Desert View - Grand Canyon National Park

Our May 2015 trip to the southwest continued with a visit to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. We entered the park from the east and our first stop after the fee station was Desert View, elevation 7438 feet. The Desert View visitor center was recently moved into the ground floor of the 70 foot high Watchtower. This National Historic Landmark was designed by architect Mary Colter and constructed in 1932. In addition to an information desk in the great room, a bookstore is also located on the ground floor. A narrow set of stairs lead up to an enclosed observation level in the tower. A side door at the top of the first flight of stairs leads to an observation deck above the great room. A paved ¼ mile path leads from the large parking area to the tower. The parking area has 8 handicap parking spaces, 15 bus spaces, 22 RV spaces and 278 spaces for standard sized vehicles. Other amenities at the site include a snack bar, restrooms with running water, gas and diesel fuel station and a 48-space campground.

The Watchtower

Another view

Watchtower from the observation deck

Escalante Butte in the foreground with Krishna Shrine (6131') and Wotans Throne (7721')

Ochoa Point (4761'), Sigfried Pyre (7922' 11½ miles) and Gunther Castle (7199' 11¾ miles)

Tanner Rapids between the sand bars and Lava Canyon Rapids upstream

Cedar Mountain (7061')

Granite Gorge

Hopi Point (7065' 18½ miles) and Diana Temple (6688' 25¼ miles)

Colorado River below Comanche Point and Palisades of the Desert
(Shinumo Altar on the horizon, 6520' 27 miles distant)

An entry fee of $30 per private vehicle is collected at three entrance stations and is good for seven consecutive days at both the South and North Rims. Other fee payment options include the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($10 for lifetime), Access Pass (free with documented disability) and Military Annual Pass (free for active duty personnel).

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm.