While there are stunning views of Grand Canyon near the Hermit’s Rest Transfer Station, this really is primarily a bus stop for Grand Canyon National Park’s free shuttle system.
Located at the intersection of Village Loop Drive and Hermit Road near the Bright Angel Trail Trailhead, the Hermit’s Rest Transfer Station marks the beginning of your national park adventures along Hermit Road to historic Hermit’s Rest if you’re riding the free shuttle.
There are nine scenic overlooks along the seven mile Hermit Road — Trailview Overlook, Maricopa Point, Powell Point, Hopi Point, Mohave Point, The Abyss, Monument Creek Vista, and Pima Point — and all are accessed by the free shuttle (red route) that travels from the Hermit’s Rest Transfer Station in Grand Canyon Village to Hermit’s Rest and back.
The Hermit Road (Red) Shuttle Route stops at every Grand Canyon vista point on the way to Hermit’s Rest, and only a few of the overlooks on the way back to the village. What’s awesome is that you can hop on and off the bus as you please. This means you can travel along Hermit Road anyway you want.
- You can ride the shuttle from overlook to overlook, taking the the spectacular Grand Canyon and Colorado River views without much effort.
- You can walk/hike along from overlook to overlook on the 7.8 mile South Rim Trail, which runs between Hermit Road and the edge of the canyon.
- You can do both — walk and ride — like we did. We walked from overlook to overlook for most of the trek to Hermit’s Rest, but chose to hop on the free park shuttle for a couple of the large spans to give our feet a break.
- If you bring bikes or rent bikes, you can also ride bikes along Hermit Road.
From May through September, buses run every 15 minutes from sunrise to sunset and every 30 minutes for one hour after sunset. The shuttle doesn’t run in November, December, and January, however, so during those months, you can drive your own vehicle on the road.
Know Before You Go
- Hermit’s Rest Transfer Station is located at the start of Hermit Road just west of Kolb Studio and the Bright Angel Trail Trailhead in Grand Canyon Village, Arizona 86023 in Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino County.
- Parking near the Hermit’s Rest Transfer Station is terrible! Consider parking at Maswik Lodge and walking to the Transfer Station — it takes less than 10 minutes. Or park at the Visitor Center and ride the Blue Shuttle to the village and walk to the Transfer Station.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 closest restrooms are at the Bright Angel Trail trailhead. Once you board the shuttle or begin hiking the Canyon Rim Trail, the only restrooms available are at Hopi Point and Hermit’s Rest.
