The Abyss

The Abyss is one of those Hermit Road stops that rewards people who actually get off the bus. Named for the sheer, near-vertical drop of the Redwall Limestone cliffs below, it doesn't have the postcard sweep of some bigger South Rim overlooks — but it's got something better: room to breathe. Reviewers consistently note it's less crowded than the marquee viewpoints along the route, even though the vertical scale here is some of the most dramatic on the whole Hermit Road corridor.

What you'll find

This is a straightforward viewpoint, not a hike — walk out from the shuttle stop and you're at the rim. The Rim Trail runs right through here too, so it's easy to combine with a longer walk toward Hermits Rest if you want to keep going. One visitor mentioned exploring a bit left and right of the bus stop rather than just staying put at the platform, which opens up some quieter framing of the drop-off.

• Access: along Hermit Road; from March through November the road is closed to private vehicles and reached via the park's free Red Route shuttle
• Facilities: none — no restrooms at this stop, per visitor reports
• Rating: 4.8 stars from 475 Google reviews
• Hours: the overlook itself is open 24 hours, though shuttle service runs on its own seasonal schedule

Good for sunrise, late afternoon, or anytime you want canyon views without shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. Ten, fifteen minutes here is plenty unless you're settling in to watch the swifts work the thermals along the cliff face.