Western Arizona Route 66
GRAND CANYON SIDE-TRIP

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.The Grand Canyon has always been associated with Route 66 and is a favorite side trip. The main Park area is about an hour due north of Williams on AZ64. For a better option, leave Flagstaff to the north on US89 and enter the park from the east on AZ64, enjoy the drive along the south rim to the main park area, and then return to Flagstaff via AZ64/US180. This keeps you from having to backtrack inside the park and/or miss the Route 66 alignments between Flagstaff and Williams.

The photos and QTVRs in this section are arranged geographically East to West
along the south rim starting at the Desert View park entrance.

VR Panorama taken at the Desert View lookout below the Watchtower.
The Desert View lookout is on the far eastern end of Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim area. (Mar 08)
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama.

VR Panorama taken from the lower roof of the Desert View Watchtower. (Mar 08)
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama.

VR Panorama taken on the south side of the Desert View Watchtower. A short walking trail connects the
Watchtower to the parking area. Bookstores and concessions are located along the trail. These are the only
concessions until reaching the Mather Point parking area.
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama.

A view to the east from the Navaho Point turnout on the South Rim road (Desert View Drive/AZ64).
If you look carefully, you can see the Watchtower at the Desert View (about a mile east). (Jan 08)

This view is from the Lipan Point turnout on the South Rim Road (Desert View Drive/AZ64).
There is lots of snow as we were there on Jan 1st. (Jan 08)

A view from the Moran Point turnout on the South Rim Road (Desert View Drive/AZ64).
The sun was getting low so the colors are somewhat subdued. (Jan 08)

A view from the Grandview Point turnout on the South Rim Road (Desert View Drive/AZ64). (Jan 08)

A view from an un-named turnout on the south rim road (Desert View Drive/AZ64). The wind from the north was being funneled up out of the canyon here and it was very difficult to even stand up. After this stop it got too dark for any more photography especially since the buffeting from the wind made it difficult to brace the camera for long exposures. (Jan 08)

VR Panorama taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim Trail west of Mather Point. There are many stops along the trail that allow you to leave the marked trail and walk right up to the edge of the canyon (no guard rails here!) This trail makes a 3 mile circuit along the south rim and back into the park's developed area back to the Park HQ building. (Mar 08)
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama.

VR Panorama taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim Trail between Mather Point and the Park HQ. (Mar 08)
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama.

VR Panorama taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim Trail between Mather Point and the Park HQ. (Mar 08)
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama.

VR Panorama taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim Trail between Mather Point and the Park HQ. (Mar 08)
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama.

VR Panorama taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim Trail between Mather Point and the Park HQ. (Mar 08)
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama.

VR Panorama taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim Trail between Mather Point and the Park HQ. (Mar 08)
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama).

VR Panorama taken halfway along the South Rim near the main Grand Canyon Park developed area. This spot is where the Mather Amphitheater Trail meets the South Rim Trail just north of the Park HQ building. (Mar 08)
Click on the photo to view a 360 degree interactive virtual reality panorama.
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