The marvelously worn winding staircase of Mary Colter's 70ft stone tower, built in 1932, leads to the highest spot on the rim (7522ft). From here, unparalleled views take in not only the canyon and the Colorado River, but also the San Francisco Peaks, the Navajo Reservation and the Painted Desert. Murals depicting the snake legend, a Hopi wedding and other scenes grace the interior walls, and there's a small gift shop on the 1st floor.
On the way up from the gift shop, look for an unmarked door on the left; you can wander outside onto a roof-top patio here, and it makes a nice spot to relax with a sandwich.
