One of the iconic sites visitors to the Grand Canyon can enjoy is the Desert View Watchtower. When you enter Grand Canyon National Park through its Southeastern Gate, it’s one of your first stops you’ll encounter when visiting the South Rim of the Canyon. Beyond the tower you’ll be amazed by the beauty in front of you, as you see how the Colorado River spreads into the vast Grand Canyon on its westward flow.
The Desert View Watchtower is a 70-foot stone tower which was constructed in 1932. It was crafted by famed architect Mary Colter and was designed to resemble an ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling. Colter spent months studying archaeological prototypes and created this National Historic Landmark (status awarded in 1987) based on ancient Puebloan ruins. Note how well the tower’s weathered stonework blends in with the rugged canyon and how it offers a fabulous viewpoint.
The interior of the tower was closed on our last visit, but I recall exploring the inside years ago. It’s beautifully decorated with native-themed murals and art which was created by Native Americans. On the main floor (Kiva Room) you find a fireplace and log beam ceiling, with windows offering canyon views throughout the tower. Stairways allow access to the balconies and the observation level at the tower’s peak.
Over six million visitors pass by the tower each year. It’s a short quarter mile walk from the parking area (past some restrooms) to the Tower and Canyon’s edge, from which you can enjoy the view. If you look carefully, you can see the beginning of the Grand Canyon, where the Colorado River enters it from relatively narrow Marble Canyon. The Colorado River then makes a big bend and continues to the west, the North Rim more than 10 miles away. On a clear day you’ll have a panoramic view for up to 100 miles.
The Desert View Watchtower is located more than 20 miles east of Grand Canyon Village – the main tourist destination in this National Park — and is positioned to offer memorable views toward the east entrance of the canyon, as you can see in the photos scattered throughout this blog.
The following views are directly to the east from the Watchtower viewpoint. Note how the canyon appears to begin rather abruptly from the desert.
It’s hard to find a favorite viewpoint from the many you’ll see on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, but I think this is my favorite. As the photo below shows, it can be a magical spot at times.
There’s a plaque nearby which commemorates a 1956 mid-air collision which occurred over the Grand Canyon. You can read more about that at this link if you are interested.
