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Category: Tuweep/Toroweap

15 October 2010

Ranching on the Arizona Strip

01 Ranch Tuweep Rd BLM AZ pano (516x1024) 

While ranchers used the Toroweap valley seasonally in the early 1900s, the first year round homestead was the Lower Kent Ranch, built in 1927, located just north of the park.

02 Old chimney from ranch Tuweep Rd BLM AZ (1024x761)

On our way out of Tuweep/Toroweap we saw the evidence ranching in the past.

03 Old stone foundation leaving Tuweep BLM AZ pano (1024x1010)

Some places older than others.

04 Tuweep Valley BLM AZ (1024x601)

The Tuweep Valley stretches on for miles once out of the park and is still used as range land leased by the Bureau of Land Management.

05 Cows in shade leaving Tuweep BLM AZ (1024x764)

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Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, history, ranching, Tuweep/Toroweap 14 Comments
01 October 2010

Toroweap, a remote western view of Grand Canyon

Scrapes on slickrock Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Scrape marks on the slick rock that’s called road, not ours

After the five hour drive over washboard then slick rock road we pulled into a full campground at Toroweap around 5pm.

Campsite Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

A fellow camper offered us parking in his large space as rules allow two vehicles per site.  He pulled out the next morning.

Sunset E Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Had a quick spaghetti dinner then walked the 1 mile (1.6 km) to the Toroweap overlook for sunset.

Sunset upriver Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

No disappointment here looking upstream.

Side canyon on South Rim feeds into Colorado River Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Then we boulder hopped along the rim towards the west looking straight down about 3000 feet (914 meters) into the Colorado River.

Downstream West Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

By the time we got to a good overlook downstream the light was gone, but the view sure wasn’t.

Darkling beetle Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

We walked back to camp by flashlight and saw this darkling beetle scurrying across our path.  Sure glad it wasn’t one of the many snakes reportedly seen by the camphost.

Juniper at the rim looking East Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

The next morning after breakfast we walked back to the rim again.

Tuweep Point Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Toroweap sits at an elevation of 4600 feet (1400 meters) on a landform known as the Esplanade, a flat shelf situated about halfway between the coniferous forests of the North Rim and the hot canyon bottom.

Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

A chaparral community thrives in Toroweap Valley with juniper and pinyon, sagebrush and saltbush, Mormon tea and other woody shrubs, and various grasses.

View East Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Nearer the Esplanade succulent cacti, yucca, and agave predominate.

Up stream Colorado River Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Upstream

At less than one mile across the canyon to the Hualapai Indian Reservation on the South Rim, this is one of narrowest and deepest segments of the inner canyon.

Supai sandstone bedding planes and erosion Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Sandstone bedding planes and erosion

The colorful redrock from the Hermit shale and Supai sandstones to the east…

Down stream Colorado River Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

…contrasts with the black, basaltic lava flows to the west.

Lava eroding off Hermit shale at Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

More than a dozen times in the last 7 million years lava spilled over the canyon rim damming the Colorado River.

Lava Falls rapid Colorado River Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

The river eroded these lava dams and continued its downward cutting to where it is now 50 feet (15 meters) deeper than the base of the ancient dams.

Down stream Colorado River Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Downstream

As the sun rose higher so did the temperatures.

Mike Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

We just couldn’t hang around during the heat of the day.

Erosion in Supai sandstone by camp Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Eroded sandstone

So we headed back to camp for lunch in the afternoon shade of a large boulder next to our site.

Water pocket on slickrock Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

On the way we saw water pockets in the slick rock.  When moisture fills these pools fairy and horseshoe shrimp, tiny frogs and microscopic organisms emerge from the muddy bottoms.

Cryptobiotic soil Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

It is important to walk only on the trail as the surrounding ground supports a rare and sensitive crusty black cryptobiotic soil.  This complex community of lichens, algae, and bacteria takes years to grow.

Down stream Colorado River Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Downstream

After hanging out in camp being lazy all day, we once again headed to the rim for sunset.

Up stream Colorado River thru snag Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Upstream

I just couldn’t stop taking photos.

Gaelyn looking up stream at Colorado River Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Nor did I want to leave.

Road from Toroweap Bureau of Land Management Arizona

But in the morning we hit the dusty road for the long drive back.

Old homestead along road from Toroweap Arizona

At least we didn’t end up like this.

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Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks and Monuments, Tuweep/Toroweap ecology, geology, sunset, Toroweap 18 Comments

Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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