Oh my goodness, this was another highlight of our Grand Canyon trip! The views from the Desert View area are absolutely breathtaking, with incredible panoramic views of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River winding through the canyon below.
The watchtower itself is beautiful, with unique architecture inspired by Native American cultures and fascinating artwork inside. Best of all, entry to the tower is free, making it a must-see stop when visiting the Grand Canyon.
The area is very convenient, with restrooms and gift shops nearby. We grabbed ice cream and enjoyed it while taking in the spectacular scenery, which made the experience even more memorable.
I highly recommend visiting Desert View Watchtower. The combination of stunning views, rich cultural history, and the chance to see the Colorado River makes it one of the best viewpoints in the Grand Canyon.
I've been told the Grand Canyon, but this is my first time visiting the tower, at least that I remember.
Here you get a great view of the Colorado River, and to the east, you can see where the Little Colorado joins the Colorado--the canyons, not the actual rivers.
My understanding is that if you get there early enough, you can climb the tower. We were too late for that, but loved stopping.
As we were leaving, we even got to see two elk with giant, velvety antlers.
There are shops and an ice parlor at this location as well.
Our visit to Desert View Watchtower at the East Rim of the Grand Canyon on April 26th turned into an unforgettable experience. We arrived during an intense cold and windy spring storm as the canyon was being swept by a dramatic blizzard. Snow, wind, and clouds moved through the canyon, partially obscuring the views and creating an entirely different perspective of the Grand Canyon’s beauty.
Watching the storm roll across the canyon from the Watchtower was absolutely mesmerizing. Instead of clear sunny overlooks, we experienced the Grand Canyon in a raw, powerful, and almost mystical way. The changing weather added so much atmosphere and made the experience feel even more historic and connected to the landscape.
The interior tour of the Watchtower was completely worth the wait. The structure itself is stunning, filled with fascinating architecture, artwork, and rich cultural history inspired by the Indigenous people of the region. The views looking out from inside the tower were incredible, offering dramatic framed glimpses of the canyon through the stone windows while the storm moved across the landscape.
We also really enjoyed the gift shop, which had a great selection of local-inspired items, souvenirs, and pieces reflecting the culture and history of the Grand Canyon area. It added even more to the overall experience.
If you are visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim or East Rim, Desert View Watchtower is absolutely worth the stop — especially if you appreciate history, architecture, photography, cultural preservation, and dramatic canyon scenery. Even during a blizzard, it became one of the most memorable parts of our Arizona adventure.
A fantastic viewpoint offering a magnificent view of the Grand Canyon! Visiting and climbing the tower is free – unfortunately, the line was a bit long when we visited, so we only enjoyed the view from outside, but it's worth the trip for that alone. The red stone watchtower blends particularly well into the spectacular landscape. There's a well-stocked gift shop on the ground floor; a large, free parking lot is located nearby.
The Desert View watchtower is worth the drive. Went on a Thursday in the winter. We started there and made our way east. Amazing views, great spot for pictures. The tower itself is impressive. Loved the Native-American furniture and paintings. Interesting to learn the story of Mary Colter. I brought my own binoculars and that was a good idea because there was a wait to use the public ones. The day we were there it was not too busy, did not have to wait to get a picture with the view. The watchtower sends people up in 1/2 hour increments, did not take long to get up there. I will say that the steps are narrow, so be careful and wear good shoes. Gift shop was nice and priced the way you would expect for a tourist trap. Good spot if you like history with your day in the park.
