Toroweap

You've undoubtedly seen the photographs though you might not have known where they were taken. The dramatic sandstone cliff dropping 3000 feet straight down to the Colorado River below is an iconic image. The location is the Toroweap Overlook. It sits in one of the most remote areas of Arizona, the Arizona Strip. Toroweap and Tuweep are used interchangeably. Both are derivations of a Paiute word meaning dry, barren valley. The long drive to Toroweap bears out the applicability of the name. But even barren locals can be dramatically beautiful. Multihued sandstone cliffs rise on either side of the Paiute's barren valley. To the south lies cinder cones and lava flows from the ancient Uinkaret Volcanic Field. Long views abound as the road descends towards the canyon cut by the Colorado River, the grandest canyon of them all. Walking to the edge of the Toroweap Overlook is a profound experience. The views are breathtaking. The immenseness of your surroundings is almost incomprehensible in human terms. The view here is like no other along the entire Grand Canyon. You have to work to get here, but it's worth the effort.

In an effort to manage the number of visitors to the area, all motor vehicles entering the Toroweap area of the Grand Canyon National Park require a backcountry permit or a day-use ticket available through Recreation.gov.