Toroweap
Kim Pollock
So, you think you have seen the Grand Canyon? You spent four hours at the South Rim Visitors Center ogling over the unending expanse of this magnificent canyon. Many of you have even taken the time to negotiate your way to the more remote but equally inspiring North Rim Visitors Center. But it is not until you gaze 3000 feet straight down onto the mighty Colorado River in one of the deepest and most remote sections of the canyon that you can truly appreciate the grandeur of one of the our greatest natural wonders. That place is the Toroweap Overlook, located on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Geology - For the last 17 million years (according to recent studies) the Colorado River has been using its power to carve deeper and deeper rifts into the many layers of rock that make up the crust of our earth. From the 230 million old Kaibab Limestone to the 2 billion year old Vishnu Schist on the bottom, these layers are exposed one by one as the river cuts through the canyon into the ancient rock. The river is over 1440 miles long and drains much of the water from the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains. Prior to the construction of numerous dams on this waterway, water flows ranged from 4000 cubic feet per second to over 1,000,000 cubic feet per second. While it is now rare for flows to exceed 70,000 cubic feet per second, it is no wonder that this river had the power to create the masterpiece called the Grand Canyon.
Where’s the river? - While visitors to the North Rim Visitors Center can see much of the Canyon, they do not have much of an opportunity to view the Colorado River. South Rim visitors do have a couple of options to see the mighty river – the best is a 25 mile drive from the Visitors Center to Desert View Point where the broad expanse of the canyon and the Colorado can be seen in the distance.
The Overlook - However, for a truly spectacular and unforgettable view of the Canyon and the Colorado, take the time to visit the Toroweap Overlook where you will be afforded the opportunity to see the Grand Canyon as very few people have ever seen it.
The Toroweap overlook, also known as Tuweap or Tuweep, lies in a remote section of the North Rim between Kanab Canyon to the east and the Pine Mountains to the west. The overlook (elevation 4550 feet) looks straight down almost 3000 feet onto the mighty Colorado River. There are no guard rails here – watch your kids and your feet as you sneak up to the edge to peer straight down the sheer cliffs into the canyon below. Unlike the other Visitor Centers where crowds of tourists can hamper your experience, Toroweap may receive 10-15 visitors per day – a far cry from the thousands that visit the more popular access points.
| The International Scale for white water rapids ranges from 1 (flat water) to VI (Extreme and Experimental), but most folks on the Grand Canyon use a “Grand Canyon” Scale. A class 10 rapid of this scale is equivalent to a Class V (Maximum intensity white water) on the international Scale, which is the most extreme most people will ever intentionally encounter. |
Lava Falls - A short one-eight mile walk to the right of the Overlook allows you to see Lava Falls – the roughest and most intense rapids in the Canyon. It is here that the intrepid rafters will beach their rafts, get out and hike down river to scout out the rapids before testing their skills on this notorious section of the river. Colorado River-runners typically rate rapids on a 1-10 scale of difficulty - Lava Falls rates a 10+ on this scale! Be sure to bring your binoculars because, if you are lucky, you will be able to see the rafts tear through the standing waves of white water as they plow through Lava Falls. If the wind is right, you can even hear the screams from 3000 feet down in the canyon!
Camping and Hiking - If you are interested in outstanding dawn and dusk photos of the canyon, then consider staying a night or two at the primitive campground (complete with pit toilets) at Toroweap. The campsites are first come, first camp with the exception of the group site, which can be reserved through the Tuweep Ranger Station (928.638.7888). There are several hiking trails in the area including the extremely difficult Lava Falls Route – a 1 ½ mile hike with a 2500 foot elevation change! This technical hike is very challenging and is for experienced hikers only but will take you down to the river for a first hand view of the rapids.
Directions to Toroweap - There are several roads into Toroweap (GPS N36.21524 W113.05705), but the most popular and direct route is off of Arizona 389 (GPS N36.87913 W112.64789), nine miles west of Fredonia (about five miles east of Pipe Spring National Monument). A road sign marks Toroweap – 61 Miles. The roads are graded dirt, are in good condition when dry and are suitable for most high clearance vehicles. Watch for livestock and slow down for the cattle guards.
RV Campground - A primitive RV campground with full hookups (30 amp) is available ¼ mile north of the Pipe Spring National Monument at a campground on the Kaibab Paiute Reservation. Contact the Tribal Offices for more information at (520) 643-7245. Alternatively, you can stay in Kanab at any one of the many campgrounds there and then drive to the Overlook.
If you are looking for the perfect way to truly experience the Grand Canyon (short of rafting the 270 mile length of it in a paddle boat!), then don’t miss the Toroweap Overlook on the North Rim.