You can experience striking views of the Grand Canyon from Navajo Point, located close to the…read moreEastern entrance of the South Rim. The drive in this area is glorious and not too packed either. Lots of wildlife. It's definitely worth it to stop at this overlook!

The Desert View drive is such a pretty drive with several viewpoints and trails along the way. The…read moreroad is on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and runs from Grand Canyon Village to Route 64. I try and stop at as many viewpoints as I can when I do this drive because each one offers a different perspective of this beautiful canyon. Navajo Point is a viewpoint just a few minutes west of Desert View Watchtower and the Desert View entrance station. Navajo Point has a small parking lot and isn't too crowded. You get great views of the Colorado River, the Escalante and Cardenas Buttes, and Tanner Canyon. Early morning is the best time to come here because most of the view is to the west. You also get a unique view of the Desert View Watchtower from afar. This viewpoint is called Navajo Point because the view stretches across the Grand Canyon and the surrounding plateaus into modern-day Indian Country, where several tribes still live. Navajo Point is the highest natural viewpoint on the South Rim at just under 7,500 feet.

This was my first time entering through this station on a recent trip to the Grand Canyon. I…read moreusually go through Tusayan to the South Rim. The South Rim station can busy during peak times. Desert View Station only had a few cars in line on the day I was here. Desert View Entrance Station serves as a secondary gateway to the South Rim and the primary portal to the Desert View area. It is open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. There is also a gas station nearby if you are running low. Desert View is a small settlement on the South Rim that is located about 20 miles east of Grand Canyon Village. Within the area is the iconic Watchtower structure. The view here is the first glimpse you get of the Grand Canyon. If you are traveling on the on US 89, you can get to Desert View by turning west onto State Route 64 in Cameron, AZ. Then travel about 25 miles until you get to the Desert View (East) Entrance. The Desert View area is after you enter the park. Entrance is free with a national park pass.

Have you ever considered not writing a review for fear that people will read it and mess up a good…read morething? I have thought long and hard about writing this review for that very reason. After much contemplation I realized that most people don't really read reviews, so I am here to help out those that do. Made it this far? Listen up. If you are visiting Grand Canyon National Park, you owe it to yourself to enter via the Desert View Entrance Station. Ignore the main entrance at all costs. What makes this entrance so special? A lot. The drive - The drive to this entrance is beautiful. Most of the area leading up to the park is reservation land. The views are spectacular. There is considerably less traffic driving this way. If you get stuck behind a slow moving RV it sucks for a little while, but there are plenty of opportunities to pass. The entrance - Once inside the park the cost is the same as at the main entrance. The staff were very friendly and there was no wait at all. Gas - Want to buy some expensive ass gas? There is a station right near this entrance. I would fill up here just to say you did, but it will const considerable more than stations in town. Convenience - I hate riding the bus. The buses are filthy, the buses are nasty, the buses are not new. Not really, but I always wanted to say that in a review. Inside jokes are the best. But really, there are many viewpoints that can be accessed by this entrance where you can park and take in the view. Most people are entering from the main gate and so driving from this gate means way less crowds. If you made it this far, congratulations. Give me a high five when you see me for sharing this knowledge with you.

Great for star gazing . We brought our telescope! Winds are crazy make sure you have blankets /…read morelayers! I'd love to know if it's this windy year round!

I try to stop at as many points as I can when driving along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Each…read morespot offers a different perspective of this beautiful canyon. Lipan Point isn't too crowed and offers the longest perspective of the Colorado River. If you look at the bottom of the canyon, you can see the tilted layers of the Grand Canyon Supergroup. Because of the erosion of the rocks in this group, the best views of the Colorado River are exposed. The varied strata add a lot of color and texture to bring out the beauty of this viewpoint. Most people hang around the visitor centers which makes viewpoints like this less packed and more enjoyable to hang around at. Lipan Point is a great spot to take photos. I was fortunate enough to shoot some pictures with clouds in the background as I came on a light rainy day. There is a sign telling you where to turn when driving on Desert View Drive.

Great viewpoint on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. There are so many of them on the Desert View…read moredrive. Moran Point is about a 10 mile drive from the Desert View Entrance (or east entrance). I stopped at a few viewpoints while heading to Grand Canyon Village recently and really enjoyed this one. This viewpoint is named for Thomas Moran. He was an artist in the late 1800's who was known for his landscape paintings. HIs painting of this viewpoint has inspired many to come visit the Grand Canyon. Moran Point offers great views of the tilted layers of the Grand Canyon Supergroup directly to the north. You can see Colorado Butte to the west and Red Canyon just below. Moran Point is one of the four major viewpoints on the east rim drive. The others are Desert View Point, Grandview Point, and Yaki Point. If you like to hike, Moran Point is a starting point for New Hance Trail. It's a 11.7-mile out-and-back trail for experienced hikers that descends over 4,000 feet.

OMG well you're at the Grand Canyon- so you know it's epic. We stopped here several times to enjoy…read morethe views and relax. This one was a little less crowded and we enjoyed traipsing through the snow!

Increíble lugar! Tal cual lo esperaba muy limpio y bien cuidado! Espectacularrrrr! Únicamente hice…read moremiradores pero he visto otra gente que hizo helicóptero y una excursión en el agua. Será mi próximo viaje! También vimos que hay buses que llegan hasta ahí

Grandview Point is the start of the Grandview Trial to Horseshoe Mesa campground or further onto…read moreCottonwood Creek backcountry campground at the base of the Grand Canyon. At the overlook, there is plenty of parking and a separate lot for overnight campers. The lot will take you steps away from the overlook. Although breathtaking views, this side has no Colorado River. It's a dry scenic view (we went first week of April). The area is well maintained with bathrooms and water station at the top, but the Grandview Trail itself is not. Read up and prepare if you're planning to hike this trail; it was one of the most difficult and scary-sketchy hikes in my life so far. We hiked all the way down to the base where Cottonwood campground is. The initial trail was sketchy as it is. Going down from the overlook, some parts of the trail were barely a foot wide, and there was an area of crumbly red clay-type dirt that was sloped over a cliff that gave me the sweats and some anxiety when crossing. Once you get past the beginning sketchiness, it's not so bad, but there were various areas of rockslide to keep you on your toes to find the trail again. Keep in mind you're going into the canyon, so the entire way is clamoring down loose rocks. Keep those laces tight! Let's avoid another toenail-less summer! A good part of the switchbacks were paved with stone steps that reminded me of the Yellow Brick Road. I loved them; easy to walk on and less slippage going both down or back up. We started late and out of the we total trek, 4 miles we did in the dark with headlamps and sticks, so it is totally doable! Cottonwood's creek was but a tiny trickle when we got there. The seclusion is well worth the trek though. You do need to get a backcountry permit to camp here and there are no reserved numbers for the sites. It's first come first serve. I was told the entire way from viewpoint to Cottonwood was 5.6 miles one way, but honestly, it felt like 7 miles. Going back up was killer! Incline the entire way, but I promise you'll come out of there with some amazing glutes and calves. Would I do it again? Maybe need a break in between to forget about all the pain and suffering, while I look at all the amazing photos I got along the way. Then yes!

Do not pass up this museum and ruin…read more On my first few trips to GCNP I noticed the sign for this museum, but never actually stopped. Like most folks I was focused on the overlooks and ignored this spot. After visiting I am kicking myself for being so shortsighted. This place is great. The museum is small yet very informative. It showcases the people who lived here and has several neat items on display. The things that I found so interesting were their dolls and figures made from twigs. Several were on display and they helped give you a picture into the lives of these people who lived here 800 years before. The ruins are similar to the pueblo style ruins throughout this region. They are less intact than some at the nearby Wupatki so do not expect large free standing pueblos. Despite that, it was pretty easy to walk around and get a feel for their living space. The most impressive point to me was the view of the nearby San Francisco peaks. That view must have been pretty terrifying when the volcano exploded. I hope you heed my advice and add this to your itinerary.

The Tusayan Museum and Ruins is located within the Grand Canyon National Park. It's just a short…read moredistance from the Desert View Park. Parking was easy and plentiful and after parking you will see signage leading you to the trail. They also placed signs along the wooded trail explaining the small ruins of a 800 year old ancestral Puebloan village. Afterwards you can step back in time while visiting the small museum of handmade crafts by regional tribes and artifacts that date back as far as 2000 to 4000 years. I learned a lot about the prehistoric people and the surrounding land. In the museum there is a small gift shop that offers typical tourist merchandise at a reasonable price. The staff was very friendly.

It was AMAZING. MoMo gave my Wife and I a complimentary tour of the tracks. He usually will be out…read morethere with his personal jewelry he and his wife make. When I tell you the story telling abilities of MoMo IS the best part. His ability to paint a story of the scene, a way of life and heart is unmatched. You feel as if you are apart of the story too. We will never forget this stop. Yes the physical evidence is compelling alone but the conversation and sense of presence witb MoMo is what we will remember

We randomly saw this on Google Maps and we're going to go to Tuba, AZ and decided to go for it…read more Most Navajo outlooks and stands close at 5 pm so we didn't know if we'd get in but we saw other families still there. We parked and were approached by a Navajo man named Joe who explained we would offer a donation and they'd show us around. We gave him cash and he showed us lots of fossils and dinosaur tracks that had solidified by the limestone. Also saw some fossilized eggs and plants. I asked who had discovered the dinosaurs here and he explained it was a British paleontologist named John West Wells who is one of the major dinosaur hunters in history. After about 20 minutes, we took photos, gave an extra tip and drove off. Most of the sales carts that were selling jewelry and other craft items had closed for the day, but no one was anything which was nice. Worth it just for views and a fun different experience. Also happy to support the nova nation.

Worth every single hike For sure not crowded at all…read more For sure a hidden gem! We did all the ruins we could find and lived them all. Started from Sunset crater side and worked our way around. we had a family of 3 with a 16 yr old who loved it as well. For sure bring water and sun tan lotion!!

The main attraction here is the Wukoki Pueblo which is right behind the visitor center, and also a…read moregeological blowhole, from which wind escapes or gets sucked in from a cave system depending on the weather conditions. The day I visited, it was blowing pretty hard, enough to blow away a light jacket. There are also structures located here which are accessible from the road. You can walk right up to them, but be sure to avoid leaning on the wall or picking up artifacts. There were volunteers shoring up Wukoki Pueblo as erosion damages it and they want to preserve it for years to come. It was cool to see them work. The visitor center has a lot of information about the people who lived here, as well as the vibrant trading culture. For example, there were macaws brought here from Central America! There were no horses back then, so all goods were transported by foot. Very impressive. I bought the brochure/travel guide about the park from here as I found that they enriched the visit beyond the informational signs displayed. This is a neat monument that showcases the history of the area.

As it was my partner's first time at the Grand Canyon, I wanted to make sure we took a tour to gain…read morebackground knowledge and get a full experience of the GC from multiple perspectives. I reserved a Sunset tour sponsored by the Grand Canyon National Park. It was a great way to wind down our last day, immerse oneself in dramatic landscapes as our guide takes visitors to a selection of scenic viewpoints. The difference is that one has transportation waiting in front of one's lodging and doesn't need to wait for a free shuttle bus. Our tour of approx. 15 guests lasted about 2 1/2 hours. Our guide Randall was fantastic, informative, and comical. He walked out at every stop and explained the history, topography, and names of what we were looking at. Our first stop was at the Trailview Overlook. From this viewpoint, one can see everything--from where the Bright Angel trail starts just west of the historic village and goes down 3000 feet to Havasupai Garden until the trail finally disappears into the depths of the inner gorge. Also looking south, one can see the Historic District of Grand Canyon Village and the San Francisco mountain range. Our next and last stop was Mohave Point. The location primarily faces west and offers several outlooks with a great view of the Colorado River far below, making this point a popular place for sunset. The opportunity to view an Arizona Grand Canyon sunset will leave one with lasting memories for a lifetime.

Too lazy to be the guy to create the Hopi Point page on Yelp, but it's pretty much a walk away from…read moreMohave Point, which pretty much has the same views as Hopi Point. Came here for the sunset and it's spectacular, aside from all of the other tourists that are all trying to do the same thing, and unfortunately a handful of very rude international visitors that show zero respect and only look after themselves. Highly recommend coming early if you plan on boarding the shuttle to Hopi Point or Mohave Point, as they fill out quickly.

pretty cave, it was pretty wide compared to a couple other caves I've been to, BUT i wouldn't say…read moreit's as easy as I was led to believe (according to ai research). It said there might be like a 30-60sec scramble as you descend into it, then mostly flat. NO, it was more like I estimate, like 1-3min (depending on pace) to get to the bottom of steep scramble area, and then like 4-5min more of flat but more slippery rock, that you had to be careful of. As some say, do be watchful that the rocks aren't wet, as it makes it much slipperier After, it was a bunch of uneven ground, rocks, but by far, not as slippery as the entrance. I went with a group of 4 total, 3 guys 1 girl, had my phone, 2x head lamps, and a super powered flashlight. Everyone else had their phones. Head lamp recommended, so that you can use your hands if needed. Me and another gal slipped 2-5 of times. The other 2 guys did a great job going through it, and fast. A lot can depend on how you handle/walk on uneven ground, you want knees bent, and foot to be a bit loose/flexible, to adjust to the floor, rather than be stiff the gal had to take a break near the end of it, which is fair, safety first, do what you need to do. We had thought about inviting 2 other girls in, one who mentioned some concerns of claustrophobia or worry of the dark, another who is more unstable in walking atm. After experiencing it, I was glad they didn't come, I feel like the steepness and needing to step/balance carefully, would have been unsafe for them. so, here's my review for others. I wouldn't recommend it to ppl if they are unstable with walking / footing. The cave itself is interesting, being underground, cooler, going in it felt like ac/cool air coming out of the mouth of the cave. Coming out, the outside air felt humid muggy. the drive there is a little annoying, you go off on dirt road, and have to go pretty slow, bumpy, for what feels like 2-3miles of sloooow driving. Would help if the road was paved. They do have bathrooms (nice!), but also an electronic ticket dispenser (boo). Like $5, hopefully they use that to build the road safety first! step carefully. While it's only 0.75 miles or whatnot, took longer than I expected. I think I was thinking 1.5hr, but it was more like 2hr to get to end, and back In the cave, there's a fork, left side easier, right side you just have to duck a little bit. It does loop around quickly/soon after (like, 1-2min of distance), though the tighter, right side does take a bit longer to get through. Our group split off, but the left group didn't realize it looped back quickly, so they powered ahead past to other groups to try to find us, but we didn't end up meeting again till like the very end. I'd say the fork is probably....30-40% of the way to the end? The rest is mostly more of the same, and just the similar uneven ground to walk through. The cave itself was more gray rock, mostly, occasional like brown. I wonder why it's called Lave River Cave? bc if it was, I'd expect more like black charred kind of look (like Hawaii). Here, it looked more like just rock smoothed out by water

Had a great trip to the cave. Be aware of which direction you are coming from and double check the…read moremap on GPS. We came in from west of Flagstaff and the map took us through some dirt roads with big ruts and mud (thankfully we have a 4-wheel drive). We went out the way most people probably come in and that road can be done in a regular car. I'm claustrophobic yet find myself always planning cave adventures. This cave didn't feel claustrophobic because it's pretty wide and tall in most areas (only had to duck in 2 short spots). I also like that there is only one way in and one way out, not a tunnel of other cave systems to get lost in. This cave was very different than any other that I've explored and that made the experience even better. We used headlamps and that worked well for us. Be aware that some of the rocks are slippery.