Cape Royal

The road continues almost all the way to the southern edge of the Walhalla Plateau [1]. The rocky peninsula extending into the canyon here is called Cape Royal. The road ends at a large parking area, where an easy paved trail leads 0.5 miles to the rim 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 and Unkar Delta. 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 end of Cape Royal, the southernmost point on the North Rim [2]. See if you can make out Desert View Watchtower [3], sticking up like a thimble far across the canyon on the South Rim.

Pause for a heady inhalation of cliffrose before taking in equally intoxicating views of Wotans Throne, Vishnu Temple, and Freya Castle. All three rise past 7,200 feet, taller than any mountain in the eastern United States, but all three peaks are below you, enveloped in the creases and folds of Grand Canyon.

Sunsets are awe-inspiring 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. There’s plenty of room for a picnic here, and restrooms are located at the north end of the parking lot.