although the road has received some periodic maintenance, the
pavement is in poor condition because the road was not built for the size of vehicles and volume
of traffic it receives today.
The rehabilitation of Hermit Road includes road widening and resurfacing to a consistent width
of 24 feet, improvements to shuttle bus stops at each of the overlooks, provision of accessible
pedestrian routes from shuttle bus stops to viewing areas, and improvements to approximately
five miles of rim trails, including construction of a new three-mile, multi-use greenway trail
which will be open to both pedestrians and bicyclists.
Construction activities on Hermit Road start in February 2008; however, visitors will continue to
have access to the entire length of the road, including overlooks and Hermits Rest, during
February and March. Beginning April 1, 2008, Hermit Road will be closed to all vehicles from
Hopi Point west to Hermits Rest to allow for construction on the western end of the road. In
addition, the Rim Trail, which runs parallel to Hermit Road, will be closed from Hopi Point to
Hermits Rest. Pedestrians will not be allowed to walk along any portion of either the road or the
Rim Trail between Hopi Point and Hermits Rest. During this time, the road will remain open
from Hopi Point, east to where Hermit Road intersects with Village Loop Road and will continue
to be served by the park’s free shuttle system. Beginning July 7, the entire length of Hermit
Road will be closed to all vehicles from the Hermit Road intersection west to Hermits Rest.
Starting at this time, the Rim Trail will be closed from the first Trailview Overlook west to
Hermits Rest. As needed temporary closures may need to occur between the Hermit Road
intersection and first Trailview Overlook for construction activities.
Access to the Hermit Trailhead will be limited from April 1 through the end of November 2008
(or until completion of construction activities). Day hiking will not be allowed on the Hermit
Trail during this time period. Visitors who have obtained an overnight backcountry permit from
the park’s Backcountry Information Center (BIC) for backcountry use areas reached by the
Hermit Trail will only be allowed access to the trailhead during the months of April, May,
September, October, and November. No access will be permitted to the trailhead during the
months of June, July and August. During the months that Hermit Trail is accessible,
backcountry permit holders will only be allowed to hike down the Hermit Trail; an alternate trail
must be used to hike out.
To help reduce impacts caused by these construction activities, the NPS will provide early
morning free shuttle service to the Hermit Trailhead for use only by overnight backcountry
permit holders during months when the trail is useable. The approximate shuttle schedule will be
as follows:
• April 1 – 30: shuttle buses will leave the BIC
At 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• May 1 – 31: shuttle buses will leave the BIC at 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
• September – November 30: shuttle buses will leave the BIC each morning; times
to be determined.
For additional trail access and hiking information visit the park’s Web site or
contact NPS rangers at the
Backcountry Information Center at 928-638-7875 Monday through Friday (except holidays)
between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. MST.
During the closure of Hermit Road, the NPS recommends the following recreational
opportunities for day hiking:
• Visitors can enjoy rim hikes of up to 6 miles along the Rim Trail from Hopi Point,
(April 1 – July 6) or from the first Trailview Overlook (July 7 – November 30) east to
Pipe Creek Vista. This paved rim trail can be reached at several parking lots and up
to six bus stops served by the free shuttle bus system.
• Visitors can also enjoy day hikes below the rim using the Bright Angel and South
Kaibab Trails. The free shuttle buses transport visitors to these trailheads.