After riding the red route shuttle to Trailview Overlook and hiking to Maricopa Point, we decided to keep walk/hiking along the Canyon Rim Trail to the next scenic viewpoint, Powell Point. Honestly, we avoided riding the shuttle because it was cramped, loud, and a little smelly — and we we’re national parking, we like it to be quiet and peaceful. Plus, when you ride the shuttle, you miss so many alternate view opportunities and trail experiences and the walk isn’t very long!
Powell Point off Hermit Road on the Canyon Rim Trail in Grand Canyon National Park not only features spectacular, colorful, panoramic canyon views but the Powell Memorial, which honors pioneering Grand Canyon explorer John Wesley Powell, who led the first recorded journey down the Colorado River in 1869, and again in 1871-1872.
As we walked down the paved walkway to Powell Point, we could see Maricopa Point and the Orphan Lode Mine from another vantage point, which was cool. But at Powell Point, the large granite memorial dominates the landscape.
We immediately headed up the stairs thinking we’d have an even better view of the canyon from the top, but we were wrong — the views from the point behind the memorial are actually better!
Behind the memorial, the overlook has a couple benches to relax on and enjoy the view, as well as an awesome rock ledge that is perfect for snapping jaw-dropping photos of Grand Canyon. While the views are similar to those at Maricopa Point, the view at Powell Point stretches farther to the west until being obstructed by Hopi Point.
If you’re on a quest to watch the sunset over Grand Canyon, most people head to Hopi Point, but Powell Point has views that are just as great with far fewer people!
Know Before You Go
- Powell Point is located on Hermit Road west of Grand Canyon Village, Arizona 86023 in Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino County.
- Hermit Road follows the South Rim for 7.0 miles from Grand Canyon Village to Hermit’s Rest. The Canyon Rim Trail also travels from Grand Canyon Village to Hermit’s Rest, but over 7.8 miles because it hugs the edge of the canyon rim and runs between Hermit Road and Grand Canyon.
- Don’t want to hike the entire Canyon Rim Trail? No problem? You can walk/hike between scenic overlooks or take the shuttle and mix it up, so you could walk the shorter distances and ride the shuttle for the longer distances.
- In the winter, you can drive your own vehicle from scenic viewpoint to scenic viewpoint, but the rest of the year, you need to ride the free shuttle bus.
- Traveling from Grand Canyon Village, the Hermit Road (Red) Shuttle Route stops at nine overlooks — Trailview Overlook, Maricopa Point, Powell Point, Hopi Point, Mohave Point, The Abyss, Monument Creek Vista, Pima Point, and Hermit’s Rest. Traveling from Hermit’s Rest to Grand Canyon Village, the shuttle stops at only four overlooks — Hermits Rest, Pima, Mohave, and Powell Points.
- You can also travel to Hermit’s Rest by bike. If you didn’t bring a bike, you can rent a bike at Bright Angel Bicycles near the South Rim Visitor Center.
- The nearest restrooms are at Hopi Point or back in Grand Canyon Village at the Bright Angel Trail Trailhead.
