- Desert View Drive is a 25-mile scenic route in Grand Canyon National Park that with stunning viewpoints, fewer crowds, and fascinating cultural landmarks.
- Highlights include catching the sunrise at Lipan Point and seeing panoramic views from Moran and Grandview Points.
- Visitors can stay at nearby luxe glamping sites while exploring one of the park’s most underrated areas.
When visiting Grand Canyon National Park, most visitors head straight for the iconic South Rim. Yet just east of the busy Grand Canyon Village lies a stretch of road with equally jaw-dropping vistas and far fewer crowds. Desert View Drive, a 25-mile scenic route along Arizona Highway 64, is a low-key wonder that rewards those willing to wander slightly off the park’s busiest paths.
Starting at Grand Canyon Village and stretching past the park’s East Entrance, Desert View Drive leads to some of the canyon’s most underrated viewpoints. Lipan Point is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset, when golden light illuminates the canyon walls. Moran Point, named for landscape painter Thomas Moran, has dramatic perspectives of the Colorado River winding through ancient rock formations. At Grandview Point, once the site of a 19th-century copper mine, visitors can enjoy sweeping panoramas and access the rugged Grandview Trail, originally built to haul ore out of the canyon.
One of the most notable landmarks, the Desert View Watchtower, feels like a natural extension of the landscape. Inspired by ancient Puebloan architecture, the 70-foot stone structure is one of the park’s highest accessible viewpoints, with just 85 steps leading to the top. Inside, murals honor the region’s Native American heritage. The adjacent Navajo Point is another remarkable spot to observe striking views of the canyon’s geologic layers.
Throughout the drive, scenic pull-offs, picnic areas, and forested trails invite a slower, more reflective pace. You might even spot wildlife like grazing elk or California condors soaring above the canyon rim. Despite the sense of remoteness, modern conveniences are close at hand: the Desert View Market & Deli sells snacks, drinks, and other essentials for the road. For travelers looking to stay nearby, Under Canvas Grand Canyon and Highland Grand Canyon Glamping has luxurious tented experiences just minutes from the park, perfect for soaking in the star-filled skies and the canyon’s serenity.
