About Grand Canyon's Hermit's Rest

Above, Hermit's Rest. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the places in Grand Canyon National Park I have never previously been to (at least I don't remember being there before) was Hermit's Rest. The structure was designed by architect Mary Colter, who also designed the Watchtower at the Grand Canyon.

Above, the plaque designating Hermit's Rest as a National Historic Landmark. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On our second day at the Grand Canyon, we took a shuttle bus along the road to the landmark. To catch the Hermit's Rest shuttle (Red Line), one needs to take the Blue Line shuttle to the transfer station near Bright Angel Lodge. Without exiting the Hermit's Rest shuttle, it is an eighty-minute ride in total.

Above, the Hermit's Rest chimney. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before reaching Hermit's Rest, we stopped at several viewpoints along the way to enjoy views of the Grand Canyon.

Above, the fireplace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to Wikipedia:

Hermits Rest is a structure built in 1914 at the western end of Hermit Road at the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States. The Hermit Trail, a hiking trail that extends to the Colorado River, begins about ¼ mile beyond the shuttle bus stop at Hermit's Rest. Hermits Rest also represents the western terminus of the Rim Trail. The location was named for Louis Boucher. Around 1891, Boucher - a Canadian-born prospector - staked claims below present-day Hermits Rest. With help, Boucher carved the aforementioned trail into the canyon, and for years lived alone at nearby Dripping Springs. The main structure currently standing at Hermits Rest was designed by architect Mary Colter. Hermits Rest is the westernmost point on the canyon's south rim that is accessible by paved road. It was built as a rest area for tourists on coaches operated by the Fred Harvey Company on the way to the now-vanished Hermit Camp. The building was designed to appear to be a natural stone formation, closely tied to the land. Colter selected furnishings that are included in the National Historic Landmark designation.  

Hermits Rest stands a few feet from the rim of the Grand Canyon, partly buried in an earth mound. The exposed portions of the structure are designed to look like a natural rock formation, apart from the prominent rubblestone chimney. The structure is approached by a path that passes (and originally ran through) a stone arch decorated with a broken bell that Colter salvaged from a Spanish mission in New Mexico. A small porch supported by peeled log posts stands to one side of the outside observation area that overlooks the canyon rim. The low porch roof extends into the interior, which opens up to a double-height space. Opposite the entry, the south wall houses a semi-circular alcove with a fireplace and a raised floor. A snack bar opens on the west side of the space, and the "rug room," where native crafts were sold, is on the east side with its own fireplace. The interior furnishings throughout were chosen by Colter and are part of the historic designation. The overall impression imparted by Colter's design is one of antiquity. Colter, when kidded by AT&SF executives about the dark, antique-looking interior, retorted "you can't imagine what it cost to make it look this old."

Above, the gift shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is a gift shop and snack bar at Hermit's Rest. While inside the gift shop, I purchased a t-shirt for myself and a t-shirt/cap combo for Jes.

Above, the ceiling and windows of the inside of Hermit's Rest. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The snack bar had coffee, soft drinks, ice cream, candy, sandwiches and other snacks.

Above, the Hermit's Rest bell and arch that was once the entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park should take the Hermit's Rest shuttle. It was an enjoyable excursion.