Park facilities and services are closed from late October to mid-May, when the only way into the park is on foot, skis, or snowshoes. Campers can apply for a backcountry permit for overnight use on the North Rim.

With a permit, winter at-large camping is allowed from the park’s northern boundary to the North Kaibab trailhead (though not at the trailhead itself). Between the North Kaibab trailhead and Bright Angel Point, camping is permitted only at the North Rim Campground’s group site.

The meadows and forests north of the park’s boundaries often get heavier snowfalls than along the rim, where updrafts from the canyon create warmer microclimates. Jacob Lake Inn (928/643-7232) stays open year-round, becoming a hub for winter activities.

Kaibab National Forest roads and meadows offer snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Forest roads east of Highway 67 and south of U.S. Highway 89A are closed to vehicular use, making this area ideal for cross-country skiers and snowshoers in search of silence and solitude.

Note that during the winter months, Highway 67 often closes due to snow, with little or no advance warning. Check with the Arizona Department of Transportation (dial 511 or 888/411-7623, www.az511.gov) for road conditions. If the highway is closed, it’s a snowy 50-mile trek to the rim.