Grand Canyon Gems: Nankoweap Granaries

The Grand Canyon is filled with incredibly photogenic places, but one of the most photographed, if not the most photographed site within the canyon is the Nankoweap Granaries. Let’s take a closer look at this iconic location.

The Nankoweap Granaries are located around river mile 53 on the right side of the Colorado River, just downstream from their namesake drainage, Nankoweap wash.  The word Nankoweap is derived from a southern paiute word Ninkuipi which has multiple meanings, but two of the most commonly cited of meanings of the word are “place where people were killed” and “canyon that echoes or sings” 

 The granaries sit roughly 600 feet above the river, tucked into the cliff face. Reaching them requires a long, steep hike filled with switchbacks. If the timing isn’t right, much of the trail can be in direct sunlight for the entire climb. This is a challenging hike and definitely not for the faint of heart, but the views from the granaries make the effort well worth it.

The granaries themselves are built into a shallow, cave-like overhang in the cliff face. They were constructed by Ancestral Puebloans, who cultivated crops such as corn, beans, and squash in the area. Seeds and preserved foods were stored inside the granaries for the coming months, carefully sealed to protect them from animals and moisture that could ruin their supplies. This granary is around 900 years old!

Check out some other amazing places in the Grand Canyon in these blogs:

Clear Creek

Shinumo Creek

Elves Chasm

Deer Creek