The journey from the south rim to the north rim of the Grand Canyon takes about 5 hours but is very scenic, involving a 215 mile route that descends from the pine-covered plateau near the canyon into the flat, empty but very colorful Painted Desert in the Navajo Indian Reservation then up US 89 to Lees Ferry and past the Vermilion Cliffs, before climbing steeply into the Kaibab National Forest and to the small town of Jacob Lake. From here, AZ 67 provides the only paved route to the north rim. As with US 180 approaching the south rim, the road passes through lush Alpine meadows and forests of fir and pine for 60 miles, with only occasional signs of habitation.
The Visitor Center: A few miles after the park entrance station (elevation 8,824 feet) a side road leads to various viewpoints of the canyon to the east, while the main highway continues to the Grand Canyon Lodge and the visitor center. Unlike the over-developed south rim, there are relatively few facilities here. Accommodation options include an 83 site campground and some log huts, scattered around the neighboring forest. The nearest hotels are 82 miles away in Kabab, Utah. From the lodge a short paved trail goes to Bright Angel Point, the most popular observation point on the north rim.
Roads and Trails: Bright Angel Point has good overlooks of Roaring Springs and Bright Angel canyons far below. The North Kaibab Trail runs through these canyons and several miles of its course are visible from the viewpoint - this trail begins a few miles north of the main visitor complex and is the only maintained path into the canyon from the north rim, although a complicated network of logging tracks extends west from AZ 67 into the Kaibab National Forest, allowing for access to other canyon viewpoints and trails, as well as (free) primitive camping, but 4WD drive vehicles may be required. Amongst these more remote viewpoints is Point Sublime, on the edge of a sheer cliff overlooking the narrowest section of the canyon, where the south rim is a little over 4 miles away.
Climate: As the north rim is on average 1,000 feet higher than the south, the climate is significantly different. Summer temperatures are usually about 5-10 degrees lower, nighttime frosts may occur any month of the year and in winter the approach road is closed by snow for several months, although intrepid visitors may still reach the canyon by two or more days cross-country skiing. The 2007 winter road closure was a little later than normal, on December 7th; scheduled reopening is May 15th, 2008.
Viewpoints: The north rim has two main viewpoints towards the east, reached by the side road. One is Point Imperial, the highest in the park at an elevation of 8,803 feet, which apart from the canyon, here relatively shallow and less branched, also overlooks large areas of the Painted Desert in the Navajo Reservation. The second is Cape Royal (7,865 feet), perhaps the best of the north rim sites. The cape is 20 miles from AZ 67, right at the end of the road which becomes rather narrow and twisting over the last couple of miles as it runs along a steep sided ridge. There is a large carpark and a short nature trail leading to the point, where the ground drops away steeply in most directions affording superb views east, south and west along the canyon.
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North Kaibab Trail - lengthy trail to the river, along scenic side canyons |
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