Biking Hermit Road was our favorite way to see the Grand Canyon, and our six-year-old loved every minute of it from his bike trailer. We rented e-bikes, rode the 7 miles out to Hermits Rest, stopped at nearly every overlook along the way, and had the road mostly to ourselves. Here's exactly how we did it, what the ride is actually like with a kid, and what to know before you go. If you want to see how this fit into the rest of our trip, our 3-day Grand Canyon itinerary walks through every day.
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Hermit Road Bike Ride at a Glance
Distance: about 7 miles each way, Village to Hermits Rest
Surface: paved road, plus a paved Greenway section near the end
Elevation: around 7,000 feet; mostly downhill heading out, more climbing on the way back
Time: about 4.5 hours round trip for us on e-bikes, with lots of stops and lunch at Hermits Rest; plan on longer with regular bikes
Season: closed to private cars March 1 to November 30; bike rentals mid-March through October 31
Cost: free with your park entrance pass (rentals extra)
Water: Visitor Center and Hermits Rest
Restrooms: Hopi Point and Hermits Rest
Why Hermit Road Is Perfect for Biking With Kids
From March 1 through November 30, cars are off-limits on Hermit Road, the 7-mile scenic route that follows the South Rim west from Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest. That means the only traffic you’ll share it with is the park’s shuttle buses, a few tour vehicles, and other bikers and walkers. For a family, that’s about as low-stress as riding in a national park gets.
The views are the other reason. The road hugs the rim the whole way, with a string of overlooks you can pull into as often as you want. On a bike, stopping is easy: no parking, no waiting for the next shuttle, just hop off, look, and keep going. At a few spots, paved bike paths split off from the road and run closer to the edge, which gives you an even better look at the canyon.
Renting Bikes at the Grand Canyon: Our E-Bikes and Bike Trailer
We picked up our bikes at 9 a.m. from Canyon Adventures Bike Tours & Café (formerly Bright Angel Bicycles), next to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. We went with electric bikes, and they were a blast. Jackson rode in a trailer hitched to Matt's bike, which he loved, and it made a lot more sense than asking a six-year-old to pedal 14 miles round trip at 7,000 feet.
How we booked our bikes: We reserved a full-day rental (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) online about six months ahead of our trip: two e-bikes in different frame sizes for Matt and me, plus a bike trailer for Jackson. Book early for summer, since e-bikes and trailers are limited. Before you arrive, everyone riding fills out a quick online waiver, which saves time at pickup. Then you’ll meet the rental team next to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center (10 South Entrance Road) to get fitted and head out. Even with a full day, between the heat, all our overlook stops, lunch at Hermits Rest, and our bonus ride to Yaki Point, we had our bikes out until mid-afternoon, and we loved not feeling rushed.
From the rental shop, you'll ride the paved Greenway path through the Village to the start of Hermit Road. Then the fun part begins.
Shorter Option: The Hermit Road Bike Shuttle
If a full out-and-back sounds like too much, the rental shop runs a bike shuttle that drops you at Hopi Point. From there, you ride about 5.5 mostly downhill miles to Hermits Rest, and their van brings you back. Trailers and tag-alongs are available for kids, but e-bikes aren’t allowed on it, so we skipped it and did the full ride on our e-bikes instead.
Hermit Road Viewpoints: Every Stop From the Village to Hermits Rest
We stopped at pretty much every overlook, because if I’m going somewhere, I have to experience it fully. (Don’t worry, I didn’t make everyone stop at every one on the way back.) Even if you skip a few, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Here are the viewpoints in order heading out from the Village, with the park’s distance to the next stop (Trailview Overlook is 0.7 miles from the start of Hermit Road):
Trailview Overlook (0.7 miles to the next stop)
Maricopa Point (0.5 miles)
Powell Point (0.3 miles)
Hopi Point (0.8 miles), with restrooms. This one gives you a wide, sweeping view of the canyon and was one of our favorites.
Mohave Point (1.1 miles)
The Abyss (0.9 miles)
Monument Creek Vista (1.7 miles)
Pima Point (1.1 miles)
Hermits Rest, the end of the road
Honestly, they were all great, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. The one surprise: the view right at Hermits Rest isn’t as dramatic from the bike as some of the earlier overlooks. About a quarter mile past it is the trailhead for the Hermit Trail, which heads down into the canyon, but the park rates it for experienced desert hikers only, with a steep drop of almost 2,000 feet in the first 2.5 miles. We didn’t hike it, and it’s not something to tack on after a bike ride with kids.
Lunch (and Ice Cream) at Hermits Rest
We ended the ride at Hermits Rest (you’ll also see it written Hermit’s Rest), the rustic stone building at the end of Hermit Road. Architect Mary Colter designed it in 1914 to look like a hermit’s stone cabin, built from local boulders and timber, and inside it has a cozy, cabin-in-the-woods feel, with a huge arched fireplace as the centerpiece. There’s a gift shop, a snack bar with ice cream and popsicles (exactly what you want on a hot day), restrooms, and the only water bottle filling station on Hermit Road.
We packed lunch meat and chips from our cooler and ate there, then grabbed a Coke and ice cream before heading back. Lunch with that view? Chef's kiss, even if we were only eating lunch meat. For everything else we ate on the trip (gluten-free edition), read What the Heck Did We Eat at the Grand Canyon for 3 Days?
What Cycling Hermit Road Is Actually Like With Kids
The sun is brutal
There’s basically no shade along Hermit Road, and the sun at this elevation is no joke. Sunscreen is a must, plus hats and sunglasses for everyone. We reapplied at our stops and kept drinks cold in the trailer.
Sharing the road with shuttle buses
Every so often, a park shuttle comes up behind you. When that happens, the park’s rule is to find a safe spot on the right side of the road, hop off your bike, and wait for the bus to pass. It happened a handful of times for us and was never a big deal, and otherwise we had the road mostly to ourselves.
Hills and heat
Heading out toward Hermits Rest is mostly downhill, which means the ride back has more climbing. Add in the altitude (the South Rim sits around 7,000 feet) and summer heat, and you can see why we were so glad we had e-bikes. Our ride back fell in the hottest part of the day, so we kept plenty of water and snacks stashed in the trailer with Jackson and stopped often at the viewpoints to rest.
If your kid is riding their own bike
Make sure they're steady on a bike first. There are spots where it would be easy to drift toward the edge of the road if you're not paying attention, especially when everyone is trying to sneak a look at the canyon. For younger or newer riders, the Hermit Road Greenway is a nice option: a 2.8-mile paved path, separate from the road, between Monument Creek Vista and Hermits Rest. The full ride is long, too, and we’d imagine it’s pretty tough for young kids pedaling their own non-electric bikes. Keep that in mind when you choose your bikes and decide whether to add a trailer.
No shuttle bailout with a trailer
Park shuttles have bike racks on the front that fit two or three bikes, but they can’t carry bike trailers, tag-alongs, or kids’ bikes with wheels smaller than 16 inches. If you’re pulling a trailer like we were, plan to ride the whole route out and back.
Our Bonus Ride: The Greenway to Yaki Point
With a few hours of daylight left, we weren't ready to turn our bikes in. Remember how I said I have to experience everything to the fullest? So we picked up the paved Greenway Trail near the Visitor Center and rode out toward the South Kaibab Trailhead, then continued along Yaki Point Road to Yaki Point. It's a shorter, easier add-on with canyon views the whole way, and it doubled as a scouting trip: that's when we found our parking spot for the next morning's sunrise hike to Ooh Aah Point. Since you ride right past the Visitor Center to get there, we stopped for a cold drink and a smoothie at the bike shop’s café, refilled our water, and let Jackson stretch his legs before continuing on.
Tips for Biking Hermit Road With Kids
Go early. Start in the morning so you hit the hottest hours closer to the end of your ride.
Wear helmets. The park requires them, and you can usually rent them with your bikes. They were part of our rental.
Consider e-bikes. Especially if you're pulling a trailer, riding in summer, or not used to the altitude.
Rent the bikes for a full day. Between overlook stops, a long lunch, the heat, and any extra rides, it takes more time than the mileage suggests. This also takes the stress and rush out of your day.
If you’re pulling a trailer or tag-along, plan to ride the whole route. Park shuttles can’t carry bike trailers, tag-alongs, or small kids’ bikes.
Pack more water than you think you’ll need, plus snacks, and refill at the Visitor Center and Hermits Rest.
Sun protection for the whole crew: sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses (kids included).
Bring layers. Mornings on the rim can feel cool even in summer. Our Grand Canyon packing list has everything we brought.
You’ll find restrooms at a few viewpoints, including Hopi Point, and at Hermits Rest.
Check the season. The park lists bike rentals as generally running mid-March through October 31, and in December through February, Hermit Road opens to private cars.
Have a talk about the edge. Most overlooks have spots with no railing. If you're not sure about your kid near unguarded edges, read our honest take on whether the Grand Canyon is good for kids.
Staying in Tusayan? The 6.5-mile Tusayan Greenway connects Tusayan with the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. It’s a steady climb into the park with no water or services along the way, and you’ll need your park pass. See our guide to where to stay at the South Rim.
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Hermit Road Biking FAQ
Can you bike Hermit Road at the Grand Canyon?
Yes. You can ride Hermit Road any time of year, and since cars aren’t allowed on it from March 1 through November 30, your main company is the park shuttle.
How long is the Hermit Road bike ride?
Hermit Road is about 7 miles each way (the park’s stop-to-stop distances add up to closer to 8), so plan on 14 to 16 miles round trip from the Village, plus a few more miles each way on the Greenway if you start at the Visitor Center. The rental shop’s bike shuttle drops you at Hopi Point, which cuts the ride to about 5.5 miles one way.
How long does it take to bike Hermit Road?
It took us about four and a half hours. We picked up our e-bikes at 9 a.m. and were back at the bike shop around 1:30 p.m., including overlook stops and lunch at Hermits Rest. We took it slow on purpose, since our rental ran until 5 p.m. After a cold drink and a smoothie at the bike shop’s café, we still had time to ride out to Yaki Point and back, and we returned our bikes around 3:30 p.m. You could do Hermit Road faster on e-bikes, but on regular bikes, especially pulling a trailer, plan on it taking longer. Either way, rent bikes for the full day so you’re not rushed.
Is biking Hermit Road hard?
The road is paved and the ride out is mostly downhill, but the return has more climbing at around 7,000 feet. E-bikes make it much easier, especially in summer heat or with a trailer.
Where can you rent bikes at the Grand Canyon?
Canyon Adventures Bike Tours & Café, next to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, rents bikes, e-bikes, trailers, and tag-alongs. Rentals generally run mid-March through October 31. Book online ahead of time, especially for e-bikes and trailers in summer.
Can young kids bike Hermit Road?
Yes. We pulled our six-year-old in a bike trailer. Kids riding their own bikes should be steady riders, and the 2.8-mile Hermit Road Greenway is a good option for newer riders.
Can you take a bike trailer on the Grand Canyon shuttle?
No. Shuttles have front racks for two or three bikes, but they can’t carry bike trailers, tag-alongs, or kids’ bikes with wheels under 16 inches. You load and unload your own bike.
Can you take a shuttle and bike down Hermit Road?
Yes. The rental shop’s Hermit Road Bike Shuttle drives you and your bikes to Hopi Point, you ride about 5.5 mostly downhill miles to Hermits Rest, and their van brings you back. It runs roughly March through mid-October, kids who can’t keep up can ride in a trailer or on a tag-along, and e-bikes aren’t allowed on it. You can also load a regular bike onto the free park shuttle yourself, just not trailers, tag-alongs, or small kids’ bikes.
Is there water and shade along Hermit Road?
Refill at the Visitor Center before you start and at Hermits Rest, which has a water bottle filling station. There’s very little shade, so bring sunscreen and plenty to drink.
How much does it cost to bike Hermit Road?
Riding is free with your park entrance pass. Bike, e-bike, and trailer rentals are extra.
Can you bike into the Grand Canyon from Tusayan?
Yes. The Tusayan Greenway runs 6.5 miles from Tusayan to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. It’s a steady climb with no water or services along the way, and you’ll need a park entrance pass.
Are e-bikes allowed on Hermit Road?
Yes. The park allows e-bikes on its roads, and certain classes of e-bikes on the Greenway trails. Check the NPS bicycling page for the current rules before you go.
Bottom Line
If you only do one activity at the Grand Canyon with kids, make it biking Hermit Road. Rent e-bikes, start early, pack lunch for Hermits Rest, and stop at every overlook that catches your eye. This was a memory for us that will stick.
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