Grandview Point - Grand Canyon National Park

The fourth stop of our May 2015 visit to Grand Canyon National Park was at Grandview Point. Two paved parking areas with over two dozen spaces combined are located about ½ mile north of Desert View Drive. While there are no facilities at this location, there are some spectacular views as well as the trailhead of the Grandview Trail that descends to Horseshoe Mesa. Grandview Point is 7400 feet above sea level.

Grapevine Creek drainage below Lyell Butte (5362' 4 miles) with Newton Butte (5940' 5.6 mi) beyond

Lyell Butte

Grapevine Creek below Lyell Butte

Granite Gorge with Zoroaster Temple (7123' 8.9 mi), Brahma Temple (7551' 9.5 mi) and Deva Temple (7353' 10.9 mi)

Hance Creek Canyon

Krishna Shrine (6131' 6.1 mi) , Vishnu Temple (7533' 6.9 mi) and Rama Shrine (6404' 6.5 mi)

The Tabernacle (4802' 6.4 mi) and Solomon Temple (5121' 5.8 mi) with the Palisades of the Desert

Sinking Ship (7344' 1.7 mi)

The three-mile Grandview Trail, originally the Berry Trail, was originally constructed in the early 1890s to bring copper ore from Last Chance Mine on Horeshoe Mesa to the South Rim. It is now an unmaintained trail with an average grade of 20% for the first mile and 13% for the remaining two miles. The surface has eroded to the point that the park service recommends it only for experienced desert hikers. I hiked a very short distance down the trail to a rocky point below the crowds on the paved trail. This is not a trail for a casual stroll.

A fractured caprock points toward the Colorado River

A solitary tree struggles to survive with Comanche Point (7073' 12.2 mi) on the horizon

Coronado Butte (7162' 2.5 mi) and Navajo Point (7498' 9.5 mi)

An unnamed point points to Angels Gate (6761' 6.4 mi)

The trail is steep with loose gravel

A large column near the trail

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.