Stories From Grand Canyon National Park
A TRIP DOWN THE HERMIT TRAIL
As Shown in Penny Post Cards
From the Collection of Thomas Alan Ratz

THE HERMIT RIM ROAD
AND HERMIT'S REST

FOR A TRIP DOWN
THE HERMIT TRAIL
CLICK HERE

THE HERMIT RIM ROAD
AND HERMIT'S REST

The most unique scenic highway in the world has been built at the expense of many thousands of dollars from El Tovar Hotel and Bright Angel Camp westward to the head of Hermit Trail. The distance from El Tovar is about seven and a half miles.

The road is constructed of crushed stone with a cinder base rolled to a smooth hard surface. It has been likened to a boulevard in the wilderness.

El Tovar Hotel,
Grand Canyon

AUTO TRIPS
El Tovar to Hopi Point - $1.50
El Tovar to Hermits Rest $3.00

Note -- Auto rates are quoted for one person, and based on the full capacity of car.

HOPI POINT

Starting from El Tovar, the present fine road through the Coconino Forest is followed until Hopi Point is reached.

A considerable extent of the Colorado River is seen at Hopi Point, an important stop on the famous Grand Canyon Rim Drive.

Even though it is several miles away, the muddiness of the river is plainly visible as it flows its swift and tumultuous course.

Now for about nine miles the contour of the rim is closely followed, not too near the brink, but in and out among the trees so as to afford most enchanting vistas of the cliffs beyond.

MOHAVE POINT

From Mohave Point, four miles west of the El Tovar Hotel, there is an excellent view of the turbulent Colorado River as it rushes through the Granite Gorge.

Mohave Point, with its direct look down the awful precipices that line Monument Creek, is rounded, and a sweep made around due south to the Canyon Curve, and again to the northwest.

Here there is much to claim the attention. First one, then another, of the great interior temples seem to command the eye, owing to the diversity of angle afforded by the natural contour of the rim, aided by skilful engineering of the road builder.

PIMA POINT

At Pima Point, the road curves again to the southwest, and for a mile or so skirts the rim of Hermit Basin, until it reaches the head of the new trail, which descends into the Basin itself, by its eastern arm, which has a westerly exposure and outlook.

The elevation at Pima Point is 6,350 feet, that of Point Sublime slightly northwest across on the north wall of the Canyon is 7,764 feet, while Tiyo Point also on the north but slightly east of Pima Point is 7,765 feet in altitude. The plateau to the north of the Canyon has an average elevation about 1,000 feet greater than the plateau to the south.

HERMIT'S REST

The Rest is at the head of Hermit Trail. It is a striking cave-home in the cliffs, but of majestic proportions. The rough and unhewn rocks have been cunningly put into place so that from the exterior one can scarce tell where cliff ends and building begins.

Designed by the Santa Fe Railroad's architect, Mary Colter, Hermit's rest was constructed in 1914 at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars. The steps shown in the picture once lead to a sheltered stone bench at an overlook several hundred feet below the main building.

THE PORCH AT
HERMIT'S REST

From the wide and comfortable porch at Hermit's Rest, a far reaching and most interesting view of the Canyon may be had.

But when you enter the doorway a surprise awaits you, no matter where you have traveled or what you have seen, for you enter a room, forty-five feet wide and eighteen feet high which is one vast cave, hollowed out of the wall shaped like a dome cut, in half, the further base of which is a fireplace, the like of which must have warmed the toes of the giant Vikings when they reached Walhalla.

THE FIREPLACE
AT HERMIT'S REST

Here on cold, blustering snowy days, which one now and again encounters in winter on the Canyon's rim, one may toast his whole body to his heart's content, and not feel that he is shielding the fire from his fellow guests. Then, when ready, he starts for the new Hermit Trail.

Hermit's View
The views from the porch at Hermit's Rest are among the most beautiful to be seen from the Canyon Rim.

Nestling among the rocks and trees constructed of native stone and rough hewn rock, and overlooking the majestic gorge of the mighty Colorado River, Hermit's Rest seems to deserve its name.

Continue down the Hermit Trail to Dripping Springs Junction

Jump Ahead to Santa Maria Springs, Cathedral Stairs and Hermit Camp

Jump Ahead to Hermit Creek and the Inner Gorge

Explore the Boucher Trail in a 1910 trip report by George Wharton James

Special Thanks to the Grand Canyon National Park Museum Collection
P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

.