Originally Posted by
obrentharris
Up ahead of you, partway up the mountain pass, is the Desert View Tower! Last time I was through there it was fenced off, but if it's open I think you would really appreciate it, a stone tower built many years ago by some guy who liked the view. The tower houses a small collections of various random desert artifacts and has a great view. Across the parking lot from the tower is a short trail that winds through the boulders, but these aren't ordinary boulders. They've been carved in the shapes of various real and imagined animals! It's only about a quarter of a mile north of the highway and it was all free last I knew. Of course they hope you'll buy something in the gift/snack shop at the base of the tower.
Brent
Oops! I just checked Google and the tower has been turned into a B+B, but maybe you can still walk the path with the great carved stone animals.
Brent
Desert View Tower is a good place to take a break and get an ice cream after the climb. For sure worth a look. The B&B part of the site is some cabins across from the tower. To visit the top of the desert view tower, it costs $6.50 last I was there. Worth it to me, but if you don't go up the view is really good from the entire site.