The North Rim of the Grand Canyon has been on our list for awhile, but since it’s closed October 15-mid May or later, we never made it. Until now! The North Rim has a different feel than the South Rim which we visited years ago. There are far less lodging options, and no nearby town on the north side. Less people visit this side and it’s a better experience in my opinion.
Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim of Grand Canyon is often the first prominent feature that visitors see, even before viewing the canyon. The highway ends at the lodge. The lodge’s sloped roof, huge ponderosa beams and massive limestone facade are impressive. You’re at over 8000′ here and the canyon spreads out away from you. Spectacular! Starting at the “lodge” we walked around the different viewing points by Bright Angel. I put lodge in quotes because there aren’t actually any overnight accommodations in it. Weird. Instead, there are some cabins and motel like lodging in the “village”.
Next we drove a short distance to the Kaibab Trail and hiked down to the Cococino Overlook and back. The Kaibab Trail is the hardest trail in the park, it’s a looooong out and back unless you have a LOOOOOOONG shuttle. There is PLENTY to see without doing the whole trail so plan how far you want to go. We decided to just go to the first major overlook so it was less than 2 hours and about 1.4 miles total. Don’t let the shortness fool you though, it’s about 800′ down to the lookout and that’s in about 3/4 a mile! The hike is down some switchbacks through a lush aspen conifer forest (and then back up). That’s what’s hard about Grand Canyon hikes…most go down at the start and then are all uphill on the way back. Check out some of our past South Rim hikes here.
After the Bright Angel Point and Kaibab hikes we drove out Cape Royal Road. If you can’t or don’t want to hike, a good option is this scenic winding road that passes several great viewpoints that are more accessible. We stopped at every single one and got out to see the views. My favorites were Angel’s Window where the sweeping turn of the Colorado River at Unkar Delta is framed through the natural arch. Also, Point Imperial, which is the highest point on the North Rim at 8,803 feet. Here you overlook the Painted Desert and the eastern end of Grand Canyon. The canyon transforms as the narrow walls of Marble Canyon, visible only as a winding gash, open dramatically to become “grand.” Layers of red and black Precambrian rocks rim the canyon. Bring your binoculars! I was glad to have ours this entire day.
Very Grand and well worth it.
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