Tuweep is a remote and rarely visited section of the Grand Canyon located at the end of a 61-mile dirt road. It can be easily missed if drivers are not paying attention when they pass the turnoff between Fredonia, AZ and St. George, UT. The area has few visitors compared to other sections of the national park. Volunteers, like Stewart Smythe, work at the isolated Tuweep overlook and help the few adventurous visitors who make the long drive. Special precautions, like having a high clearance vehicle, are recommended due to the risk of rapidly changing weather conditions on the difficult road.

1. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
Tuweep:
Grand
Canyon's
Best Kept
Secret

2. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
Don’t 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.

3. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
One of the actual turn offs for Tuweep lies between
Fredonia, Az. and St. George, Utah on AZ 389.

4. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
By the fifty-four mile mark you
should reach a sign marking
the entrance to Tuweep and
the northwestern portion of the
Grand Canyon.

5. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
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
naïve.

6. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
Watch out for bad weather in Tuweep
The 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.

7. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
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.

8. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
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.

9. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
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.

10. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
"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.

11. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
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."

12. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
"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."

13. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
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.

14. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
"The whole volunteer program is so essential to Grand Canyon,"
Seliga said. "I always appreciate the great work they are always
doing."

15. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
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.

16. 223,217,31
Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Phone: 928-638-2468
explorethecanyon.com
"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!