Road work on West road Hermits Rest Hiking limited

[Dschur]

Grand Canyon, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park’s historic Hermit Road will be
rehabilitated this spring. Hermit Road is located on the park’s South Rim between Grand
Canyon Village and Hermits Rest. The project is expected to begin in February and be
completed by the end of November 2008.
Hermit Road is a popular roadway and destination for South Rim visitors and includes nine
overlooks, access to the historic Hermits Rest and Hermit Trailhead, seven miles of improved
and unimproved rim trails, and many popular spots for viewing sunset. Normally, visitors use a
free shuttle bus service provided by the National Park Service (NPS) to travel Hermit Road from
March 1 through November 30. During the winter months (December 1 through February 29),
Hermit Road is accessible by private vehicle. Commercial tours are also provided year-round on
Hermit Road by Xanterra South Rim, LLC (Xanterra).
The Santa Fe Railway constructed the first road to Hermits Rest in the early years of the last
century. The Bureau of Public Roads and the NPS designed and constructed the current road
between 1934 and 1935. It is now in poor condition and does not meet current safety standards.
The 18 to 20-foot-wide road is too narrow for safe bus passage, especially when bicyclists and
pedestrians are using the road. Although the road has received some periodic maintenance, the
pavement is in poor condition because the road was not built for the size of vehicles and volume
of traffic it receives today.
The rehabilitation of Hermit Road includes road widening and resurfacing to a consistent width
of 24 feet, improvements to shuttle bus stops at each of the overlooks, provision of accessible
pedestrian routes from shuttle bus stops to viewing areas, and improvements to approximately
five miles of rim trails, including construction of a new three-mile, multi-use greenway trail
which will be open to both pedestrians and bicyclists.
Construction activities on Hermit Road start in February 2008; however, visitors will continue to
have access to the entire length of the road, including overlooks and Hermits Rest, during
February and March. Beginning April 1, 2008, Hermit Road will be closed to all vehicles from
Hopi Point west to Hermits Rest to allow for construction on the western end of the road. In
addition, the Rim Trail, which runs parallel to Hermit Road, will be closed from Hopi Point to
Hermits Rest. Pedestrians will not be allowed to walk along any portion of either the road or the
Rim Trail between Hopi Point and Hermits Rest. During this time, the road will remain open
from Hopi Point, east to where Hermit Road intersects with Village Loop Road and will continue
to be served by the park’s free shuttle system. Beginning July 7, the entire length of Hermit
Road will be closed to all vehicles from the Hermit Road intersection west to Hermits Rest.
Starting at this time, the Rim Trail will be closed from the first Trailview Overlook west to
Hermits Rest. As needed temporary closures may need to occur between the Hermit Road
intersection and first Trailview Overlook for construction activities.
Access to the Hermit Trailhead will be limited from April 1 through the end of November 2008
(or until completion of construction activities). Day hiking will not be allowed on the Hermit
Trail during this time period. Visitors who have obtained an overnight backcountry permit from
the park’s Backcountry Information Center (BIC) for backcountry use areas reached by the
Hermit Trail will only be allowed access to the trailhead during the months of April, May,
September, October, and November. No access will be permitted to the trailhead during the
months of June, July and August. During the months that Hermit Trail is accessible,
backcountry permit holders will only be allowed to hike down the Hermit Trail; an alternate trail
must be used to hike out.
To help reduce impacts caused by these construction activities, the NPS will provide early
morning free shuttle service to the Hermit Trailhead for use only by overnight backcountry
permit holders during months when the trail is useable. The approximate shuttle schedule will be
as follows:
• April 1 – 30: shuttle buses will leave the BIC
At 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• May 1 – 31: shuttle buses will leave the BIC at 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
• September – November 30: shuttle buses will leave the BIC each morning; times
to be determined.
For additional trail access and hiking information visit the park’s Web site or
contact NPS rangers at the
Backcountry Information Center at 928-638-7875 Monday through Friday (except holidays)
between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. MST.
During the closure of Hermit Road, the NPS recommends the following recreational
opportunities for day hiking:
• Visitors can enjoy rim hikes of up to 6 miles along the Rim Trail from Hopi Point,
(April 1 – July 6) or from the first Trailview Overlook (July 7 – November 30) east to
Pipe Creek Vista. This paved rim trail can be reached at several parking lots and up
to six bus stops served by the free shuttle bus system.
• Visitors can also enjoy day hikes below the rim using the Bright Angel and South
Kaibab Trails. The free shuttle buses transport visitors to these trailheads.

[Dschur]

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Route replaces Hermit run

Construction crews continue work on the rehabilitation of Grand Canyon's historic Hermit Road. The project started in February, with the road west of Hopi Point closing on April 1.

As of Monday, the entire length of Hermit Road was closed and will remain closed until late November, when the project is expected to be completed. On Monday, shuttle service also started from Canyon View Information Plaza to Desert View with stops at Grandview Point, the Tusayan Ruin and Museum, Moran Point and Desert View.

Buses run at 20-minute intervals with the first bus leaving CVIP at 7 a.m. and the last run at 5 p.m. The first Desert View bus leaves at 8:10 a.m. and the last departure from Desert View is 6:10 p.m. Service stops before sunset.


The Rim Trail is now closed from the first Trailview Overlook west to Hermits Rest. Construction may force temporary closures of the trail between Hermit Road intersection and first Trailview Overlook.

Hermit Trail will be closed to day hikers until construction activities have been completed. Backcountry permits for hikes entering on the Hermit Trail and exiting elsewhere will only be issued from September-November. A morning shuttle will be provided for permit holders.

Visitors with an overnight backcountry permit for areas accessible from the Hermit Trail from the park's Backcountry Information Center (BIC), for backcountry use areas reached by the Hermit Trail, will only be allowed access to the trailhead during the months of September, October and November. No access will be permitted to the trailhead during the months of June, July and August. During the months that Hermit Trail is accessible, backcountry permit holders will only be allowed to hike down Hermit Trail; an alternate trail must be used to hike out.
Hermit Road includes nine overlooks, access to the historic Hermits Rest and Hermit Trailhead, seven miles of improved and unimproved rim trails and many popular spots for viewing sunset. Normally it is open only to shuttle riders, pedestrians, bicycles and handicapped drivers from March through November.

The project includes widening the road to 24 feet, improving bus stops and developing up to five miles of pedestrian trail including a three-mile, multi-use greenway trail for pedestrians and bicyclists.

For more information about guided bus tours on the South Rim, contact Xanterra at 928-638-2631

[azbackpackr]

So why did they send me a letter saying the road would be totally closed in October and I would have to enter via Waldron trail, or I would have to walk along West Rim Road to the Hermit trailhead, and they wouldn't issue me the permit unless I was willing to add 17 miles or something like that to my hike. I had put in for Monument Creek/Granite Rapids via Hermit to Tonto Trails, and would have been granted the permit had I responded to the letter. I chose not to respond, deciding instead to just let it go due to other concerns (I may be moving right about that time, and didn't want too much on my plate.) So I guess I'm not too annoyed, due to this other concern that I'll be too busy then, but otherwise, I might have just had to have had a hissy fit or something like that! ;)

[Dschur]

According to the National park service website

Inner Canyon

Hermit Trail: All backcountry permit holders hiking into the canyon via the Hermit Trail are required to use an alternate trail to complete their hike. Hikers will not be allowed to hike out via the Hermit Trail. Access to Hermit Trailhead will be limited to free early morning shuttle buses (drop off only).

June, July, and August: No access by foot or vehicle.

September, October, and November: park shuttle bus will take hikers to the Hermit Trailhead at following times (no pick-up).

September: shuttle buses will leave the Backcountry Information Center at 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.

October: shuttle buses will leave the Backcountry Information Center at 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

November: shuttle buses will leave the Backcountry Information Center at 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Note: Restrooms are available near the Hermit Trailhead.

Alternate Trails: During construction, access will be limited to the Hermit Basin. Visitors wishing to obtain backcountry permits are encouraged to use alternate trails and safe backcountry itineraries. Please refer to the Backcountry Trip Planner and talk with a park ranger at the Backcountry Information Center or at the visitor center at Canyon View Information Plaza for additional guidance and information.

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