Tower of Ra
A sunset-lit stone pillar named for the Egyptian sun god, seen from the South Rim
About
Tower of Ra is a freestanding rock pillar deep in the canyon below the South Rim, rising to about 6,129 feet and standing over 3,700 feet above the Colorado River. Like most of the named formations in this stretch of the canyon, it isn't a hike-to destination — it's a landmark you view from a distance, part of the layered skyline visible from South Rim overlooks including Hermits Rest and Yuma Point.
Naming history
Painter Thomas Moran named the formation in 1879 for Ra, the Egyptian sun god, continuing geologist Clarence Dutton's practice of giving Grand Canyon buttes and temples mythological names. The name was formally adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in 1906. Nearby formations carry the same theme, including Confucius Temple to the northwest and Tower of Set close by.
- Best viewed from South Rim overlooks such as Hermits Rest and Yuma Point
- Built from the canyon's classic layer cake: reddish Supai Group rock capping pale Redwall Limestone, Tonto Group, and Vishnu basement rock near the river
- A technical rock-climbing objective, first summited in 1977 — not a maintained trail or an area accessible to casual hikers
Best Time to View It
Hermits Rest and Yuma Point are accessible whenever their respective seasonal access windows are open — check current Hermit Road status.
Good to Know
- Painter Thomas Moran named the formation in 1879 for Ra, the Egyptian sun god, continuing geologist Clarence Dutton's practice of giving Grand Canyon buttes and temples mythological names; officially adopted in 1906.
- Nearby formations carry the same theme, including Confucius Temple to the northwest and Tower of Set close by.
- A technical rock-climbing objective, first summited in 1977 — not a maintained trail or an area accessible to casual hikers.
Where to See Tower of Ra
Best viewed from South Rim overlooks such as Hermits Rest and Yuma Point.
What You're Looking At: Tower of Ra
Tower of Ra is a freestanding rock pillar deep in the canyon below the South Rim, rising to about 6,129 feet and standing over 3,700 feet above the Colorado River. Like most of the named formations in this stretch of the canyon, it isn't a hike-to destination — it's a landmark you view from a distance, part of the layered skyline visible from South Rim overlooks including Hermits Rest and Yuma Point.
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