Grand Canyon South Rim East Side Information

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   South Rim East

The east rim is 25 miles in length from the Grand Canyon Village in the west to Desert View in the east. This road is open all year round.

Yaki Point (7,260 feet or 2,212 meters above sea level)

Below this point you can see the longest trail in the canyon, Tonto Trial, on the Tonto Platform. This trail travels the length of the canyon.
The water on the west side below the point is Pipe Creek. The creek's name came about due to a practical joke. Around 1890 the well known hiker, Ralph Cameron, found a meerschaum pipe in the stream. Before his friends, who were hiking behind him, arrived he quickly carved an 18th century date on the pipe and placed it back into the creek. When Ralph's friends found the pipe they could not believe that someone was there one hundred years earlier, hence the name became Pipe Creek.

Grandview Point (7,406 feet or 2,257 meters above sea level)

Below this point there was a copper ore mine on Horseshoe Mesa. Miner, Peter Berry, extracted the high quality copper for seven years. Even though the ore was valuable, the cost to operate the mine in remote, desert conditions was not profitable. With the increase of tourist to the area he saw the need for accommodations. He built the Grandview Hotel. Once he railroad came to Grand Canyon Village his business slowed which forced him to close the hotel and mine in 1908. Later William Randolph Hearst purchased this site to be a place for family retreats.
The Grandview Trailhead is located here, too.

Moran Point (7,157 feet or 2,181 meters above sea level)

This point is believed to be named after Thomas Moran, a 19th century American landscape painter. He was a member of Major John Wesley Powell's expedition in 1871. Through his artwork he was able to encourage congress to preserve the land by increasing public awareness.
On the point's west side you can see Hance Canyon. Captain John Hance was the first European American to make his home at the Grand Canyon in 1883. He was once a miner but saw taking visitors on guided tours into the canyon was just if not more profitable.
In the distance looking northwest the rock formation "Sinking Ship" is visible.

Tusayan Museum and Ruins

This is the only easily accessible ancient site within the Grand Canyon that was excavated by Emile W. Haury in 1930. It is believed to be the last site were the Anasazi, Hopi ancestors, lived in a tiny pueblo around 1185 A. D. Guided tours around the ruins and garden area are given daily by park rangers. The museum exhibits and artifacts give a good insight into the prehistoric life in the canyon.

Lipan Point (7,360 feet or 2,243 meters above sea level)

North of this point and far below into the canyon is Seventy-five mile creek emptying into the Colorado River. Tanner Trailhead is located at this Lipan Point. This trail will take you nine miles into the canyon to the mouth of the Unkar Creek were there are Anasazi ruins over a thousand years old.

Desert View (7,428 feet or 2,264 meters above sea level)

This is the farthest view point in the Grand Canyon National Park east of the Grand Canyon Village. It is distinctly marked by the tall watch tower built in 1932. This structure was designed by Architect Mary Jane Colter to re-create a pre historic American structure. Inside there are murals painted by Hopi artist, Fred Kabotie.