The Rough Road to Tuweep's Classic Grand Canyon Views

Tuweep (or Toroweap) is located in a remote corner of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's hard to reach and requires a high clearance 4WD vehicle to make the three hour drive down a sixty mile long gravel road, the last couple of miles of which took me forty-five minutes to cover. The National Park service estimates twenty-five percent of visitors get a flat tire on the way there or back which is pretty easy to believe, as there are some really rough stretches with sharp rocks to navigate around. Fortunately I made the trip without incident even though the jeep I rented was pretty beaten up. 

When you arrive at the overlook there are no lodges, restaurants, services or cell reception, just ten campsites. You are definitely off the grid. Due to its remote location far from the lights of a major city, this area was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2014, and the view of the planets, stars and Milky Way is as good as you are likely to find just about anywhere in the United States. Even though it was Labor Day weekend I only saw about a dozen people during my visit, a refreshing change from the large crowds at the more accessible parts of the Grand Canyon. 

The views are pretty spectacular. Tuweep is one of the few places at the Grand Canyon where you have an unobstructed view of the Colorado River. From the rim, you can watch and hear the rafters running the rapids at Lava Falls, three thousand feet directly below you. The image below is of the sunset view.