Powell Point
A rim memorial to the man who first ran the canyon's river
About
Powell Point sits on Hermit Road on the South Rim, a short walk from the Hermit Road shuttle stop of the same name. The main feature is the Powell Memorial, a stone monument dedicated in 1915 that honors Major John Wesley Powell and the crews of his 1869 and 1871-72 expeditions, the first parties to successfully run the Green and Colorado Rivers through the canyon. You can walk right up to the memorial and read the crew names carved into it. The point also holds a piece of National Park Service history: it was the site of the agency's formal inauguration ceremony in 1919.
Visiting
- Reached by the Hermit Road shuttle (seasonal, vehicle-free road) or on foot along the Rim Trail from nearby Maricopa Point, past the old Orphan Mine site.
- A quieter alternative to Hopi Point just to the west, with similar open views west down the canyon.
- Good for sunrise or sunset, with benches and interpretive signs at the memorial.
Best Time to Visit
Good for sunrise or sunset, with benches and interpretive signs at the memorial — a quieter alternative to Hopi Point just to the west.
Trail Tips
- You can walk right up to the memorial and read the crew names carved into it.
- Similar open views west down the canyon as Hopi Point, with fewer crowds.
- Pair with a stop at nearby Maricopa Point and the Orphan Mine site for a fuller Hermit Road history walk.
Getting to Powell Point
Reached by the Hermit Road shuttle (seasonal, vehicle-free road) or on foot along the Rim Trail from nearby Maricopa Point, past the old Orphan Mine site.
What to Expect at Powell Point
Powell Point sits on Hermit Road on the South Rim, a short walk from the Hermit Road shuttle stop of the same name. The main feature is the Powell Memorial, a stone monument dedicated in 1915 that honors Major John Wesley Powell and the crews of his 1869 and 1871-72 expeditions, the first parties to successfully run the Green and Colorado Rivers through the canyon. The point also holds a piece of National Park Service history: it was the site of the agency's formal inauguration ceremony in 1919.
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