Grand Canyon Flooding Update  —  Red Feather Lodge and the Town of Tusayan remain open and unaffected by the recent Grand Canyon flooding. The South Rim remains open for day use. Overnight lodging inside the park is temporarily suspended, while lodging in Tusayan remains available and unaffected.   Read the full update →

Grand Canyon South Rim · Viewpoint 15

Shoshone Point

This viewpoint offers one of the most serene and private Grand Canyon experiences, rewarding visitors with sweeping north-northeast panoramic views across the vast canyon.

Sunrise & Sunset No Shuttle — Drive

  • Walk from Parking 1 mile (2 miles round trip) on dirt trail.
  • Shuttle Stop No.
  • Accessibility No.
  • Restrooms Yes, at Viewpoint.
  • Food No.

What You Will See

This viewpoint offers one of the most serene and private Grand Canyon experiences, rewarding visitors with sweeping north-northeast panoramic views across the vast canyon. From the dramatic, jutting promontory, you can clearly see major canyon features like the Desert View Watchtower in the distance, Vishnu Temple, and the North Rim. The foreground is a cross-section of the canyon's colorful rock layers, often with the distant rushing sound of Hance Rapids audible below. The unique characteristic of Shoshone Point is that it is the only spot on the South Rim that can be officially reserved for private events like weddings and family reunions. When it is not reserved, the general public can access it via an easy, approximately one-mile walk (two miles round-trip) along a gated, unpaved service road through a beautiful Ponderosa pine forest, which effectively filters out the crowds and provides a sense of quiet solitude unavailable at most other rim viewpoints.

Best Time to Visit

  • Best light Both Sunrise and Sunset
  • Crowd level Low-May need a flashlight when walking through forest before sunrise and after sunset
  • Shuttle route No Shuttle Service — Desert View Drive

Distance & Time from Red Feather Lodge

Approximately 8.5 miles from Red Feather Lodge. Allow at least 3-4 hours to see the viewpoints along Desert View Drive.

Good to Know Before You Go

Viewpoint can only be accessed by hiking 1 mile (1.6 km) from the dirt parking area (limited amount of parking in this area). The unsigned turn-off (dirt parking area) is on the north side of Desert View Drive (AZ 64), 1.2 miles (1.9 km) east of Yaki Point Road and just west of mile marker 244. A locked gate limits access to the unpaved, single lane road that leads one mile (1.6 km) through the forest to the viewpoint. Due to this being an event venue area, access can be denied when a authorized permit is posted. No shuttle bus service to this viewpoint.