Place

The Abyss - Hermits Rest (Red) Route

A low rock wall separates a bus stop, marked by a red and white sign, from the rim of Grand Canyon.
The Abyss features the longest vertical drop from the rim found anywhere along the South Rim.

NPS

Quick Facts

Bicycle - Rack, Bus/Shuttle Stop, Scenic View/Photo Spot

Hermits Rest Route In service March 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024.

At The Abyss, impressive canyon views are rivaled by the sheer vertical drop below, the longest such drop found anywhere along the South Rim, 3,000 feet (914 m).

This stop offers a unique place to discover how gravity can profoundly affect the shape of the canyon walls. At The Abyss, no fault line is present, meaning very little water runs into the canyon because it mostly drains to the south away from the rim.

This is unlike many of the other side canyons, which are usually caused by faults cutting through the rock walls and funneling water toward the Colorado River below. Instead, most of the erosion near The Abyss occurs because of gravity's constant pull on the rock face. While at The Abyss, notice the debris of white rocks littered over the red slopes below, showing the evidence of past rock falls.

Hermits Rest (Red) Route - Summer Schedule

May 25, through September 6, 2024
80 minutes round trip (without getting off the bus)
 
  • First bus is a 8:00 am. Last outbound bus leaves the Village at 7:00 pm.
  • 8:00 am to 11:00 am (every 15 minutes)
  • 11:00 am to 7:00 pm (every 10 minutes)
  • The last return bus "sweeps" all stops one hour after sunset to ensure that no one is left behind.

Route Information

If you simply ride this shuttle bus without getting off at any stop, the entire loop will take approximately 80 minutes to return to where you started. From The Abyss shuttle stop, buses head outbound (west) towards Hermits Rest and then turn around and return to the Village, stopping at the following locations:

  • Monument Creek Vista
  • Pima Point (Outbound)
  • Hermits Rest
  • Pima Point (Inbound)
  • Mohave Point (Inbound)
  • Powell Point (Inbound)
  • Village Route Transfer

Shuttle Bus Rules

 
  • No eating or open drink containers.

  • No pets allowed on shuttle buses. Service dogs are permitted (as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act).

  • Shuttle buses are equipped with ramps and space to carry passengers in wheelchairs. Please note that wheelchairs larger than 30 inches wide by 48 inches long (76 cm x 122 cm) cannot be accommodated on shuttle buses, and most motorized scooters will not fit.

  • Collapse strollers before entering the shuttle bus. No oversized or jogging strollers. Remove baby-back carriers when seated.

  • Shuttle buses can accommodate two or three bicycles, but not tag alongs, baby trailers, or children's bicycles with wheels less than 16 inches (41 cm). Riders must load and unload their bicycles from the front-facing rack.

  • Shuttle buses only stop at designated bus stops.

Grand Canyon National Park

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Last updated: May 25, 2024