Desert View Watchtower
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
Mary Colter’s 1932 stone tower at the east end of the South Rim, with Hopi murals inside and wide views of the river and Painted Desert. It is the first stop when you enter from Cameron.
Architect Mary Colter designed the 21 m (70 ft) stone tower in 1932, modeling it on ancient towers built by Ancestral Puebloans, such as those at Hovenweep and Mesa Verde, without copying any of them. She had the stones laid unworked so their weathered surfaces would blend with the canyon walls. On the first floor, murals by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie depict the origins of Hopi life, while Fred Geary's ceiling images recreate rock art from Abo, New Mexico. The ground-floor Kiva Room has again served as a lounge with a view since 2015.
The tower stands more than 32 km (20 miles) east of Grand Canyon Village near the park's east entrance and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1995. Narrow stairs lead all the way to the top. From there you can see a bend in the Colorado River and the North Rim more than 16 km (10 miles) away; on clear days the view stretches over 160 km (100 miles).
- Nearest town
- Grand Canyon Village, AZ
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 36.0442, -111.8260
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Desert View CampgroundCampsite0 mi from Desert View WatchtowerTentsCaravans
- Wild campingCampsite3 mi from Desert View Watchtower
- Trailer Village RV ParkMotorhome stopover16 mi from Desert View Watchtower · 123 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
- Mather CampgroundCampsite16 mi from Desert View WatchtowerTentsCaravans
- Grand Canyon Camper VillageCampsite17 mi from Desert View Watchtower
- Hermit RapidsCampsite22 mi from Desert View WatchtowerTents
All campsites in Arizona · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Desert View Watchtower?
Desert View Watchtower is in Grand Canyon Village, AZ, at GPS 36.0442, -111.8260. It is about 17 mi from Grand Canyon North Rim.
Can you camp near Desert View Watchtower?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Desert View Campground, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 14 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Desert View Watchtower?
Desert View Watchtower is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon via volcanoes and Desert View and Red walls, starry skies – the great canyon tour through the Southwest.
What is there to see near Desert View Watchtower?
Places worth a stop nearby: Cape Royal (8 mi), Grandview Point (10 mi), Mather Campground (16 mi) and El Tovar Hotel (17 mi).
When is the best time to visit Desert View Watchtower?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)