The Grandview Lookout (and benchmark) sits atop the highest point of the Coconino Rim, located in the Kaibab National Forest, just south of the Grand Canyon National Park. The top is very flat, but it is a highpoint—the highest point of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, even though it sits about three air-miles from the actual rim. This is a very simple highpoint, reachable by vehicle with little hiking required. Obviously, few people bother to leave the sights of the Grand Canyon for this somewhat nondescript locale, but it’s worth what little effort it takes to get here. Among other things, it’s also a let-in point for the Arizona Trail, which spans the state north to south.

I was already tuckered out from two big hikes earlier today (Sitgreaves Mountain and Red Butte), and now, enjoying a leisurely drive along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The weather was unsettled, with lots of clouds and large thunderstorms out west. The lighting wasn’t the best if looking into the Grand Canyon, but even so, the views were still mesmerizing. No matter how many times I’ve been here, or how many photos I have seen, looking into the Grand Canyon still takes my breath away. It hits me on a viscerally emotional level. This is the most amazing place on the planet. Naturally, there were crowds but not too bad. Lots of foreign languages were heard. I’m glad they came all this way to see our big hole in the ground.

About two miles east of the Grandview Overlook along state route AZ-64 is a side road on the south, shown as Coconino Rim Road on the maps, and marked also as Forest Road 310. I followed this road about a mile to the Kaibab Forest Boundary, then another mile to the Grandview Lookout, parking in the nearby spaces. There was a family climbing up and down the lookout tower, so I bided my time an walked around the area looking for the benchmark, which I found after a few minutes. I also walked around to be sure I had not missed any other potential highpoints. The whole place is pretty flat. The benchmark may be at the highest point. I felt some ground south of the tower looked promising, and also a swell of land about 200 yards north along the road. Overall, I probably walked a half-mile in loops just “to be sure”.

When the family was finished with the tower, I climbed the stairs. This is a well-constructed tower and everything looked very solid. I still felt slightly nervous higher up. The stairs themselves have a very severe slope to them, and not much to break a fall. The views were magnificent, with some views north into the Grand Canyon, and views of the forest in all directions, with all the big volcano peaks looming high to the south. The dark clouds and storms were still a ways to the west. For some reason, there were a lot of helicopters. My guess is the sight-seeing helos make a big loop this way before flying into the Canyon. The noise was bothersome.

Done with this highpoint, I drove back into the Grand Canyon National Park, amused to see a very simple kiosk right on the boundary along this forest road. At one time they must have manned this spot to collect entrance fees. Now a sign just says to pay your fee at the South or East entrance gates. To get here from the south looks like a lot of driving along very long, remote forest roads, so I figure probably over 99% of the people who come to the Lookout come from the Grand Canyon side anyway.

Back on the highway, I proceeded east and stopped at each overlook, staring into the wonderful chasm. The scale is too big to be ever properly captured in a photograph. Even though I was a car-tourist today, I still had a ball at the Canyon. It’s a wondrous place. Finally, I hit the East gates and exited, and drove all the way into Flagstaff. I was very beat so I got a hotel room, cleaned up, a meal then crashed by 8 p.m., the end of a very productive (for me) day.