Tuweep Grand Canyon's Best Kept Secret

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Tuweep: Grand Canyon's Best Kept Secret

223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone: 928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com

Dont Miss Your Turn.GRAND CANYON - NORTH RIM, Ariz. - Tuweep overlook lies at the end of 61 miles of dirt road on the western edge of Grand Canyon National Park, if you're not paying attention you can drive right by the turn off.


One of the actual turn offs for Tuweep lies between Fredonia, Az. and St. George, Utah on AZ 389.


By the fifty-four mile mark you should reach a sign marking the entrance to Tuweep and the northwestern portion of the Grand Canyon.


Tuweep is a section of the Canyon that is rarely visited - at least in comparison to the more populated North and South Rim entrances. Those who make their way to the overlook are primarily the adventurous, the brave and occasionally the nave.


Watch out for bad weather in TuweepThe park rangers and those familiar with the area warn against visiting Tuweep during certain times of the year - specifically when weather can rapidly change the roads. If a person gets stuck, the tow bill can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $2,000. Even in good weather conditions, high clearance vehicle are recommended.


Additionally, the area has been designated a day use only area and those planning an overnight or extended stay need to purchase a backcountry camping permit from the park, prior to driving to Tuweep.


Stewart Smythe, a long-term volunteer at Tuweep, can usually be found sitting in the open garage, watching patiently for vehicles and any signs of humanity to come rolling down the dirt road.


An adventurer, explorer and backcountry hiker Smythe discovered upon retirement he wanted to return to the Grand Canyon, so he checked to see what kind of volunteer opportunities the park offered.


"My first love has always been the Grand Canyon," Smythe said. "When I went to nps.gov, I looked and saw these vegetation programs. I signed up for a couple of those and last year they had one that was a week here at Tuweep.


Great ways to volunteer at the Grand Canyon Because of its remote location and lack of worldly distractions, volunteering and living at Tuweep takes a special kind of person. "Volunteering here, you have to be more independent," Smythe said. "Just because you want to be a volunteer here, doesn't mean you'll make a good fit."


"People skills are huge, the ability to talk to folks and keep calm," Seliga said. "One of my volunteers is a retired teacher...they're able to deal with all types of situations, because you never get the same thing twice."


Smythe is familiar with the area and the importance of communicating and working with Seliga. For both of them, facilitating the experience of every visitor to Tuweep is important.


"The whole volunteer program is so essential to Grand Canyon," Seliga said. "I always appreciate the great work they are always doing."


As for Seliga, Tuweep is home and is a place that has captured his heart. Sharing the country, the Canyon and the experiences is important to him.


"Tuweep is where my heart is," he said. "It takes so long to learn an area and I feel like it's important for me to give back to that area by allowing my knowledge to be used as well as it can by working out here."

Come to Tuweep at the Grand Canyon National Park Today!


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Tuweep Grand Canyon's Best Kept Secret