Sight · Grand Canyon National Park
A quick view of Monument Creek and Granite Rapid.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Grand Canyon Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Grand Canyon National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Grand Canyon audio tourRecorded for this place
Monument Creek Vista and the Greenway“Monument Creek Vista is ahead, a quick look down its namesake drainage to the Colorado River. For a walk or bike ride, the paved Greenway starts here and runs two point eight miles toward Hermits Rest.”
Plays as you drive up to Monument Creek Vista in the Parkwolf Grand Canyon Tour Guide.
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Guide
Monument Creek Vista is a South Rim overlook on Hermit Road, with Monument Creek far below and Granite Rapid on the Colorado River. The view starts right at the stop, so you don't need a walk to see it. I'd make a quick stop if you're already riding the Hermit Road shuttle, especially if you want to continue along the Greenway.
Look down the canyon toward the river and pick out the line of Monument Creek; Granite Rapid is the landmark on the Colorado. For a photo, aim along the drainage so the canyon's layered walls show how far it drops. The main view is directly from the stop.
This is the eastern end of a paved pedestrian and bicycle path that runs 2.8 miles west, past Pima Point, and rejoins Hermit Road just before Hermits Rest. It follows much of the old 1912 Hermit Road carriage-road alignment. The path is wheelchair accessible, and there's a bicycle rack at the vista.
From March 1 through November 30, Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles and most visitors use the free Red Route shuttle. Monument Creek Vista is an outbound-only stop toward Hermits Rest, so plan to board a return shuttle at a different stop. In December, January and February, private vehicles under 22 feet may use the road, but the shuttle doesn't run.
Wildlife
718 sightingsCalifornia CondorMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
533 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
169 sightingsAmerican BisonMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,891 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
59 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
27 sightingsGray FoxMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Grand Canyon. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingDripping Springs Trail7 mi · 6 hr · 1.7 mi awayA steep canyon walk to Louis Boucher’s old spring camp.
ChallengingWaldron Trail via Hermit Trail6.1 mi · 5 hr · 1.7 mi awayA steep descent, a quiet canyon crossing, then a switchback climb out.
ChallengingHermit Trail9.7 mi · 8 hr · 1.7 mi awayA rough historic rim-to-river route that ends at Hermit Rapids.
ChallengingBoucher Trail18.6 mi · 18 hr · 1.7 mi awaySteep canyon miles to a prospector’s old creekside camp.
ChallengingMonument Creek Trail3.2 mi · 2 hr · 1.7 mi awayA steep backcountry descent from Monument Creek to Granite Rapids.
ChallengingBright Angel Trail7.8 mi · 4.5 hr · 2.2 mi awayCanyon layers, mule trains and a 4,400-foot descent to the river.
ChallengingPlateau Point Trail12 mi · 10.5 hr · 2.2 mi awayA long descent earns a wide view of the Colorado River.
EasyThe Trail of Time3.3 mi · 2 hr · 3.7 mi awayA paved timeline where every meter spans a million years.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayThe AbyssA near-vertical look into the Monument Creek drainage.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayMohave PointSee the river and three named rapids from the rim.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayPima PointSee the river, and sometimes hear Granite Rapids.
Sight · 1.6 mi awayHermits RestA stone rest stop with a fireplace worth stepping inside for.
Sight · 1.8 mi awayHopi PointWalk the long point for five views of the Colorado River.
2 mi awayGrand Canyon KennelA South Rim kennel for visitors traveling with dogs or cats.
Sight · 2 mi awayPowell PointA Hermit Road overlook with Powell's memorial and wide canyon views.
Sight · 2 mi awayBright Angel Fault Fossil BedsSpot marine fossils in the limestone that forms the rim.Parkwolf’s Grand Canyon ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
