Rim Trail from the Village to Hermits Rest

Start at the Hermits Rest Route transfer stop, at the west end of the Village by the Bright Angel Trailhead. The Rim Trail climbs to Trailview Overlook and runs on past Maricopa Point and Powell Point to Hopi Point, then Mohave Point, the Abyss and Monument Creek Vista. From there a paved greenway carries on to Pima Point and ends at Hermits Rest. Each of the nine viewpoints is a shuttle stop.

It is 8 miles (12.9 km) one way with 480 feet (147 m) of climbing; allow about 3½ hours. The grade is Moderate: there is little climbing, but it is a long walk at about 7,000 feet, with long unfenced drops beside the path.

The path is paved as far as Powell Point and again from Monument Creek Vista; the three miles between are dirt. From March 1 to November 30 Hermit Road is closed to private cars and the free Hermits Rest (Red) shuttle runs every 12 minutes or so. Buses stop at every viewpoint on the way out, but on the way back only at Hermits Rest and at Pima, Mohave and Powell Points, so those are the places to cut the walk short. There is no water between the Village and Hermits Rest, and toilets only at Hopi Point and Hermits Rest. The shuttle stops running in thunderstorms.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.