Nankoweap Granaries

Distance: 1.5 miles round-trip
Duration: 1.5–2 hours
Elevation gain: 1,500 feet
Effort: Moderate
Trailhead: River left, mile 52

This short but steep route starts just downstream (south) of Nankoweap Creek. The camps in this area are overgrown with tamarisk, and there’s a network of unofficial trails. Look for the well-traveled trail paralleling the base of the cliffs, then locate the spur leading uphill toward the ruins.

It’s a rocky climb through broken Muav limestone, but the view at the top is one of the finest along the river. Plan to spend some time hanging out here and enjoying the views. In late afternoon, the walls of Marble Canyon [1] turn shades of peach and rose, reflecting in the waters of the Colorado River.

The delta of Nankoweap Creek must have provided the Ancestral Puebloans with good garden plots, and they stored surplus grains in this high, dry alcove. This area is also accessible from the North Rim [2] via the difficult Nankoweap Trail [3].