Toroweap, also know as Tuweep is one of Grand Canyon's least visited places. Located off the North Rim of the Western Grand Canyon the closest town is Fredonia, AZ. Named after the Toroweap formation in Toroweap Valley, there are 60 miles of dirt road between this destination and the nearest pavement. No services are available at Toroweap so be sure to be prepared if you plan on making a visit.
As you make your way to Toroweap it is mostly sagebrush and high desert. Off the main dirt road is a maze of side roads with access to remote destinations along the North Rim and Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument. This is also how you access the Bar Ten Ranch, a little know Dude Rance that is typically used by River Rafting companies who fly their clients in from Las Vegas to raft the lower Grand Canyon.
A lone Ranger Station that is totally self sustained occupies this desolate, yet beautiful landscape. Nestled at 4,600 feet in elevation in the West Rims open Plains this is a hot and dry environment most of the year. Water is scarce here and even the Ranger Station uses a rain catchment system or hauled water to supply their needs.
Among the activities in this area is the Toroweap Campground, which sits a top a layer of beautiful red sandstone, and offers some amazing vertical views of the Colorado River below. Slightly west of the Campground is the Lava Falls trail. Don't be fooled by the short mileage of this route, it is one of the Grand Canyon steepest trails. This route leads down to the Colorado River, and to Lava Falls one of the Canyons largest and most challenging rapids. As the name states there is lava rock everywhere on this trail from the volcanic activity that used to be common in this area, and created Lava Falls. For the experienced Grand Canyon hiker there is the Esplanade Trail, and several other routes into the Canyon which are know for their isolation and rare polychrome pictograph sites.
If you want to get away from it all, especially in the cooler seasons Tuweap offers a remote landscape absent of visitors and full of wilderness. This unique destination is a must for Grand Canyon Aficionados, and modern day explorers.
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