Desert View
South Rim Grand Canyon, AZ
DESERT VIEW
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF DESERT VIEW
The Grand Canyon is rightfully called one of the seven wonders of the world as it is one of the most remarkable natural wonders found anywhere. However, from a photography standpoint, it can be difficult to find one single location that captures the grandeur of the canyon.
For me, Desert View is my favorite location on the south rim of the canyon as it provides a spectacular view of the canyon in all her glory! From here, you can see the colors, the contrast, deep abstract gorges, endless layers of erosion, natural monuments and a great view of the reason it is here – the Colorado River.
The reason this location is called Desert View is - it is at the eastern most point of the Grand Canyon and it includes an amazing view of the desert, buttes and mountains to the east of the canyon.
There are several great locations to photograph the Desert View, but my favorite is Navajo Point – which is an easy half mile drive west of the Desert View visitors center. Also, Navajo Point doesn’t get as many visitors and has a great view of the Colorado river and the colorful west facing walls of the canyon.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH DESERT VIEW SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The location of this shot is an easy 25 yd walk from the Navajo Point parking lot.
To me, what makes this location special is you get one of the best views of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Under the right light conditions the sculpture and colors of the canyon walls can be seen as good as any location in the park.
As for shooting this location, it is fairly straightforward. As mentioned, it is an easy 25yd walk along the ledge just east of the Navajo Point parking lot. This shot is all about the right light to produce a magical image. In the absence of volatile weather conditions, this location is best shot just before sunset as the east walls of the canyon are illuminated in the soft light of the end of the day.
Remember - even after the sun sets, you can get a great shot with the pastel colors of the canyon …
This is an absolutely beautiful spot to take a great landscape image and can be shot as a wide angle, panoramic or compression. The shot above was taken with a 60mm lens.
7,454 Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
