Desert View Watchtower

The Desert View Watchtower serves as the official national park visitor center for the Desert View area of Grand Canyon National Park. Most guided tours of the South Rim, including day trips from Flagstaff and Sedona, stop at the Watchtower, along with other area attractions such as Grand Canyon Village, Yavapai Point, and Lipan Point. Fixed-wing flightseeing tours offer a unique perspective on the Grand Canyon landmark from above.

• The Desert View Watchtower is a must-see for art lovers, history buffs, and photographers.

• Be prepared to climb 85 steps to reach the tower’s observation deck.

• The Kiva Room within the structure houses a shop selling books and gifts.

• Only the bottom floor of the Desert View Watchtower is wheelchair accessible.

The Desert View Watchtower stands at the East Gate of Grand Canyon National Park. Getting there takes about 90 minutes by car from Flagstaff and 40 minutes from Grand Canyon Village.

The best time to visit the Desert View Watchtower is during either the spring or autumn shoulder season, when temperatures are cool and summer crowds have thinned. The watchtower often hosts cultural and ranger programs, so check the calendar before your trip.

This scenic route through Grand Canyon National Park follows the South Rim from just east of Grand Canyon Village all the way to the Desert View Watchtower and the park’s east entrance. Visitors who make the drive will pass six marked canyon viewpoints, four picnic areas, an Ancestral Puebloan ruin site, and the Tusayan Museum, which displays artifacts and traditional handicrafts made by local native tribes.

The Desert View Watchtower in Grand Canyon National Park has its store and viewing room open daily from 8am until 7pm. The tower's upper floors are open when staff allows from around 8:20am until 6:20pm, and you’ll need to get a free admission ticket in person at the attraction, as access is first-come, first-served.

No, there’s no entrance fee to the Desert View Watchtower itself; however, you will need to pay the fee to enter Grand Canyon National Park. Passes range from US$20 (per person) to US$35 (per vehicle), and you must pay with a debit or credit card—no cash is accepted.

The views from the top of the Desert View Watchtower View Room are stunning and worth visiting. The watchtower is situated on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim and overlooks the eastern portion of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Plus, there are glass-black mirrors you look through to cut the sunlight as you take in the sights.

Yes and no—there aren’t guided tours inside the Desert View Watchtower, but many Grand Canyon South Rim tours do stop there. While at the Desert View Watchtower, you’ll want to grab a timed ticket to get inside the View Room, where you can look out over the canyon and see the Native American handicrafts set up inside.

The best time of year to visit the Desert View Watchtower is during the spring or fall when temperatures are not as scorching hot as they can be in the summertime, but when you also beat those heavy summer crowds of tourists at the Grand Canyon National Park.

Yes, there are plenty of things to do near the Desert View Watchtower inside Grand Canyon National Park. Some of the park's closest and most popular attractions include Hopi Point, Grand Canyon Village, Lipan Point, Mather Point, and walking trails, such as the Bright Angel Trail.