THE NORTH RIM

The North Rim offers an experience very different from that of the South Rim. Elevations around 1,300 feet higher result in lower temperatures and nearly 60 percent more precipitation. Rain and snowmelt have cut deeply into the North Rim so that it is now about twice as far back from the Colorado River as the South Rim. Dramatic vistas from the north inspired early explorers to choose names like Point Sublime, Cape Royal, Angel’s Window, and Point Imperial.

Even away from the viewpoints, the North Rim displays great beauty. Spruce, fir, pine, and aspen forests thrive in the cool air. Wildflowers bloom in blazes of color in the meadows and along the roadsides. Aspens turn to gold from the last week of September to mid-October.

You’ll find visitor facilities and major trailheads near Bright Angel Point, a 45-mile drive south on Highway 67 from Jacob Lake in the far north of Arizona. The road to Bright Angel Point opens in mid-May, then closes after the first big winter storm, which can happen any time from October into December.

In winter, a deep blanket of snow covers the Kaibab Plateau’s rolling meadow and forest country. The snow cover typically reaches a depth of 4–10 feet; cross-country skiers and snowshoers find the conditions ideal. The park itself has no facilities open on the North Rim in winter; you can camp here, however, with a permit from the Backcountry Information Center.

Bright Angel Point: It may feel like the end of the world here, with sheer drop-offs on either side and a memorable view down the long Bright Angel Canyon to the Inner Gorge and the South Rim beyond. (read more)

Cape Royal Scenic Drive: Drive through beautiful conifer and aspen forests to Cape Royal, the North Rim’s highest viewpoint and also one of its most sweeping, above a great bend in the Colorado River. Short hiking trails, a prehistoric pueblo, and a variety of other viewpoints make for a great day’s outing. (read more)

East Rim Viewpoint: Colorful panoramas of the Marble Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs, and Painted Desert are yours to absorb at this Eastern Kaibab Plateau lookout. (read more)

Point Sublime: Visit this far-flung overlook for staggeringly expansive views of the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon. (read more)

Toroweap: Be one of the few intrepid travelers to experience dizzying views of the Colorado River from cliffs nearly 3,000 feet high at this remote viewpoint. (read more)