Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

Desert View is 25 miles east of Grand Canyon village. The park’s shuttle system does not extend this far, so you will need a car to visit this section. We were on the lackluster van tour I mentioned in my Yavapai post, so having a ride to Desert View was one of the few highlights of that tour.

The main attraction, aside from the Grand Canyon views, is the stone Desert View Watchtower designed by Mary Colter in 1932. This building, like the other Colter buildings in Grand Canyon National Park, is a National Historic Landmark and was designed to blend into its surroundings.

It is a replica of an ancient Puebloan Watchtower, with 85 steps leading to an observation platform at the top. The walls are adorned with murals painted by a Hopi artist.

Grand Canyon➤

• Bright Angel
• Hermit’s Rest
• South Kaibab
• Yavapai
• Desert View
• Grandview
• Western Rim Skywalk
• Western Rim Guano Point

Location: Arizona
Designation: National Park
Date designated/established: January 11, 1908
Date of my visit: August 20, 2014