Mather Point is the first glimpse of the Grand Canyon for most South Rim visitors, offering an expansive view where on a clear day you can see over 30 miles to the east and 60 miles to the west, with the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch visible far below.

The Desert View Watchtower is a 70-foot stone tower at the easternmost point of the South Rim, built in 1932 by architect Mary Colter and modeled after the ancient architecture of the Ancestral Puebloan people, its interior walls adorned with Hopi murals by artist Fred Kabotie.

Yavapai Point offers perhaps the best panorama on this stretch of the South Rim, as it is the most northerly point and closest to the Colorado River, allowing unobstructed views up and down the gorge.

Hermit's Rest is a National Historic Landmark at the western end of Hermit Road, designed by architect Mary Colter in 1914 to resemble an old miner's cabin, built from native stonework with a giant alcove fireplace that surprises visitors with its grandeur inside the otherwise rustic exterior.