Desert View Watchtower
A 70-foot tower designed by Mary Colter.
Plan Around Desert View Watchtower
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Desert View Watchtower Details
Walk the quarter-mile path from the Desert View village to Desert View Watchtower, which was built in 1932. Designer Mary Colter based the 70-foot tower on ancient Pueblo architecture. The tower on Desert View Point is built from weathered, uncut native stone; some pieces are adorned with ancient petroglyphs. There's a gift shop on the ground floor of the tower, and you can climb to the top to use telescopes to enjoy the 100-mile panoramic views of the canyon, the Colorado River, and the Painted Desert. The murals painted inside are the work of celebrated Hopi artist Fred Kabotie and Fred Geary, who worked for the Fred Harvey Company. An adjacent round building, fashioned after a traditional kiva and originally a rest area for visitors, is now a store selling Native American arts and handicrafts. You can gaze into reflectoscopes here for differing perspectives on the canyon, or just enjoy the views from the windows.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
Region
Desert View Drive
Nearby Parks Around Desert View Watchtower
Compare nearby parks around Desert View Watchtower when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Desert View Watchtower
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Desert View Watchtower while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
Desert View Trading Post
Snack bar open daily year-round.
0.1 mi away
Desert View General Store
Located 27 miles away from Grand Canyon Village on Highway 64.
