Introduction:
What? :
Nothing prepare
you to the sight you will see at your first visit to the Grand Canyon Rim, a one
mile deep and 18 miles across canyon, with the length more than 250 miles long.
It is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and there is a good reason for
that.
The park area
was declared as a national monument in 1908 and was change status to National
Park in 1919. There are many things to see and do here, from watching the
sunrise or sunset color the canyon cliffs and mountains from the many viewing
points, to walking the flat rim trail or hiking a mile down to the Colorado
River, there is something for everyone.
Grand Canyon
National Park is one of the most visited National Parks, it divided into two
distinct regions: the South Rim and the North Rim.
The North Rim
is the less popular and more remote section of the park, only 10% of the
visitor to the Grand Canyon visit also the North Rim. It is not less impressive
and here you will have more of these amazing views to “yourself”, without hundreds
of people walking around.
Plan your visit
and be aware that there is a 200-mile, 4-hour drive between the two sections of
the park.
In this blog I
will describe our one-day visit in the North Rim of the park.
Extensive
blog about how to plan your visit to the South Rim:
Grand Canyon National
Park – One Day Park Visit Planning
North Rim is
over 8000 feet (2438 m.) in elevation, compared to about 7,000 ft of the South
Rim. There is one lodge inside the park, Grand Canyon Lodge.
The North
Rim section of the park is open only seasonally from mid-May to
mid-October, less accessible and has relatively limited facilities.
What's the difference between
Grand Canyon's North Rim versus the Soth Rim?
The South Rim
is open a year-round and visited by most of the tourists coming to the park, it
offers a classic panorama view of the canyon as well as many hotels, dining,
gift stores, and other tourist attractions in the village.
The North Rim, that
is close in winter and visited only by fractions of the visitors, offer a more
secluded feel, enchants with vast vistas and an intimate connection to the
canyon below you. There is only one large lodge and restaurant an no other services
as in the South Rim.
The South Rim
sits at 7,000 feet, while the North Rim, a thousand feet higher so on your summer
visit you will enjoy milder, less hot, summers weather. Come prepare for drastic
weather fluctuations, especially come sunset. It's a game of layers to keep the
chill at bay.
How many days should you plan to
spend in the North Rim?
As with many
other large National Parks, the longer you stay and explore different areas of
the Grand Cayon Park the more you enjoy it.
Still, in my
view, one day at the North Rim is enough time to enjoy the main elements of this
section of the park.
You will drive
all the way to the end of the road leading from into the park. As you are
driving in you will enjoy the view of the high valleys open spaces. You will park
near the visitor center and walk down to the impressive Grand Canyon Lodge. From
here you will enjoy the view, hike down to Bright Angel Point Trail (when we
visit in 2024 it was close) and see the panoramic view of the canyon below you,
right above the deep Bright Angel creek.
From here you
can hike the Transept Hike loop trail.
After that you
will drive Cape Royal Road east and visit additional viewing points and hike to
Angels Window and Cape Royal viewing point.
By then it will
probably be late in the afternoon, this will be a good time to start heading
out of the park to your night destination.
You can also
take it slow and extend your stay, visit more locations, hike longer hikes or
even go down parts of the North Kaibab Trail leading down into the canon, all
the way to the Colorado River.
Where? :
The North Rim of
Grand Canyon National Park is a separate section of this park, and it is
located 4 hours’ drive from the South Rim.
The entrance to
the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is located 30 miles south of Jacob
Lake on Highway 67.
The rim of the
canyon is an additional 14 miles south from the park entrance.
Jacob Lake, AZ
is located in northern Arizona on Highway 89A, not far from the Utah border
(the towns of Fredonia and Kanab).
From October 16
through November 30, the North Rim is open for "dawn to dusk" day use
with limited services. However, if snow closes Highway 67 before November 30,
the park will also close.
Driving
distance to the North Rim from different locations:
From South Rim,
Grand Canyon, AZ - 212 miles / 341 kilometers
From Phoenix,
AZ- 351 miles / 565 kilometers
From Flagstaff,
AZ- 207 miles / 333 kilometers
From Sedona, AZ
- 236 miles / 380 kilometers
From Las Vegas,
NV - 275 miles/ 443 kilometers
From St.
George, Utah - 146 miles/ 235 kilometers
From Kanab,
Utah - 79 miles/ 127 kilometers
From Page,
Arizona - 123 miles/ 198 kilometers
When? :
Typically, the
best times to visit the Grand Canyon are the spring and fall months.
The summer
temperatures can be 100 degrees at the rim level and much higher if you are hiking
down into the canyon. The summer nights can be colder and pleasant.
In the spring
and fall, daytime temperatures are around 60 to 70 degrees at the rim, though
nighttime lows will be much colder.
Summer thunderstorms
are common late afternoon in July, August, and early September.
The fall and winter
month are cold, and deep snow is covering the North Rim.
The North Rim high
elevation (8,300 ft) is covered in deep snow and closed for the winter months (about
mid-October to mid-May).
The south side
of the park (~7,000 ft elevation) stayed open year-round.
Day use only
season: October 16 through November 30, 2024 (unless closed by snow).
For up-to-date
weather, road information, and live webcam view:
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weather-condition.htm
Due note 1:
Vehicle Permit
$35 Admission to Grand Canyon National Park is valid for seven days. It
includes both the North Rim and South Rim.
All America
National Parks yearly pass (America the Beautiful) will cost you $80.
If you arrive
when park rangers are not at the entrance station, and you are not a pass
holder, please proceed to the automated fee station next to the North Rim
Visitor Center.
Due note 2:
Local North Rim Accommodations:
Located in the North
Rim, right on the edge of the canyon, Grand
Canyon Lodge is
open for the Season is from May 15, through October 15, 2024. Visitor services include
overnight lodging, retail, and food/beverage service. Reservations are advised.
Kaibab Lodge is the closest
accommodation to the north entrance of the Grand Canyon National Park. It is
only five miles to the entrance of the park, right in the heart of the of the
North Kaibab National Forest and large grassland open plateau area. The
seasonal lodge is open from May 15 to November 5. The lodge itself possesses a
restaurant, lounge, and gift shop. Views and quietness abound at the Kaibab
Lodge.
Due note 3:
Roughrider Saloon is located
within Grand Canyon Lodge. In the morning, stop in for a quick cappuccino,
espresso or coffee. Baked goods and breakfast burritos are also available. In
the afternoon, cold beverages and pizza slices are available while the Saloon
transitions to an evening dinner option and bar.
Deli in the Pines located in the
main lodge building. Coffee drinks are available daily in addition to
grab-and-go sandwiches, pizza, soup/chili and snacks. For convenience, all
items are available for takeout dining —perfect for a picnic or during a hike.
Due note 5:
Although it is located
near Arizona and Utah boarder line, the Grand Canyon Park lies entirely within
the state of Arizona.
Due note 6:
The only gas service
station within park boundaries, on the North Rim, can be found just after
turning onto the road to the Campground and the North Rim General Store.
Self-service
gasoline and diesel fuel are available 24 hours, by debit or credit card.
It is open only
when the park is only open for day use.
The service
station at Jacob Lake 45 miles/ 75 km north, provides emergency
repairs such as tires, belts, batteries, fuses, hoses, etc. Diesel fuel is
also available at Jacob Lake.
The nearest
lodging, food services, and fuel that stay open all year are located 45 miles
north of the North Rim at Jacob Lake, AZ.
The nearest
electric charging stations to North Rim is in Kanab, UT.
Due note 7:
The North Rim
Campground, open from May 15 through October 15, 2024. Sites are by reservation
only through www.recreation.gov. There are no walk-up sites available. Campers
arriving after-hours will find their campsite assignment posted on the office
kiosk, they must confirm their reservation by 8 am the next morning.
General Store
hours is located at the entrance to the campground, the store offers coffee and
quick breakfast items in the morning. It also has basic grocery items. This is
the only building on Grand Canyon's North Rim that offers free Wi-Fi with just
enough connectivity to check email.
North Rim
Campground do have Laundry and Showers service.
The DeMotte
Campground is located within the North Kaibab Ranger District just seven miles
north of the entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim. This is
about 25 miles south of the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center on Arizona’s Highway
67.
Due note 8:
North Rim
Backcountry Information Center is located State Route 67, just south of the
North Kaibab Trailhead, and just beyond the top of the hill. here you can find
information, permits, and trip planning assistance for those looking to explore
Grand Canyon on day and overnight hikes from the canyon's northern rim. Day
hikes do not require permits.
Due note 9:
Time: Most of Arizona,
including Grand Canyon National Park, stays on Mountain Standard
Time year-round (no summer daylight saving time change).
Note: the
northern Arizona Indian reservation may have different time zone than the state
of Arizona. The time in Page AZ may be different than the local time and the
same is for Utah state time zone.
My thoughts:
After many
visits to the Grand Canyon South Rim, I finally visit also the North Rim of the
Grand Canyon.
We came from
Page Az for one day and we enjoy it very much. When we visit here the trail
from the lodge to Bright Angel Point was close. We did the Transept loop kike instead
and went driving to Cape Royal, stopping on our way for late lunch.
It was a log
day driving from Page AZ to the north rim, but we did manage to be back for
sunset viewing at Horseshoe Bend.
The visit:
On the way to the North Rim:
The way to the
Nort Rim is also interesting, we came from Page Az, the distance from Page to Jacob
Lake junction is 80 mile and it will take you at least 1.5 hour of direct drive.
On our way, we
stop at the Historic Navajo Bridge, Cliff Dwellers Stone House.
Later the road
climb out and away from Vermilion Cliffs and reaches
the high elevation plateau, north of the Grand Canyon.
If you are
coming from Kanab Uta, the road climb the mountain and pass-through burned
forest area before it get to Jacob Lake.
The distance from
Kanab to Jacob Lake is 37 mile and it will take you about 45 minutes.
Jacob Lake:
At the turn
into the road that led to the North Rim (intersection of highway 89A and 67) we
stopped for good coffee and bakery at Jacob
Lake Inn. This is
also a good place to fill up gas.
Jacob Lake Lookout Tower is located 1.2
mile south of Jacob Lake junction. This is a tall fire lockout that is may be open
to climb to the viewing deck.
Kaibab Lodge:
The Kaibab
Lodge is in the heart of the North Kaibab National Forest, just five miles from
the entrance to the north rim of Grand Canyon National Park. You can see the
nice lodge renovated cabins on the left side of the road when you are driving
south.
The lodge is in
the heart of Kaibab Plateau area that is leading to the North Rim. The vast
open grassland valleys surrounded by the local forest is the perfect surroundings
to the lodge and great segway to enter the park.
Lodge website
link:
https://kaibablodge.com/
The North Rim Bison:
When we visit here,
we did not see them anywhere in the large open grasslands near and at the park
entrance.
Bison are only
found on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The present-day Kaibab
Plateau Bison Herd is one of the few unfenced wild herds in the U.S. Grand
Canyon National Park is reducing the herd size to be under 200 in order to
protect park resources—including vegetation, water, and sacred archeologic
sites—from the impacts of the bison.
They are wild
animals and are unpredictable. We recommend maintaining a distance of 100 feet
(30 meters) from them, and when they are within 100 feet of the road, it is
recommended to view them from inside your vehicle.
North Rim Lookout Tower:
The North Rim
Lookout was originally constructed in 1928, it was moved to its current
location at the north entrance in 1933 by the CCC. The 7x7 steel tower is located
at an elevation of 9,165 feet. The tower is 75 feet tall. These towers were an
important part of the early fire-fighting efforts of Grand Canyon National
Park.
The trail
leading to the watchtower start right at the park entrance.
This is a short
hike (2.8 out and back) along a gravel forest road that leads to a fire tower.
The tower may need repairs- climb at your own risk.
North Rim Visitor Center and Lodge
Area:
North Rim Visitor Center:
The very small North
Rim Visitor Center is located near the parking lot for Grand Canyon Lodge. You can
talk here with park rangers and get directions for your visit, see the small exhibit
area and see what they have in the store (books and souvenirs).
Public
restrooms and outdoor exhibits are located behind the visitor center building.
Grand Canyon Lodge - North Rim
You must visit
the lodge when coming to the North Rim.
The large stone
and timber building (built 1928) is located right above the rim. There are 140
wood cabins surrounding the main lodge. It offers a variety of accommodations
for guests to choose from cabins to motel rooms.
Inside the building
you can find the iconic dining room with its high roof and wall size large
windows providing amazing panoramic view of the Grand Canyon, making it the
perfect spot to enjoy a delicious meal during your visit. It is highly recommended
to have reservation for lunch and dinner.
Right at the lodge
entrance there is the big In the Sunroom, here you can relax and look out over
the Grand Canyon from a vantage point, protected from the outside weather. It
is perfect place to watch sunset in cold autumn day.
During the
summer month you can walk outside to the left open viewing deck, take your
drink or snack and enjoy the view.
The nearby Roughrider
Saloon is serving the hot and cold drinks, fresh pastries, and breakfast
burritos. When you're done exploring, unwind at the Roughrider Saloon with a
cold beverage and snacks. Enjoy the sunset views and take your beverages out to
the open viewing deck.
Bright Angel Point Hike:
When I visit
here Sep 2024 the trail was close, but it will be open for 2025 summer season.
Starting right
from the lodge the paved Bright Angel Point Trail, 0.5-mile round-trip trail,
leads out the spine of the ridge to Bright Angel Point.
This trail is
steep in places, with drop-offs and stairs, but provides dramatic views into
Roaring Springs and Bright Angel Canyons.
There are
several other viewing points right below the lodge building in both sides.
Transept Hike:
This 2-mile-long
loop trail wanders from the right side of the lodge (when looking to the Grand
Canyon), it follow with moderate up and down the canyon rim along The Transept side
canyon. It follow the canyon in the overall direction of North Rim Campground. The
trail is mainly in the shade of the large pine trees, and it is not difficult.
After passing
the campground take right and circle it and walk on the back side of the
service road (store, showers and gas station) and just before the main park
road (highway 67) turn right and walk parallel to the road back to the
direction of the lodge.
North Kaibab Trail:
2 miles north
from the Grand Canyon Lodge you can find the parking lot of the North Kaibab Trailhead.
This trail can lead you all the way down to the Colorado river, 14.2 mile away.
For most day
hikers and visitors this is not an option to hike all the way down and back to
the Colorado River or other locations along this hike, Cottonwood campground, or
Phantom Ranch. Plan such hike as multi day hike.
You can hike
some section of North Kaibab Trail down but then you will need to climb up to the
rim level.
Day Hike
Turnaround Points:
North Kaibab
Trailhead (8,241 feet / 2,510 m)
Coconino
Overlook (7,450 feet / 2,270 m) - 1.4 miles (2.3 km) roundtrip / 1-2 hours /
790 vertical feet (241 m)
Supai Tunnel
(6,840 feet / 2,085 m) - 4.0 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip / 2-4 hours / 1400
vertical feet (425 m)
Redwall Bridge
(6,040 feet / 1,840 m) - 5.2 miles (8.4 km) roundtrip / 4-6 hours / 2200
vertical feet (670 m)
Check with a
park ranger before attempting to hike past Redwall Bridge and back in one day.
Uncle Jim Trail:
The Uncle Jim
Trail 4.7-mile loop trail with 730 ft of total elevation gain. The trail is accessed
via the Ken Patrick Trail starting from the parking area for the North Kaibab
Trailhead.
After winding
through the forest on Ken Patrick Trail for 0.9 miles, bear right and walk for
another 0.4 miles. At this point, you have the option of heading left or right.
Either direction is part of the same loop on this trail. Both lead to a point
overlooking the canyon and North Kaibab Trail switchbacks.
Some sections
of the trail travels through a burned area and places where many trees have
died.
It is common to
run across mules on this trail, please remember to give them the right of way.
North Rim Scenic Drives to Cape
Royal:
Point Imperial
and Cape Royal viewing points can be reached via winding scenic Cape Royal Road.
This is a long
drive, from the main north rim visitor center (and lodge) to Cape Royal Parking
Area it is a 23-mile-long road and can take one hour just to drive it.
The drive to
both viewing points, with several stops at viewpoint pullouts along the way, and
the short hike to Angels Window and Cape Royal can easily take half a day.
The entrance to
Cape Royal Road is located 3 miles north from the visitor center on highway 67,
or 9.6 miles from the National Park entrance station.
Important Note: RVs over 22
feet long, and vehicle-trailer combinations with a total length over 22 feet,
are not permitted on the Scenic Drive due to narrow, windy roads with blind
corners.
Point Imperial
The side drive
to Point Imperial from the main Cape Royal Road is 2.7 mile.
This is the
highest point on the North Rim at 8,803 feet (2,683 meters), overlooks the
Painted Desert and the eastern end of Grand Canyon. Here the canyon transforms into
an open vista, filled with layers of red and black rocks and mountains and
ridges.
Cape Royal
Cape Royal provides
a panorama view of the canyon from all sides and directions.
With seemingly
unlimited vistas to the east and west, it is popular for both sunrise and
sunset. From here, if it is a clear day, you can see across the canyon on the
South Rim the Desert View Watchtower.
From the
parking lot there is a paved, short and level trail that leads to Angels Window
arch top and to the viewing point.
You can find
restroom at the Cape Royal Parking Area.
There are many viewings
point along the drive, it is worth to stop and see the changing view of the
Grand Canyon below you. In some there are restrooms and picnic tables.
The viewing
points along the drive are Vista Encantada Picnic Area, Roosevelt Point
Overlook, Walhalla Overlook, and the Viewpoint for Angel's Window.
Summery:
Although more
remote the North Rim of the Grand Canyon offer an amazing view of the Grand
Canyon without the overcrowded South Rim.
There are many viewing
points and hiking options where you can enjoy the amazing park nature without
the crowd.
We visit here from
Page Az, and this was one day drive. we spend in the park for half day, and we
felt we manage to see many things and even hike a short trail.
This area of
the park offer a lot more to see and do so we will probably visit here again
but for most one day is enough.
www:
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm
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