Shared itinerary · Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Grand Canyon South Rim in 3 days

Three days on the South Rim: the first look from Mather Point, the village and a Hermit Road sunset at Hopi Point, a morning below the rim on the South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge with Desert View Drive after, then sunrise at Yaki Point and the full Hermit Road to Hermits Rest. 13 stops with times, notes and the drives between.

From the guide Grand Canyon National Park: which rim, and what to do there

Updated October 2026

Distance

96.0 km

Mather Point → Hermits Rest

Days

Stops

Each day of Grand Canyon South Rim in 3 days: route, stops and distance
Day	Route	Stops	Distance
Day 1	Mather Point to Hopi Point	5	7.4 km
Day 2	South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge to Desert View Watchtower	4	42.9 km
Day 3	Yaki Point to Hermits Rest	4	45.6 km

Day 1: Mather Point to Hopi Point

7.4 km

First look, then the village and a Hermit Road sunset.

08:30
Mather Point

Sight

Park at the main visitor center and walk two minutes to your first view. Let it land, then start the rim.

1.3 km · 25m walk to next
10:00
Yavapai Geology Museum

Sight

The best labeled panorama on the rim, reached by an easy 1.5 mile walk on the Rim Trail.

2.5 km · 30m walk to next
12:00
El Tovar Hotel

Food & drink

Lunch at the 1905 lodge on the rim. Walk the historic village after: Hopi House, Lookout Studio, Kolb Studio.

843 m · 10m walk to next
14:30
Bright Angel Trailhead

Sight

Watch the mule trains and hikers surface from the inner canyon. Tomorrow this is you.

2.8 km · 20m transit to next
17:30
Hopi Point

Park & nature

The widest sunset view on Hermit Road. Take the free red shuttle, the road is closed to cars March through November.

Day 2: South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge to Desert View Watchtower

42.9 km

Below the rim in the morning, Desert View Drive after.

06:30
South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge

Activity

Three miles round trip, 1,140 feet down and back up. Ooh Aah Point at the first switchbacks earns its name. No water on this trail, carry your own.

13.8 km · 25m drive to next
11:30
Grandview Point

Sight

The 1890s tourist operations started here. Quieter than the village viewpoints.

7.6 km · 10m drive to next
13:00
Moran Point

Sight

Named for the painter whose canvases convinced Congress this place mattered.

12.7 km · 20m drive to next
14:30
Desert View Watchtower

Sight

Mary Colter’s 1932 tower above the river’s big bend, with the Painted Desert beyond. This is also the East Entrance if you are driving on.

Day 3: Yaki Point to Hermits Rest

45.6 km

Sunrise, then the full Hermit Road to the end of the line.

05:45
Yaki Point

Park & nature

The sunrise spot. Shuttle only, which keeps the crowd honest.

9.7 km · 30m transit to next
09:00
Mohave Point

Sight

Three river rapids visible far below, and the canyon’s red wall banded across from you.

3.7 km · 15m transit to next
10:30
Pima Point

Sight

On a still morning you can hear Granite Rapid from 4,000 feet above it.

2.0 km · 10m transit to next
11:45
Hermits Rest

Sight

Colter’s stone shelter with the giant fireplace ends the road. Snack window, then shuttle back.