May 4-5, 2019 Tusayan, Arizona

70's and sunny.

We hiked into a canyon looking for Indian rock art. John on the trail. We didn't find it a first and had a nice hike aways down the canyon. On the way back I decided to explore this overhang. The desert varnish is pretty. 

Then I happened into this overhang. The ceiling is black with cooking fire smoke. These red marks are hand prints. Some sheep that were pecked out the rock and painted, not sure what these two are. 

The rock art was pretty faded, had to look hard to see it. Some grinding holes, some old paint and desert varnish-pretty colors, cool holes in the rocks. Can't really tell what this is but the closer I look it looks like a rabbit. A mound of white flowers and two common buckeye butterflies mating.  

After our hike I relaxed in my hammock and read. I need to do that more often. Sunset from camp looking north.  

Sunset from camp looking southwest. Today we went down another forest service road past lovely Locket lake. 

We located the Arizona trail and hiked a few miles. On the way out we went by Grandview fire tower and climbed it. Those steep see through steps give me the willies. The view from the top of the canyon was worth it.

We stopped at the Tusayan museum and ruins. Around 30 people lived in this pueblo.The museum was interesting. We went to the Desert Tower. This was designed by the same architect Mary Coulter who designed the El Tovar Lodge and Hermits Rest. It is designed to look like indian architecture. 

I love the design in the rocks used to build it. Inside you walk up stairs past indian art and petroglyphs on the walls. It was open in the center to the top. Looking up. 

Some of the native american art on the walls. Looking back down.

The views from the Desert View tower. 

 John Moran pictured at Moran point. It is named after the famous artist Thomas Moran who painted scenes in many of the national parks.  His paintings pushed congress in creating many of the National Parks. A view from Moran point.

Wildflowers seen today. White flower, buckwheat, pink flower and pink phlox. Baby horney toad, a sign saying not to harm the snakes in 5 languages, a garter snake that was on the wall of the desert tower. Elk on the side of the road. 

The Arizona trail goes north and south through the state. Grandview is another entrance to the park from a dirt road. A picture through one of the odd shaped windows in the Desert Tower.