Shoshone Point

Shoshone Point is a South Rim viewpoint reached by an easy, two-mile round-trip walk on an old dirt road. It’s a good pick when you want a walk-in break from the roadside overlooks: the unsigned parking area is off Desert View Drive, then it’s about a mile each way. Visitors often describe the route as mostly level and shaded, with a quiet, wide view at the end. Bring water; there’s none at the site.

The old road passes through ponderosa pine forest, then the trees give way to pinyon-juniper woodland near the rim. It’s a natural little change of scene before the canyon opens up. In spring, snowmelt can leave the road muddy, so stay on the road and expect soft footing.

The viewpoint faces north-northeast, across the canyon toward the North Rim. Look east for Desert View Watchtower. For a photo, leave some of the pale rock and shrubs along the rim in the foreground; they show where you’re standing and keep the far cliffs from filling the whole frame.

Shoshone Point is named for the Shoshone people. Their historic homelands stretched across parts of what are now the Great Basin and the northern Rockies, and Shoshone communities still live in several western states.

The site has a covered pavilion, picnic tables, grills, trash cans and a vault toilet, but no water or electricity. It’s the park’s reservable site for private events, so an event can close the area to other visitors. If the gate is open or unlocked, the park asks visitors to reconsider the walk. Bring your own food; there’s no food service at the point.