Gazing out into the Grand Canyon with mid-February’s brisk winds was not ideal, but the sun shined brightly and traces of snow were beautiful on the red rock. Since we were only two hours from the Canyon in Sedona, a day trip worked well, especially when we found out that several of the viewpoints were closed.

Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
To start at the beginning of this series, visit Return to the Red Rocks 2024.

On The South Rim

At 18 miles wide, 277 miles long and a mile deep, Grand Canyon simply takes your breath away. The clouds and ever-changing angles of the sun on its various elevations make for fabulous views from any of the lookout points at any time of day. Because of its easier access and longer tourist season, about 90% of the Canyon’s visitors view it from the South Rim. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Canyon from the North Rim, which sparks thoughts of another road trip!

On our last visit in early May we spent two nights at El Tovar Hotel so we could take our time and breathe in the beauty that was before us. The weather was perfect and all viewpoints were open, so we definitely needed the extra day. The option for a sunset and/or sunrise in this fantastic place added to the experience.

Today Grand Canyon was only a two-hour drive from Sedona and with the weather far less predictable in mid-February, we opted for a day trip. Since it was pretty chilly up there, having less to see because of several closed lookouts probably worked out for the best. We took the more easterly route at Flagstaff – and started at the Desert View Watchtower where the views were amazing!

Desert View Watchtower

The first two photos below show the view of the Painted Desert standing outside the Watchtower facing east. Views are magnificent even from the ground, but get up in that 70-foot-high stone building and you’ll be at the highest point on the South Rim. To be honest, I thought there would be more snow in mid-February, but the dusting that remained was still pretty cool.

“Built to Blend into the Environment. Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, designer of the Watchtower wanted to make it difficult to tell where the rock of the canyon walls ended and the tower began. To achieve this, her design built-in the appearance of rubble at the base of the tower and she insisted the builders only use rocks at actual size and not cut, to keep their weathered surfaces.

A truly unique stop, Desert View Watchtower stands at the eastern end of the South Rim. Featuring a concrete foundation and steel framework beneath the stones, it offers spectacular views of the Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert at each level. Paintings adorn the interior which depict various aspects of Hopi mythology and religious ceremonies [last three photos below].” ~ from The Natural Beauty of Arizona

Worth the Drive

The free shuttle buses from the Visitor Center don’t go out as far as the Watchtower, but it’s worth the drive to see it and the four additional lookout points along Desert View Drive. At every lookout the vastness of the canyon is breathtaking, and at the more easterly lookouts we have a bird’s eye view of the Colorado River on its journey southwest. The first photo below shows where we’ve been, with the Watchtower off in the distance.

Moran Point

We are truly blessed with so much magnificence in these United States. With so many incredible places to visit it’s hard to pick a favorite, but I am mesmerized every time I visit this Grand Canyon and hope to visit again some day.

The Views Continue

As we work our way to the Visitor Center, the views continue. The trees are gnarly and mostly bare, a raven was on the lookout for some lunch, and the grandness of this Grand Canyon amazed us once again.

A Frigid End to an otherwise Wonderful Day!

This time of year the options are limited for lunch, so we grabbed some pre-packaged (overpriced) sandwiches at Bright Angel Bikes & Café. We waited in a long line and our only option was a picnic table outside. Yes, I said outside! I don’t think we’ve ever eaten so fast to get out of the wind. We should have eaten in the car, or an even better choice would have been to wait just a bit longer for a stop in Tusayan on our way back to Sedona. Of course you know about hindsight.

On our last visit, we stopped at the Visitor Center in Tusayan, grabbed some lunch, then watched a fabulous IMAX movie at the Visitor Center in town. On our way by, we remembered the IMAX and decided not to stop again, but it is something everyone should see (at least) once. It’s called Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time. Visit the link for a trailer.

“Experience a Story 1.7 Billion Years in the Making. The Grand Canyon Visitor Center, located at the South Rim in Tusayan just outside the Grand Canyon National Park, is home to what you need to get the most from your Grand Canyon vacation.” ~ READ MORE

Next up: Some Highlights of Sedona

Happy trails,
Barb