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Welcome to the audio described version of the official print brochure for Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. Through text and audio descriptions of photos, illustrations, and maps, this version describes the two-sided color brochure that Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument visitors receive. The brochure explores the cultural and natural history of Parashant, some of its highlights, and information for planning your trip.
This audio version lasts approximately 38 minutes which we have divided into 17 sections.
Sections 1 and 2 describes an overview of Grand-Canyon Parashant National Monument.
Sections 3 through11 describe the front of the brochure which includes information regarding the geology, and natural and cultural history of Parashant.
Sections 12 through 15 describe the back of the brochure including information about various points of interest, safety precautions, a map, and general information about visiting the monument.
Section 16 provides information regarding accessibility and section 17 provides the mailing address, website, and phone number for the Public Lands Information Center for Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument.
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, a land area larger than the state of Rhode Island, epitomizes much of the “Wild West”—a vast, wild landscape of desert cactus and sheer canyon walls, soaring raptors and tall ponderosa pines, isolated cattle corrals and line shacks, lone cowboys, and rugged rock formations set against endless blue skies.
The monument is cooperatively managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service, as directed by presidential proclamation 7265 of January 11, 2000. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the NPS Organic Act both apply within the monument.
The monument is in Mohave County, Arizona, immediately north of Grand Canyon National Park and the Colorado River and east of the state of Nevada. Altogether, it encompasses 1,048,321 acres: 208,449 acres administered by the National Park Service; 812,581 acres administered by the Bureau of Land Management; 23,206 acres administered by the Arizona State Trust; and 4,085 acres of private land.
The federally administered lands lie within the Arizona Strip BLM District and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NPS), co-managed under a Service First agreement. These lands include the ponderosa pine forested areas of Mt. Trumbull, Mt. Logan, and Mt. Dellenbaugh; the Mojave Desert in the Grand Wash and Pakoon areas; Kelly and Twin Points overlooking the Grand Canyon; and the Shivwits and Uinkaret Plateaus. Nearly 300,000 acres of the monument are designated or eligible for designation as wilderness areas. Approximately 791,017 acres are allotted and/or leased for livestock grazing, and more than 14,000 head of cattle roam monument lands.
With the Grand Canyon plunging thousands of feet deep along the south perimeter and only rough, unpaved roads providing entry from the north, west, and northeast, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is one of the most remote areas within the 48 contiguous states. No towns or communities lie within its boundaries. The nearest towns (Littlefield, Beaver Dam, Scenic, Fredonia, Colorado City, and Centennial, Arizona; Mesquite and Bunkerville, Nevada; and St. George, Utah) are all more than an hour’s drive from the monument boundaries. Travel anywhere in the monument, except its outermost edges, requires slow driving over rough terrain, often in a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive or off-highway vehicle (OHV).
The name “Parashant” (pronounced “Pair-a-SHAUNT”) derives from a Southern Paiute Indian family name, spelled “Parashonts” in early pioneer-era translations. One of the monument’s large canyons draining into the Colorado River was named for this family. The new monument was named Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument to incorporate both the historical reference to the Southern Paiutes and a geographical reference to the Grand Canyon watershed included in the designation.
To find out more about what resources might be available or to contact the park directly, visit the "Accessibility" and "More Information" sections at the end of this audio-described brochure.
The front of the brochure includes a large color photograph, informational text, color photographs of the six ecosystems found within the monument, and historic photographs that appear in black and white.
The top fourth of the page contains a color photograph of a scenic vista of the Grand Wash Cliffs at sunset. Below the color photograph is informational text that explains the natural and cultural history of the area, highlighting the primary features of the monument.
Sage-green text, in all uppercase letters, spans the full width of the page and divides the front side of the brochure in half with the words, "A TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPE."
The third quarter of the page contains titles, informational text, and color photographs of six ecosystems found within Parashant: Desert Wash, Joshua Tree Forest, Mojave Desert Scrub, Sagebrush Steppe, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, and Ponderosa Pine Forest. Descriptions and text for each of these ecosystems are presented under their own sections.
The bottom fourth of the page contains a chronological timeline of six periods of time and contains titles, informational text and historical photographs. Five of the historical photographs are in black and white, and one is in color. The periods of time represented in this section are: First Inhabitants, Recent Arrivals, Logging, Copper Mining, Cattle Grazing, and Preservation. Descriptions and text for each of these historical periods are presented under their own sections. Beneath the historical photographs and informational text are nine dates that span from 1800 to 2000 in 25-year increments. Below the dates is an image of barbed wire that spans the page, each barb of the wire is centered below each chronological date. The background photo for this section in an expansive view of the Pakoon Springs area at sunset.
DESCRIPTION: The top quarter of the image is a grey-blue cloudless sky that transitions to lighter shades of blue-gray as it descends to the skyline of the mesas in the distance. A flat sage-green and lavender-grey steppe valley with native grasses, yucca, and sagebrush bushes fills the bottom half of the image. In the distance above the valley are layers of sedimentary rocks forming the mesas and cliffs of the Grand Wash Cliffs. The cliff faces are highlighted in orange and yellow tones of the evening setting sun.
CAPTION: The Grand Wash Cliffs, seen here bathed in the glowing light of sunset, illustrate the serene beauty of the cliffs, canyons, and valleys of Parashant. The national monument protects a wealth of features, natural and cultural, for scientific purposes and for the public to use and enjoy.
CREDIT: TODD H. MILLER
RELATED TEXT: Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is seen by few people. Deep canyons, mountains, and lonely buttes testify to the power of geological forces and provide colorful vistas to all visitors. At night the sky is resplendent with stars. Parashant features some of the darkest night skies to be seen anywhere in the continental United States.
Geologic, geographic, and biological transitions give rise to the monument’s remarkable ecological diversity. Here two geologic provinces meet—Basin and Range and Colorado Plateau. Their layers and features, relatively unobscured by vegetation, reveal the area’s geologic history. Two ecoregions also meet here—Mojave Desert and Colorado Plateau.
Three floristic provinces converge here—Mojave Desert, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau—and support a diversity of plant and animal communities.
The monument’s variety of desert, shrubland, and montane habitats result from geologic variations and elevations that range from 1,400 feet above sea level near Grand Wash Bay to over 8,000 feet on Mt. Trumbull. The cooler conditions found in higher-elevation ponderosa pine forests provide habitat for wild turkeys, northern goshawks, and Kaibab squirrels. Middle elevations feature pinyon-juniper woodlands and sagebrush that support pinyon jays, Great Basin rattlesnakes, and mule deer. The low-elevation Mojave Desert is characterized by creosote bush and Joshua trees, Gila monsters, Gambel’s quail, and desert bighorn sheep. Springs with life-giving water host distinctive plant and animal life.
Some visitors may not see how this landscape could support human life, but people have flourished here for over 12,000 years. Those who settled here about 3,000 years ago left rock images, home sites, tools, and quarries. In October 1776 the Southern Paiute and Europeans met for the first time when Spanish priests passed through the area. Later, European Americans settled in this rugged land and called it the Arizona Strip. Remnants of their ranches dot the landscape, adding to the stories that await today’s explorers of Parashant.
RELATED TEXT: From Native American cultures to the ranching way of life to today’s modern explorer, Parashant is a land of discovery, enchantment, and wonder. Here the wildlife is still wild and their habitats remain largely undisturbed. The variety of ecosystems provides a diverse richness of plant and animal species.
Header: A Traditional Landscape
Description: Six individual photos, highlighting different environments, when viewed as a whole give the impression of a single landscape. All include a grey-blue background and the impression of a continuous mountain range. Photographs of different trees and shrubs associated with each environment are superimposed over each landscape photograph and are numbered to correspond with a caption below. Other wildlife species are also cutout and placed within each landscape photo.
TITLE: A Traditional Landscape, Desert Wash
TEXT: The Mojave, driest of all North American deserts, gets less than 10 inches of rain a year. Snaking across this arid landscape, scoured desert washes carry the runoff after monsoon rains. Desert tortoises and Gila monsters actively forage after these refreshing storms. Deep-rooted plants grow along the washes, providing black-tailed jackrabbits with shady hiding places.
CAPTION: Grand Wash between Pakoon Springs and Tassi Ranch
DESCRIPTION: The top half of the image is a grey-blue sky that transitions to darker shades of blue-gray as it descends the page. The bottom half of the image contains a dry creek bed with checkered desert vegetation growing on each side of the wash. A creosote bush in the center of the image is labeled with a white number 2 inside of a small black circle. Layered in front of the image are three additional images of: a prickly pear cactus (labeled with a white number 1 inside of a small black circle), a desert roadrunner bird, and a desert tortoise.
PHOTO CREDITs: 1. Prickly pear cactus © Michael P. Gadomski, Photo Researchers, Inc., 2.Creosote Bush, NPS/ Tom Patterson, Roadrunner © Tom & Pat Leeson, Photo Researchers, Inc., Desert Tortoise © Jerry L. Ferrara, Researchers, Inc.
TITLE: A Traditional Landscape, Joshua Tree Forest
TEXT: Joshua trees are characteristic Mojave Desert plants that grow up to 40 feet tall. Their prickly branches give many animals shelter, a food source, and nesting materials. As many as 25 bird species nest in Joshua trees. Scott’s orioles hang nests from branches, other birds build nests in foliage, and northern flickers peck nest holes in the trunks. Toppled trunks house insects that are important for creating the foundation of a complex food web.
CAPTION: A Joshua tree near Pakoon Springs
DESCRIPTION: The top half of the image is a grey-blue sky. The bottom half of the image contains a cluster of beavertail cactus. Layered in front of the image are three additional images of: a Joshua Tree (labeled with a white number 3 inside of a small black circle), a black-tailed jackrabbit, and a Gambel's Quail.
PHOTO CREDITS: 3. Joshua Tree, NPS/ Tom Patterson; Black-tailed jackrabbit © Jerry L. Ferrara, Photo Researchers, Inc.; Gambel’s quail, © Gerald C. Kelley, Photo Researchers, Inc.
TITLE: A Traditional Landscape, Mojave Desert Scrub
TEXT: This community’s spiny, succulent plants denote desert to most people. In rainy periods barrel cacti store water in their vault-like spiny bodies. Surviving long periods of no rain, they live up to 130 years. Rock-dwelling chuckwalla lizards also use their body’s store of water and fat during dry periods. They can wedge themselves into rocks by inhaling air, making it hard for predators to pull them out.
CAPTION: Upper Whitmore Canyon
DESCRIPTION: The top half of the image is a grey-blue sky. The bottom half of the image contains a beavertail cactus and a large barrel cactus in the foreground. A rocky desert peak of layered sedimentary rock, devoid of vegetation, is in the background. The beavertail cactus is labeled with a white number 4 inside of a small black circle, the large barrel cactus in the center of the image is labeled with a white number 6 inside of a small black circle. Layered in front of the image are three additional images of: a Desert paintbrush (labeled with a white number 5 inside of a small black circle), a Chuckwalla lizard, and an Antelope ground squirrel.
PHOTO CREDITS: 4. Beavertail cactus, NPS/ Paula Brantsner; 5. Desert paintbrush, NPS/ Paula Brantsner; 6. Barrel Cactus, NPS/ Paula Brantsner; Chuckwalla, © Gene Hanson; Antelope ground squirrel, Mark A. Chappell.
TITLE: A Traditional Landscape, Sagebrush Steppe
TEXT: The sagebrush steppe is found on semi-arid plains and flanked by pinyon-juniper woodland (right). You will drive for miles through this multi-hued landscape of sagebrush, shrubs, and short grasses. Big sagebrush is the most common plant, and rabbitbrush and other plants also thrive here. The adaptable coyote hunts rabbits and other small animals that hide in the shrubs.
CAPTION: Steppe country east of Mount Trumbull
DESCRIPTION: The top half of the image is a grey-blue sky. The bottom half of the image contains sagebrush valley interspersed with few juniper trees in the foreground. A rocky desert peak of layered sedimentary rock, checkered with juniper trees is in the background. Layered in front of the image are four additional images of: Rabbtibrush with vibrant yellow flowers (labeled with a white number 7 inside of a small black circle), Big sagebrush, (labeled with a white number 8 inside of a small black circle) a coyote, and a Great Basin rattlesnake.
PHOTO CREDITS: 7. Rabbtibrush, © Ed Callaert Photography; 8. Big sagebrush, © Robert J. Erwin Photo Researchers, Inc; Coyote, © Linda Freshwaters Arndt Photo Researchers, Inc; Great Basin rattlesnake, © William Bates.
TITLE: A Traditional Landscape, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
TEXT: Pinyon pines and Utah junipers grow on plateaus and mountainsides above the steppe. Junipers can live over 1,000 years, yet they only grow 20 to 30 feet tall. Slow-growing pinyon pines germinate beneath the protective shade of other vegetation. Mature pinyon pines produce nutritious seeds (pine nuts) eaten by birds, rodents, and people. The birds and rodents cache some pine nuts for the winter. Their buried and forgotten seeds sprout into new trees.
CAPTION: Pinyon-juniper growing on lava flow outcrops.
DESCRIPTION: The top half of the image is a grey-blue sky. The bottom half of the image contains a forested hillside of pinyon-pine trees and juniper trees. An individual pinyon-pine in the center is labeled with a white number 9 inside of a small black circle, to the right is a cliff rose labeled with a white number 10 inside of a small black circle. Layered in front of the image are two additional images of a common raven and a Steller’s jay.
PHOTO CREDITS: 9. Pinyon pine, NPS/ Tom Patterson; 10. Cliff Rose, NPS/ Tom Patterson; Common raven, © Stephen Krasemann, Photo Researchers, Inc; and Steller’s jay, © Tom & Patt Leeson, Photo Researchers, Inc.
TITLE: A Traditional Landscape, Ponderosa Pine Forest
TEXT: Cooler, higher, and with more rain, the Colorado Plateau ecoregion supports ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, serviceberry, and New Mexican locust. This forest is home to turkeys, Kaibab squirrels, mule deer, and goshawks. Ponderosa pines can live over 900 years and can grow over 150 feet tall. Their thick bark is fire resistant and smells like vanilla. Periodic fires are essential to maintaining the health and vigor of ponderosa pine forests.
CAPTION: Ponderosa pine forest on Mount Logan
DESCRIPTION: The top half of the image is a grey-blue sky. The bottom half of the image contains a forest of Ponderosa pine trees. Two tall pines stand in the center, one of which is labeled with a white number 12 inside of a small black circle. Layered in front of the image are three additional images of a Lupine (labeled with a white 11 inside of a small black circle), a mule deer, and a Mountain lion.
PHOTO CREDITS: 11 Lupine, BLM Aaron Wilkerson; 12 Ponderosa pine, BLM Aaron Wilkerson; Mule deer, © Art Wolfe Photo Researchers, Inc; Mountain lion, © Adam Jones Photo Researchers, Inc.
Image 1 of 6: First Inhabitants
CAPTION: Parashant is part of the ancestral homeland of the Southern Paiute. In rabbit skin robes, this circle dance ceremonial group celebrates their ties to the land and animals.
DESCRIPTION: A black and white photo of a group of two dozen Native people standing in a circle, all facing toward the center, dressed in rabbit skin robes.
PHOTO CREDIT: © Kaibab Paiute Tribe
Image 2 of 6: Recent Arrivals
CAPTION: Beginning in the 1870s miners, loggers, and ranchers built homes and struggled to raise families and survive in this remote country. Some of their descendants still ranch in the monument.
DESCRIPTION: A black and white photo with a ranch house in the background, and a corral with several horses in the foreground.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS
Image 3 of 6: Logging
CAPTION: Local stands of ponderosa pine provided building materials for early settlers’ homesteads and Mormon building projects. Economically significant logging began in 1876.
DESCRIPTION: A black and white photo of an open-air wooden pavilion giving shelter to a small logging operation. A dozen people are posed for the photo underneath the pavilion. Stacks of lumber surround the area in the foreground.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS
Image 4 of 6: Copper Mining
CAPTION: After an unsuccessful gold rush, copper mining took hold in 1873. The Grand Gulch was the most productive. Mules packed in tools and supplies until a wagon road opened to St. George, Utah, in the 1870s.
DESCRIPTION: A black and white photo of three wooden structures and a loading tower in the background of the image that were part of the Grand Gulch Mine. A vertical railroad track in the foreground of the image runs adjacent to the loading tower.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS
Image 5 of 6: Cattle Ranching
CAPTION: Livestock grazing has been part of Arizona Strip culture since the 1850s. It continues as a part of the monument’s multiple-use management. A few fulltime residents still live in this remote area.
DESCRIPTION: A black and white photo five cattle ranchers. Four men are on horseback, the fifth is leading a horse by a bridle. An old truck with a wooden box appears to the right of the ranchers. In the background are dozens of cattle in a corral.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS
Image 6 of 6: Preservation
CAPTION: A 2000 presidential proclamation set aside this national monument for its nationally significant natural and cultural features. It continues to attract a variety of scientists and recreational users.
DESCRIPTION: A color photograph of President William J. Clinton, pen in hand, prepares to sign proclamation creating new national monument. President Clinton was joined by Congressman Ed Pastor, US Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, Congressman Sam Farr, Lake Meade National Recreation Area Superintendent Alan O'Neil and Field Manager of the Bureau of Land Management Roger Taylor.
PHOTO CREDIT: William J. Clinton Presidential Library
The back of the brochure is comprised of text, a large map of the monument, and color photographs.
The top five sixths of the brochure is dominated by a large map, which shows the full acreage of the monument and includes roads, waterways, points of interest, and boundaries of adjacent parks, monuments, and reservations.
Text sections are arranged to the right of the map and explain the service first partnership of land management, trip planning, and contact information.
The bottom sixth of the page contains titles, informational text, and color photographs of six points of interest found within Parashant: Pakoon Springs, Tassi Ranch, Grand Gulch Mine, Twin Point, Whitmore Canyon Overlook, and Nampaweap. Descriptions and text for each of these points of interest are presented under their own sections.
DESCRIPTION: This page is a map of Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and the area around it. The map background is in shades of tan that show the relative contours of the surrounding area; Grand Canyon-Parashant is in green, continuing the contours within the monument boundaries. North is oriented to the top of the page.
The map shows all 1,048,321 acres of Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in northwest Arizona. The monument is located immediately north of Grand Canyon National Park and the Colorado River and east of the state of Nevada. The map shows the northwest corner of Arizona (75% of the image) and includes portions of Grand Canyon National Park, the Kaibab National Forest, and Pipe Springs National Monument. A thin strip of Nevada (13%) on the left side of the page includes portions of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Gold Butte National Monument, and the city of Mesquite. A thin strip of Utah (12%) at the top of the map displays the major city of Saint George and includes symbols for the Public Lands Information Center and the Saint George Regional Airport. Interstate 15 connects the cities of Saint George, Utah and Mesquite, Nevada through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona.
The key for this map is located in the top left corner of the page. Distances are indicated by small dark red triangles marked on the map at road intersections. Distances between triangles are recorded in miles and kilometers in the same dark red color.
Within the monument, 4-wheel drive roads (high clearance vehicles are required) are indicated with white dotted lines, graded dirt roads are indicated with a solid white line. Points-of-interest and pullouts have a small black circle adjacent to the white lines.
Roads that are maintained by the county of Mojave Arizona are identified with the road number printed in black text within a small yellow rectangle. Roads that are maintained by the Bureau of Land Management are identified with the BLM road number printed in black text within a small white rectangle. Roads that are maintained by the National Park Service are identified with the NPS road number printed in black text within a small green rectangle.
Intermittent streams are identified with blue dotted lines. Also identified in the key are information centers, nearby campgrounds, picnic areas, and boat access points for Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TEXT: This map shows only the major unpaved roads on the Arizona Strip. Over 6,000 miles of unpaved roads exist here, some suitable only for all-terrain vehicles. To travel roads not shown on the map, use the BLM Arizona Strip Visitor Map, available online and locally.
TEXT: A Monumental Partnership. Here, in over a million acres of vast, remote, and sparsely developed landscapes, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service have embarked on a monumental joint venture—to conserve the features and wild character of this remote place. The monument encompasses the lower Shivwits Plateau, an important part of the Colorado River watershed. The monument is designated an International Night Sky Province by the International Dark Sky Association for the Parashant’s astonishing and largely unimpaired night skies.
Congress has designated four areas of the monument for protection as wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System Act. Special regulations apply in designated wilderness. Please check at the information center.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
Public Lands Information Center
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790
435-688-3200
www.nps.gov/para
www.blm.gov
PLANNING YOUR VISIT: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Park Service (NPS) invite you to experience the 1,048,321-acre Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. The Public Lands Information Center in St. George, Utah, offers exhibits, publications, and maps. Staff can answer your questions and update you on road conditions.
EMERGENCIES: Call 702-293-8998 to reach 24/7 emergency dispatch at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Satellite phone service only.
RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY: Some roads within the monument cross private land. Please respect owners’ property by remaining on the road. Leave gates as you find them.
GETTING ARROUND:
The only roads into the monument are unpaved, some are very rough.
TUWEEP AND TOROWEAP OVERLOOK: This area is within Grand Canyon National Park and subject to its regulations. No camping unless you already have a reservation and permit. Otherwise, day-use only, sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, as permitted. Vehicle numbers and types limited. Details at go.nps.gov/tuweep.
REGULATIONS AND SAFETY: Some regulations, including those for firearms, differ between NPS and BLM lands within the monument. Check each agency’s website or inquire at the Public Lands Information Center before you enter the monument.
You must be prepared for adverse conditions and isolation. Hazards include rough, unmarked roads, poisonous reptiles and insects, extreme heat, and flash floods.
GPO 2017: 398-30968 Last update 2017, Printed on recycled paper.
Image 1 of 6: PAKOON SPRINGS
Location: Pakoon Springs is located on the east side of the monument near the Arizona/Nevada border on county road 111. On this map, Pakoon Springs is in the far-left center area of the map.
CAPTION: An island of lush trees and cattails reveal that flowing water is here. Pakoon is one of the monument’s largest springs but its water was impounded for years. Now it flows freely, allowing the landscape to return to a more natural state.
DESCRIPTION: Image of a desert valley with sparce vegetation captured from a high vantage point. In the center of the image is the distant lush vegetation of trees and riparian plants growing around the spring.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS/ Jeff Axel
Image 2 of 6: TASSI RANCH
Location: Tassi Ranch is located on the southeast side of the monument near the Arizona/Nevada border and Grand Wash Bay on NPS road 1213. On this map, Tassi Ranch is in the far-left lower area of the map.
CAPTION: Tucked in rocky hills beside a flowing spring, a rustic stone house and other ramshackle structures paint a vivid picture of life on a cattle ranch in the 1930s and 1940s.
DESCRIPTION: Image of a stone ranch house with a metal roof. A small add-on room appears to the right of the main structure. Large cottonwood trees fill in the background behind the ranch house.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS/ Tom Patterson
Image 3 of 6: GRAND GULCH MINE
Location: Grand Gulch Mine is located on the east side of the monument below the Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness on BLM road 1002. On this map, Grand Gulch Mine is in center left area of the map.
CAPTION: Economically valuable copper and silver were found here in 1871, attracting miners and settlers. Historic ruins like the adobe smelter and abandoned dump trucks pay silent tribute to the people who lived and worked here until the early 1900s.
DESCRIPTION: Remains of a smelter constructed of adobe bricks surrounded by sparce desert vegetation. A dry hillside devoid of plants appears in the background.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS/ Max Ramirez
Image 4 of 6: TWIN POINT
Location: Twin Point Overlook is located on the south side of the monument overlooking Surprise Canyon on NPS road 1019. On this map, Twin Point Overlook is in the lowest area of the map, left of center.
CAPTION: A rough road through pinyons and junipers reaches Twin Point. Its views into the Grand Canyon reveal a fascinating geological story and its remote location offers a profound sense of solitude.
DESCRIPTION: In the distance an orange and yellow mesa is lit by the light of the setting sun. In the foreground is a cliff edge with sparce desert plants also lit by the glow of sunset.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS/ Max Ramirez
Image 5 of 6: WHITMORE CANYON OVERLOOK
Location: Whitmore Canyon Overlook is located in the southwest corner of the monument overlooking the Colorado River on NPS road 1045. On this map, Whitmore Canyon Overlook is in the lower area of the map, right of center.
CAPTION: A very rough and steep dirt road winds down a lava flow and ends in an area with spectacular views of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River.
DESCRIPTION: A single hiker stands in the bottom of a canyon looking out across the vista. Cliff walls of reddish sedimentary rocks rise on each side of the river flowing at the bottom of the canyon.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS/ Darla Sidles
Image 6 of 6: NAMPAWEAP
Location: Nampaweap is located on the west side of the monument on BLM road 1028. On this map, Nampaweap is in on the right side of the map, below center.
CAPTION: A short trail (less than one mile) takes you to a petroglyph site, one of the largest on the Arizona Strip. Hundreds of images provide clues about the lives of early native residents.
DESCRIPTION: Several petroglyph figures of rock writing are carved into a dark gray basalt boulder.
PHOTO CREDIT: NPS/ Kyle Voyles
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is a remote and isolated area with 1,200 miles of dirt, gravel, and rocky roads. There are only a few trails that are seldom used. The trails do not meet accessibility standards due to topography. There is no developed infrastructure, no services, and no cell phone service. The monument is undeveloped other than rough unpaved roads and a few new vault toilets. Surfaces in the monument are unimproved and in a natural state. This means rocky terrain or loose soil and sand. For persons with disabilities who can drive or ride as a passenger, "side-by-sides," also known as utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), are a popular way to experience the monument on roads that vary from smooth to rock-crawling. Roads reach scenic viewpoints such as Twin Point, Whitmore Canyon Overlook, Mt. Logan, as well as historic sites next to the road.
Accessible Vault Restrooms
There are several accessible vault toilets available at the following locations within the monument. The vault toilets themselves are accessible, but do not have hardpacked or paved trails from the parking area to them at this time.
Interagency Public Lands Information Center
345 East Riverside Drive, Saint George, Utah
In 2017, the National Park Service completed a seven-year action plan to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards (ABAAS). The Self Evaluation Transition Plan (SETP) lists key park experiences that every person, regardless of their ability, should have the opportunity to experience. Monument staff are working to increase accessibility where possible. If you have questions concerning accessibility, please contact us at (435) 688-3200. Thank you.
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs in America’s communities, visit www.nps.gov.
Start your journey by getting information at the Public Lands Information Center, 345 East Riverside Drive, Saint George, UT 84790. This federal interagency office is staffed by employees from the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S National Forest Service, and by dedicated volunteers from the local community. Phones are answered Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The information center is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and all federal holidays.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mailing Address: Public Lands Information Center, 345 East Riverside Drive, Saint George, UT 84790
Phone: (435) 688-3200
Website: https://www.nps.gov/para/index.htm