Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower

Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower

Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower
4.5
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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  • JRMADA
    United States3,377 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Best And Most Popular View Point
    This is the best view point to introduce you to the Grand Canyon if you've never been. This view point is close to the East park entrance, and it has lots of parking, a restaurant, and toilets. The tower is open to the public and it yields an even nicer view if you want to climb it. This is a must stop if coming in the park through the east entrance.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 April 2023
  • CarolinainDallas
    93 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Climb the Tower!
    The Watchtower is open for visitors now. Twenty timed tickets ate given out every 15 minutes for 15 minutes forward so tickets given out at 2:46 are for 3:00. The tickets allow you to climb up to the 2nd, 3rd, and top floors. The interior and view on these floors are amazing! This is what made our visit special. There is a lot of construction going on around the tower which is distracting. And the bathrooms are closed with only ports-potties available. The first time we stopped here for sunset, the porta-potties were full and dirty. We stopped three days later at midday and the porta-potties were decently clean.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 24 April 2023
  • Todd S
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Allow Time for Tower Climb
    The Tower first floor is open to the public; however, to access the floors above (and the great view & Native American murals on the walls) you have to stop at the pop-up tent outside the entrance to the tower; it is manned by a volunteer group that helps maintain the Tower. When we visited the tickets were only given out 25 at a time, for a 20 minute time window. We found 20 minutes was plenty of time to climb the stairs and take in the views.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 July 2023
  • Zoom_Gotti
    Henderson, Nevada1,559 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Check Out The Sunset
    Right at the east entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. Stop here for breathtaking views of not only the Canyon, bthe Painted Desert as well. Focal point of this vast overlook is the Mary Colter Watchtower filled with designs taken from her experiences researching the surrounding Native American cultures. Visitation is once again allowed in the building, albeit in reduced and monitored numbers. Best buy the descriptive book available from the sponsoring Conservancy to better understand your visit. The surrounding site also houses a grocery, two snack bars, a gift shop, and campground. And picnic tables right near the Canyon rim
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 5 August 2023
  • Astri Ratna Sari
    Chicago, Illinois19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Do not miss this spot!
    One great spot you should never miss when visiting Grand Canyon. We spend 3 days exploring Grand Canyon, such a wonderful experience. You will learn about Mary Colten and her designs; simply amazing!
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,269 reviews
Excellent
954
Very good
259
Average
48
Poor
7
Terrible
1

Diana S
North Branch, MN133 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Be sure to go into at least the lower level of the tower; there are some views that you can't see as well from the main outlook.
It is a short walk from the parking area to the viewpoint and tower, and there are restrooms and a gift shop.
We very much enjoyed coming up from Flagstaff to the eastern entrance. There is a lot more to see--those huge vistas, different plants, ranches and other land forms--than driving back south from the main visitor center. We didn't have a wait to get in (Thursday morning).
Written 1 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Astri Ratna Sari
Chicago, IL19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
One great spot you should never miss when visiting Grand Canyon. We spend 3 days exploring Grand Canyon, such a wonderful experience. You will learn about Mary Colten and her designs; simply amazing!
Written 22 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve V
62 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
Beyond the incredible views of the canyon, the tower itself was very anticlimactic! Very busy, and you had to get tickets and times for you to climb the watchtower to the upper floors.
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CINDYROSE720
Denver, CO967 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
2023-September

It's God's reminder that we are just a mist compared to his greatness!

We entered from the east and stopped at most of the viewpoints on the map given at the entrance.

Desert View Drive is a few-mile stretch from the east to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. There is a $35 per vehicle entrance fee to the Grand Canyon National Park. There are no toll fees for using any of the roadways from and to the Grand Canyon National Park (Google Maps shows toll fees, but there is no toll fee). Just pay the entrance fee.

All viewpoints are free. Not all viewpoints have restrooms. See the photo attached) All viewpoints have parking spaces.

(The photo with a green heart pendant is a Memorial pendant with my son's ashes (the white part that resembles an angel's wings) who passed away in June 2023.. he was supposed to come with us here in Grand Canyon National Park to celebrate my birthday)

Hope you take a magnificent picture of the canyon from this viewpoint!

Be safe 😊
Written 19 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Zoom_Gotti
Henderson, NV1,559 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
Right at the east entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. Stop here for breathtaking views of not only the Canyon, bthe Painted Desert as well. Focal point of this vast overlook is the Mary Colter Watchtower filled with designs taken from her experiences researching the surrounding Native American cultures. Visitation is once again allowed in the building, albeit in reduced and monitored numbers. Best buy the descriptive book available from the sponsoring Conservancy to better understand your visit. The surrounding site also houses a grocery, two snack bars, a gift shop, and campground. And picnic tables right near the Canyon rim
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Todd S
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
The Tower first floor is open to the public; however, to access the floors above (and the great view & Native American murals on the walls) you have to stop at the pop-up tent outside the entrance to the tower; it is manned by a volunteer group that helps maintain the Tower. When we visited the tickets were only given out 25 at a time, for a 20 minute time window. We found 20 minutes was plenty of time to climb the stairs and take in the views.
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jenwell22
Carleton, MI19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
We had a great time visiting here. The tower was open when we visited. Gorgeous views! I also highly recommend the Desert View Market and Deli adjacent to the tower for lunch. We had an amazing Cuban sandwich from the deli for lunch. They also have a super friendly staff and were quick in preparing the food.
Written 14 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CarolinainDallas
Dallas93 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Family
The Watchtower is open for visitors now. Twenty timed tickets ate given out every 15 minutes for 15 minutes forward so tickets given out at 2:46 are for 3:00. The tickets allow you to climb up to the 2nd, 3rd, and top floors. The interior and view on these floors are amazing! This is what made our visit special. There is a lot of construction going on around the tower which is distracting. And the bathrooms are closed with only ports-potties available. The first time we stopped here for sunset, the porta-potties were full and dirty. We stopped three days later at midday and the porta-potties were decently clean.
Written 24 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mudeford 123
113 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
Well worth the drive from village. Staff very friendly. Need a ticket but it is free. When you arrive ask for timed ticket. Plenty of parking. Would recommend.
Written 19 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JRMADA
United States3,377 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
This is the best view point to introduce you to the Grand Canyon if you've never been. This view point is close to the East park entrance, and it has lots of parking, a restaurant, and toilets. The tower is open to the public and it yields an even nicer view if you want to climb it. This is a must stop if coming in the park through the east entrance.
Written 7 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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GRAND CANYON DESERT VIEW WATCHTOWER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower

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