Desert View | Hit the Trail

While Desert View is officially on the southern rim of Grand Canyon, it is located 26 miles / 42 km east of Grand Canyon Village along the Desert View Drive at the East Entrance to the park. (View Desert View Drive map in PDF – 359 kb) The views from Desert View are immense and spectacular!

Desert View also boasts one of architect Mary Colter’s masterpieces, the Desert View Watchtower, shown above clinging to the edge of the canyon. While at Desert View, be sure to climb to the top of the 70′ tall Watchtower for an extra special experience!

Desert View Brochure with Map (PDF – 1.9 MB)

Desert View Services

Visitor Center / Bookstore
Watchtower / Gift Shop
Trading Post
Marketplace (groceries)
Snack Bar
Service Station (auto fuel)
Restrooms
Campground (see below)

NPS Desert View Campground

No hook-ups
There are a total of 50 campsites in the Desert View Campground.
Most sites are sized to accommodate tents or smaller RV’s or Travel Trailers.
Sites can not accommodate large RV’s or travel trailers (30 ft. maximum length).
Limit of six persons; two tents; two vehicles or one RV/travel trailer per site.
Coordinates: 36°02’24″N – 111°49’20″W
Elevation: 7,463 ft / 2,275 m.
Campsites are available by reservation only at www.recreation.gov.
Initially, reservations can be made from April 29 through October 1. Due to high demand, Desert View Campground now requires advanced reservations You may book reservations up to 6 months in advance. Desert View Campground does not hold back any campsites for first-come, first-served camping during peak season and does not have a waitlist or call back system. Same Day Reservations can be made online (www.recreation.gov.) or by phone (877-444-6777).
7-day camping limit
The campground is closed in the winter
Desert View Campground NPS map and regulations (PDF – 175 kb)
Visit the NPS Desert View Campground page for the latest information
View more photos of the campground on Flickr
See NPS Desert View page for current open schedule and fees

Nearby Highlights

Navajo Point – Highest overlook on the South Rim at an elevation of 7461 feet / 2275 meters. Located just a short distance from Desert View; has a great view of Desert View and the Watchtower.
Lipan Point – Probably one of the prettiest overlooks on the South Rim! Also considered by many to be the likely place where the Spanish conquistadors first saw the Grand Canyon in 1540. No wonder they couldn’t make it down to the Colorado River.
When you get to the rim, you’ll see why. A great place to see Hance Rapids, the Unkar Delta, and the Grand Canyon Supergroup. You don’t see much if any, of the Supergroup from Grand Canyon Village. A very colorful collection of rock layers is also what gives this section of the canyon its wide-open view. Elevation here is 7360 feet / 2243 meters.
Tusayan Ruin and Museum – A short, gentle walk around a small, ancestral Puebloan village where people lived and farmed about 800 years ago. There is a bookstore, picnic area, and restrooms located here as well. A very pleasant stop in the forest. Download the Tusayan Ruin Trail Guide (PDF – 821 kb).

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Desert View Services

NPS Desert View Campground

Nearby Highlights

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