Desert View Watchtower
Desert View Watchtower, also known as the Indian Watchtower at Desert View, is a 70-foot (21 m)-high stone building located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon within Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, United States.
A lookout, 18 mi east of Tusayan
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Tusayan, 18 miles west. Where to stay ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 18°. When to go ↓
Best months: Jun, Aug and Sep
June, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 76–82°. When to go ↓
Established in 1932
Desert View Watchtower dates from 1932. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Tusayan. Green months are the mild ones.
Desert View Watchtower
Desert View Watchtower, also known as the Indian Watchtower at Desert View, is a 70-foot (21 m)-high stone building located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon within Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, United States. The tower is located at Desert View, more than 20 miles (32 km) to the east of the main developed area at Grand Canyon Village, toward the east entrance to the park. The four-story structure, completed in 1932, was designed by American architect Mary Colter, an employee of the Fred Harvey Company who also created and designed many other buildings in the Grand Canyon vicinity including Hermit's Rest and the Lookout Studio. The interior contains murals by Fred Kabotie.
- Type
- Lookout
- Established
- 1932
- Elevation
- 7,451 ft
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places contributing property (1995) · National Register of Historic Places contributing property (1987)
- Wikipedia readers
- 10K a year
Where to stay near Desert View Watchtower
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Grand Canyon Village (17) and Tusayan (11).
Grand Canyon Village
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
1,599 people
19 mi west of Desert View Watchtower
Compare 3 towns
| Town | From Desert View Watchtower | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon Village | 19 mi west | 30 min | 17 3 hotels · 8 lodges & cabins · 5 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 1,599 | — |
| Tusayan 21% vacation homes | 18 mi west | 25 min | 11 5 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 368 | — |
| Cameron | 26 mi southeast | 40 min | 1 1 hotel | 782 | $53K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Desert View Watchtower
Other well-known places within 69 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw117 mi🏞 National ParkGrand Canyon National Park4.4M visitors a year
62 mi🏜 Canyon & gorgeAntelope Canyon
50 mi🏞 National MonumentSunset Crater Volcano National Monument108K visitors a year
50 mi⛷ Ski areaArizona Snowbowl53 runs · 2,368 ft vertical
41 mi🏞 National MonumentWupatki National Monument130K visitors a year🎢32 mi🎢 Theme parkBedrock City
68 mi🏞 National Recreation AreaGlen Canyon National Recreation Area3.7M visitors a year
63 mi🏞 National MonumentWalnut Canyon National Monument153K visitors a yearPhoto credits
Grand Canyon National Park: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, CC BY 3.0 · Antelope Canyon: Lucas Löffler, Public domain · Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: National Park Service, Public domain · Arizona Snowbowl: Frederick Dennstedt from los angeles, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wupatki National Monument: SeanMD80 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: User:Moondigger, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Walnut Canyon National Monument: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Visiting Desert View Watchtower
What town is Desert View Watchtower near?
Tusayan, AZ, about 18 miles west.
When is the best time to visit Desert View Watchtower?
June, August and September, with highs of 76–82°.
What is the closest airport to Desert View Watchtower?
Grand Canyon National Park (GCN), about 19 miles away. The nearest big hub is Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), about 181 miles.
Where should I stay near Desert View Watchtower?
Grand Canyon Village (19 mi, 17 places to stay) and Tusayan (18 mi, 11 places to stay).
Tips from people in Tusayan
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Tusayan’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.