Hermit Road (West Rim Drive) will open to private vehicles on November 16, 2008, remaining open until March 1st, 2009. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at the new shuttle bus stop near the Hermit Road turn-off and the Bright Angel Trailhead (just west of Bright Angel Lodge). The ceremony celebrates the completion of the Hermit Road Rehabilitation Project.

After March 1st, 2009 Hermit Road will close for the busy season. Hikers with a valid backcountry permit wanting to park at the Hermit Trailhead are required to use a numerical code to access Hermit Road from March through November. The Backcountry Information Center provides the gate access code when issuing a permit to those beginning and/or ending their hike at Hermit Trailhead.

The Hermit Road Rehabilitation project began in February, 2008 causing the Hermit Trailhead to essentially be closed to hikers for a few months during construction. The project addressed numerous safety issues including road widening and resurfacing, overlook bus stop improvements, a new shuttle bus shelter at the Hermit Road Interchange, and improving over five miles of rim trails - including a new three-mile Greenway Trail which will accommodate both bicyclists and pedestrians.



NPS Photo