Introduction:
What? :
Desert View
Watchtower is located at the very far east side of the south rim road, 25 miles
away from the main Ground Canyon South Rim Village.
This point
provide great and different viewpoint of the deep Colorado River canyon, here
the canyon is wider and more open, you can have a clear view of the river and a
view both to the east and west.
The main “attraction”
here is the watchtower building as well as the unique viewing point of the
Grand Canyon below you.
Compare to the Village
and main park Visitor Center this area is a lot less crowded.
Where? :
The south rim main
park entrance is located 1.5 hours’ drive from Flagstaff (that has the closest
commercial airport), 3.5 hours from Phoenix, AZ and 4 hours drive from Las
Vegas, NV.
There is
another entrance to the Grand Canyon South Rim by highway 64, this road will
lead you to the east entrance of the park, near Desert View. People that are
coming or going to Page AZ use this park entrance.
Google Map Link
When? :
Typically, the
best times to visit the Grand Canyon are the spring and fall months.
The summer
temperatures can be 100 degrees at the rim level and much higher if you are hiking
down into the canyon. The summer nights can be colder and pleasant.
In the spring
and fall, daytime temperatures are around 60 to 70 degrees at the rim, though
nighttime lows will be much colder.
Summer thunderstorms
are common late afternoon in July, August, and early September.
The winter
month are cold, and you can have snowstorm in the rim level.
The south side
of the park (~7,000 ft elevation) stayed open year-round but the North Rim that
is higher in elevation (8,300 ft) is covered in deep snow and closed for the
winter months (about mid-October to mid-May).
on February 1,
1985. The warmest was 120°F at Phantom Ranch on several dates during summer
months.
For up-to-date
weather, road information, and live webcam view:
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weather-condition.htm
Due note 1:
The East
Entrance to the park at Desert View is open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. (Unless
temporarily closed by snow). The road the connect the village to the Desert
View, Desert View Drive, is open to all vehicles throughout the year.
Due note 2:
Drinking water
is available.
Flush Toilets are
available near the parking lot.
No cell Phone
Reception
Due note 3:
Pets are allowed
but must be always leashed.
Due note 4:
Except the
campground, no overnight loading is available at Desert View.
Due note 5:
The Desert View
Campground is open mid-April to October, available by reservation only at
www.recreation.gov and can be made up to 6 months in advance. Campsite fee is $18.00
per night.
You can find
most of the expected campsite items available but there are no showers,
laundromat, or dump station at Desert View Campground.
Due note 6:
Near the
campground entrance there is a Pay-at-the-Pump Gas Station, credit/debit card
only.
Due note 7:
Time: Most of Arizona,
including Grand Canyon National Park, stays on Mountain Standard
Time year-round (no summer daylight saving time change).
Note: the
northern Arizona Indian reservation may have different time zone than the state
of Arizona. The time in Page AZ may be different than the local time and the
same is for Utah state time zone.
Due note 8:
Located at the
very far east of the south rim road, 25 miles from the main visitor center. The
speed limit in the park is slow (usually 35 mile/hr) and you will probably stop
on your drive in viewing points, plan for about one hour of driving time from
visitor center to Desert View.
Due note 9:
The road the
connect the village to the Desert View, Desert View Drive, is open to all
vehicles throughout the year.
There is no shuttle
service connecting to Desert View!
My thoughts:
I want to visit
here many times in the past, but it did not happen because of that most of our previous
Grand Canyon visits where focus on exploring the visitor center and village
area.
During our last
visit to the park (Sep. 2024) we did took the Desert View Dr heading east but
because we stated it late at the afternoon, we made our last after sunset stop
at Lipan Point, and did not manage to visit here. Two days later, on our way
back from Page Area we decided to visit here and enjoy what this location has
to offer.
This is a unique
point, the large, tall tower building, located right on the cliff, is impressive.
The view from here is different and you can clearly see the Colorado River from
here and maybe the best, this is a lot less crowded place, and you can find
viewing points without hundreds of other people walking around.
The Visit:
Approximately 30 miles (48 km) west of Cameron, AZ (highway 89), and 23 miles (37 km) east of Grand Canyon Village.
The Desert View Entrance Station serves as a secondary
gateway to the South Rim and the primary portal to the Desert View area. It is
open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
The main
attraction at Desert View is the watchtower building as well as the unique
viewing point of the Grand Canyon below you.
Unlike most of
the viewing point near the visitor center, from this point you can clearly see
the Colorado River in the canyon. You have a vast view to the west and the main
section of the narrow canyon as well as the open flat area to the east.
The viewing
platform near the Watchtower is a fence protected but if you will walk to the
left of the building the canyon cliff is without any protection so be careful.
The Watchtower
was design by Mary Colter and built in 1932. It is based on the architecture of
the Ancestral Puebloan people of the Four Corners region.
Today, the
building is used as a store and a small visitor center.
The upper
floors of the tower are open, when staffing allows, from 8:20 am to 4:40 pm. During
season there is a 20-minute tours at the upper floors and the viewing tower (free
admission, just need to register).
Nearby you can
find a trading Post with Native American Handicrafts, Convenience store, market
and deli. The market sells groceries and souvenirs so you can get some supply
here.
Additional Pictures:
Comments
Post a Comment