Tiyo Point Trail, AZ

Overview: Tiyo Point route is an old undulating double track that weaves through the thick forests of the North Rim. You'll find yourself at a most stunning overlook where dozens of well known Canyon Landmarks can be spotted. The most impressive o these landmarks is undoubtedly the nearby Shiva Temple.


Warning: There is NO water along this route nor along Point Sublime Road. Also the 4 miles from Widforss Trailhead along Point Sublime Road to The Basin it is recommended to have a high clearance vehicle.
History: In March of 1906 a different name was given to the Point we now know as Tiyo. They called it Jupiter Point after The King of The Gods because of its stunning views. In May 1906 the US Geological Survey requested the name be permanently changed to Tiyo Point.

Who is Tiyo?

Tiyo was a young hero of the Hopi Tribe, he yearned to discover where the waters of The Colorado river flowed to. He speculated to his father, the Chief, "It must flow down some great pit, into the underworld, for after all these years the great gorge below never fills up and none of the water ever flows back again".
Then the whole tribe worked to supply young Tiyo with all the supplies to journey to the end of the Mighty River, they outfitted him with a large gouged out cottonwood tree and he went on his way.

Much time passed before Tiyo's cottonwood box-boat finally stopped, he emerged from the gouged out tree and immediately was met by Spider Woman (she is a very important Hopi figure in many stories, it is she who weaves the clouds so rain may come!)

The Hopi legend then goes on to describe how Tiyo is guided by Spider-Woman to various places, where he learned all about the ceremonies that the Hopis now perform at their Snake Dance to produce rain.

He met the Sun and the Great Snake, and Mu-i-yin-wuh (a divinity of the underworld who makes all the germs of life), and each taught him something he needed to learn. Finally, after many wonderful adventures, he was lifted out of the underworld as he sat in a ho-a-pah, a kind of wicker pannier, with two beautiful maidens of the snake kiva, by Spider-Woman, who carried him over the country and deposited him at his home.
He married one of the maidens and thus founded the Snake Clan, and his brother married the other and founded the Snake-Antelope Clan.
These two clans each year perform the ceremonies that produce rain in the desert land, where still live the descendants of Tiyo and his brother, heroes of Hopi legend.

2016-08-09 Hippy