Point Sublime

This well-named overlook, west of Bright Angel Point and southeast of Fire Point, lies at the end of a 17-mile dirt road negotiable by high-clearance vehicles or mountain bicycles, on horseback, or on foot. Point Sublime extends far into the Grand Canyon for awesome views. You can scan a great length of both North and South Rims and spot a section of Colorado River. The South Rim can be traced from below Bass Canyon upcanyon nearly to Desert View. Binoculars help you to see parts of the Tonto, Hermit, and South Kaibab Trails, along with Grand Canyon Village and Hermits Rest. On the North Rim, the Powell Plateau lies to the northwest, Confucius and Mencius Temples to the southeast, and Tiyo Point and Cape Royal to the east—truly sublime. Closer in, cliffs drop into the Tuna Creek drainage. Point Sublime is a great place to camp, but you’ll need a backcountry permit to do so.

The route is bumpy and not always passable; check at the North Rim Backcountry Office or the North Rim Visitor Center. From Grand Canyon Lodge, near Bright Angel Point, go north 2.7 miles on Highway 67, then turn left on the unpaved Point Sublime Road (high-clearance vehicle needed) past the Widforss and Tiyo Point trailheads to Point Sublime. You can also follow roads from the Kaibab National Forest: Head west 2 miles on Forest Road 22 from the Highway 67 turnoff in De Motte Park (.8 miles south of the North Rim Country Store), turn south 2 miles on Forest Road 270, turn west 6 miles on Forest Road 223, then south 1.5 miles on Forest Roads 268 and 268B to the park boundary, where the road becomes rougher on the last 15 miles to Point Sublime. Keep left at the junction .2 miles inside the park (the right fork goes to Swamp Point), then keep right past the junctions for Kanabownits Lookout and the road to Highway 67. The Kaibab National Forest map (North Kaibab District) is essential for navigating these back roads.

Tiyo Point has been closed to vehicles, but you can hike in or go by horseback. Turn south 6.3 miles from Point Sublime Road at a large meadow, 4.2 miles in from Highway 67.