This 23-mile (one-way) drive to views of the eastern Grand Canyon area may just be the high point of your visit to the North Rim. With spectacular overlooks and fascinating sights along the way, you’ll want to set aside at least half a day to explore this winding, paved road; longer if you plan to hike or picnic, or if you enjoy a slower pace.

The colors are outrageous in early morning or late afternoon, and shadows add texture and depth to canyon perspectives.

To reach Cape Royal from Grand Canyon Lodge, travel north on Highway 67 for three miles, turning right on Fuller Canyon Road (also known as Cape Royal Road). The road forks at about five miles, with the left fork leading another three miles to Point Imperial, the right to Cape Royal.

Take the right fork to continue toward Cape Royal, 16 miles away. The paved road is narrow and winding—watch for oncoming traffic, and take your time. A number of worthwhile sights are en route, and it’s nearly impossible to backtrack if you’ve zipped past an enticing overlook.

At the Vista Encantada overlook, six miles south of the fork, tables shaded by ponderosa pines make a great spot for a picnic. Carpets of pinecones and lavender-blue lupine spread out at your feet, and the woodsy picnic area is often visited by Kaibab squirrels and mule deer. From here, you have stunning views of Indian Country, from the Marble Platform across the Painted Desert to Navajo and Hopi lands.

Stop at Roosevelt Point, eight miles from the fork, to stretch your legs on the short, easy Roosevelt Point Trail, which leads through a recent burn. The overlook is named for Theodore Roosevelt, who enjoyed hunting trips to the North Rim during the early 1900s. Below, you’ll see the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers. The curtain of cliffs forming the South Rim is known as the Palisades of the Desert.

A dirt parking area on the left, about 12 miles south of the fork to Cape Royal, marks the trailhead for Cape Final. The four-mile Cape Final Trail, one of the North Rim’s most satisfying day hikes, leads across the Walhalla Plateau to views of Unkar Delta, a large sandy bend along the Colorado River.

You can learn more about the Ancestral Puebloans (also known as Anasazi) at Walhalla Overlook. This viewpoint, 13 miles from the fork, also looks down on Unkar Delta, where the Ancestral Puebloans wintered in the inner canyon’s warmer climes. Across the road from the overlook’s parking area is Walhalla Glades, site of the Puebloans’ summer home, inhabited between A.D. 1050 and A.D. 1150.

A granary, evidence of the Ancestral Puebloans’ farming activities, can be seen along the Cliff Spring Trail, which begins a mile farther up the road. Access to the trail is across from the paved Angel’s Window overlook (about 14 miles south of the fork to Cape Royal).

Cape Royal Road ends at a large parking area, about 15 miles from the fork, with restrooms available at the north end. An easy paved trail leads 0.5 mile to the point through cliffrose and other high-desert vegetation. Stop along the way to view the natural limestone arch that forms Angel’s Window, which frames a view of the Colorado River.

The best views of the arch are from the paved pullout on the left side of the road, less than a mile before reaching the parking lot for Cape Royal; and also along the trail to Cape Royal Point. A spur trail leads 150 yards to the top of the arch itself, where you can stand and enjoy precipitous views of the canyon below.

Continuing on the main trail takes you to the very end of Cape Royal, the southernmost point on the North Rim. See if you can make out Desert View Watchtower, far across the canyon on the South Rim. Pause for a heady inhalation of cliffrose before taking in equally intoxicating views of Wotan’s Throne, Vishnu Temple, and Freya Castle. All three top 7,200 feet, taller than any mountain in the eastern U.S.—but all three are also below you, inside Grand Canyon.

Sunsets are awe-inspiring so close to these Grand Canyon temples, which form a dramatic backdrop for a nearby outdoor “wedding chapel” where brides and grooms can tie the knot.