Grand Canyon North Rim
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Grand
Canyon
North Rim
The Grand Canyon North Rim overshadows the South Rim of the Grand
Canyon in subtle ways. The North Rim is enhanced by extreme
erosion, faster uplift, a better view of
sub-canyons
and the higher altitude results in cooler weather which is welcome during the sizzling summers of the Southwest desert. The North Rim has more rain and vegetation
growth than the South Rim, but the most important factor is the secluded location of the North Rim means fewer visitors and more space
for you!
Only about ten-percent of the parks annual five-million visitors come to the North Rim. Also of importance is that Zion
National Park and Bryce Canyon in Southern Utah are
only a short drive away.
Vacation
Plans
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Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is divided into
four sections: The South Rim, the North Rim, Tuweep and Marble
Canyon. The South Rim is highly visited due to its accessibility while the North
Rim is isolated on the remote and lofty Kaibab Plateau. The view
point at Point Imperial, on the North Rim, is the highest overlook on either rim;
the elevation is a whopping 8,803 ft. Only eleven short miles, as the bird flies, separate the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon and less than one-mile at Tuweep. However, for those of us who cannot fly, the drive is 215 miles or the hike is 21 miles to get from one rim to the other rim. Camping near or staying at Phantom Ranch, at the bottom of the canyon, near the Colorado River is a real treat. Directions to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon
Getting to the North
Rim of the Grand Canyon is easy for Utah travelers. Often tourist will combine
their trip and visit Zion National Park, Bryce
Canyon National Park and the North
Rim of the Grand Canyon. To get to the North Rim from Southern Utah, drive through
Kanab on US 89 to 89A, through Fredonia Arizona. Turn
south on AZ 67 at Jacob Lake and follow the road through the beautiful Kaibab
National Forest, for 45 miles, to the southern tip of the Kaibab Plateau and the entrance
to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. There are few services there so bring
your ice chests and supplies. From the east follow US 89 south from Page, Arizona
for 26 miles or north from Cameron, Arizona to the junction of US 89A. Follow
89A north, then west, for 57 miles to Jacob Lake, follow AZ 67 to the North
Rim entrance. map
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Road Closure
Services at the North Rim are usually open from May
16 until October 14, but
the trails and view points at the park remain open for day use after the North Rim services close. In the winter, snow
storms can be sudden and severe and there are usually no services open after
leaving Jacob Lake. Arizona Highway 67, leading to the North
Rim, will usually close after the first big snow. The last few years this date has been in early to mid--December.
Highway
67 road closures
Arizona Road Conditions
The Ponderosa pine, fir and aspen lined byway, known as the Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway, takes visitors from the junction at Jacob Lake to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The scenic byway is a one-way road, ending in a dead-end at the rim of the Grand Canyon.
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Grand Canyon North Rim Vacation: Canyon Country
Grand Canyon North Rim, Zion Park and Bryce are only a short distance from each other making the trio an ideal destination. |
 Nature Notes
The Grand Canyon is one of the safest places for
the California Condor to try and rebuild its devastated population.
This great bird has a magnificent wing span reaching 9.5
ft. The condors hit
a low in the early 1980's, when their population fell to only twenty-two birds. This
magnificent creature was dying from habitat loss, egg poaching and
lead poisoning. Hunters shoot a legal bird then the Condor eats that bird and dies from lead poisoning.
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