Tuweep ~ Grand Canyon National Park

A previous article describes the bumpy 40 mile trip on Antelope Road to the border of the Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument. The washboard ripples on Antelope Road are the size of speed bumps and the brain will be totally rattled, so planning on doing some dispersed camping in the Grand Canyon Parashant before heading onward to Tuweep and Toroweap is the best option. This way the body and mind will be refreshed the next morning for the majestic experience that awaits about 20 more miles up ahead on Antelope Road. The early morning light will also enhance the views of the sagebrush valley on the way to Tuweep, which definitely is a spectacular sight to see.

Tuweep is a very remote Grand Canyon National Park Ranger Station outpost located next to the Grand Canyon Parashant and this destination is the gateway to the Toroweap Cliffs Overlook. The Tuweep village is operated as a ranger outpost and it is not really a tourist attraction, but it is okay to take a look around the grounds. Basically this camp provides what it takes for National Park workers to survive and tend to emergencies that may arise in this region. No food, fuel or water is available in Tuweep, so visitors should plan on stocking up ahead of time.

Tuweep is also where the furthest west campground is located in the Grand Canyon National Park. This campground is located nearby along the dirt road to Toroweap and permits are required, so doing the paperwork well ahead of time is suggested. Other than the washboard ripples, the road to Tuweep is fairly smooth, but the dirt road to Toroweap is much rougher. In fact, there are large vehicle restrictions and a 4x4 high ground clearance vehicle is recommended, so most of the casual visitors in passenger cars park at Tuweep and then hike to the campground. There also is an oversize vehicle parking lot at Tuweep where buses unload hikers to the Toroweap Cliffs. 

The early morning views of the mountains and the sagebrush valley surrounding Tuweep certainly are worth writing home about. In the distance the valley slopes seem to drop off into an unseen abyss and this is where the Grand Canyon makes its exit in the west end of the park. The dispersed camping in the neighboring National Monument definitely is good for freshening up before arriving at the Toroweap final destination and camping by Tuweep is an option too. Getting an early start in the morning is the key for experiencing this very remote destination to the fullest extent, so be ready to rise and shine!
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