Palisades of the Desert

The rim at Desert View offers spectacular views of the northeast end of the Grand Canyon. To the northeast, you'll see the cliffs (shown here) called Palisades of the Desert, which form the southeastern wall of Grand Canyon proper. Follow these cliffs north to a significant rock outcropping, and you'll see 7,073' Comanche Point. Beyond Comanche Point, you can barely see the gorge carved by the Little Colorado River. In 1956, where the gorge intersects the Canyon, two planes collided and crashed, killing 128 people. Most of the debris was removed from the area where the rivers unite, but a few plane parts, including a wheel, remain. The Comanche Point Trail, beginning at the GCNP East Entrance Station, is a FAVORITE of rock climbers, as Comanche Point Pinnicle and Lost Arrow Spire of the Grand Canyon are found on and below Comanche Point. June 11, 2009