The Abyss

The Abyss is a named overlook on the South Rim’s Hermit Road, between Mohave Point and Monument Creek Vista. From the rim, the canyon falls almost straight down into the Monument Creek drainage. The National Park Service gives the cliff a drop of about 3,000 feet (914 m), the longest of its kind along the South Rim. It is a quick stop for that sudden change in scale; some visitors find the neighboring views more distinctive.

Look for pale blocks of rock scattered across the red slopes. There is no fault channeling much runoff into a side canyon here, so the park says gravity pulling rock from the face does more of the shaping than water cutting a channel. Follow the wall down and you are looking toward Monument Creek, with the Colorado River at Granite Rapids farther below.

For a photo, keep the pale rockfall patches and red slope together in the frame; a wide canyon-only shot can lose the feature that makes this stop different.

From March through November, Hermit Road is closed to private cars. Reach The Abyss by the free Red Route shuttle, on foot, by bicycle, or on a commercial tour. Its shuttle stop serves the outbound trip toward Hermits Rest only, so account for that direction when planning where to get off. From December through February, the shuttle does not run and private vehicles under 22 feet may use the road. The park lists a bicycle rack and shuttle stop here, but no food or restroom; plan your supplies before setting out.

The dirt Rim Trail runs 0.9 mile west to Monument Creek Vista and 1.1 miles east to Mohave Point. The overlook itself is beside the stop; walking a little along the established trail gives you different angles on the wall. Keep to the trail and take care near the canyon edge.