We’ve been at the Grand Canyon for the last four days. It’s been cold, wet at times and we even had some snow this afternoon. Thankfully I scheduled a tour yesterday when there was a little sun, albeit cold and windy. I can highly recommend the Xanterra Tours. They are located at Bright Angel Lodge inside the park but you can schedule your tour online. Our tour guide/bus driver was very knowledgeable and friendly.
We started by driving out to the Desert View Watchtower. Here is the info about it from the National Park Website. “Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, the Watchtower was constructed in 1932. Architect Mary Colter’s design takes its influences from the architecture of the Ancestral Puebloan people of the Colorado Plateau. This particular tower was patterned after those found at Hovenweep and the Round Tower of Mesa Verde. Colter indicated that it was not a copy of any that she had seen, but rather modeled from several. The view from the Watchtower provides a unique perspective of the eastern portion of Grand Canyon. From here, looking to the northeast offers a distant glimpse of the Colorado River’s transition from the relatively narrow Marble Canyon to the north into the much wider, broader expanse of Grand Canyon.”
Only 25 people are allowed up in the tower at a time. A National Park employee stands at the bottom of the stairs and keeps count. You are asked to only take 15 minutes so that others may also have a chance to see the inside. We took about 10 minutes.
There are amazing views from this site and we there fairly early in the morning before most people had arrived. I will say that coming in the winter is a good time to be here without the crowds. We’ll be back in May, I’ll let you know how it is then. As you can see there is a wonderful view of the Colorado river from the watchtower area. This first picture was taken from the top but there are viewing areas if you don’t go inside.
After we were finished here, we began the journey back to the lodge with several stops along the way. This first stop was Lipan Point. It was near here in late summer of 1540, soldiers from the Spanish expedition of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado became the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon. After journeying for six months, Coronado’s army arrived at the Hopi mesas, east of the Grand Canyon. From there Garcia Lopez do Cardenas, guided by Hopi Indians, led a small party of men to find a reported “great river.” After 20 days they reached the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Cardenas’ party spent three days trying to reach the bottom before giving up and returning to Coronado. This was also the area where our guide showed us a spot in the wall of the canyon where Native Americans once stored grain. You can see it in the last picture.
Our next stop was Moran Point. We experienced some sleet here, but it was short lived.
Our last stop was Yaki Point before heading back to the lodge. Yaki Point is closed to private vehicles so the only way to get there is with a shuttle bus or tour. Unfortunately the clouds had returned by that point so the pictures weren’t as good.
We enjoyed our time here at the Grand Canyon. There are lodges inside the park but we stayed at Trailer Village RV Park. It has full hook ups and is near the Yavapai Lodge, grocery store, and post office. Camper Services are right down the road with laundry. The sites are large and there’s plenty of room for small campers up to large motor homes.
I’d also recommend the restaurant at the Bright Angel Lodge. If you get there at the right time you can snag a table with a view of the canyon. We ate there twice and once had the view. The first picture is from there. Mather Point is near here as well and there are amazing views with an easy walk along the south rim.
It’s been a grand adventure. We’re looking forward to warmer weather and more views in May. I hope your days have many adventures as well.
