Point Imperial and Mount Hayden

Point Imperial extends into the canyon at the southeastern edge of the Kaibab Plateau [1]. To reach Point Imperial, the highest point on both rims at 8,800 feet, take Highway 67 to the Cape Royal Road [2]. Turn left at the fork to Point Imperial and drive another three miles to the end of the road, where you’ll find a large parking area and picnic tables beneath the shade of a ponderosa-pine forest.

For the best views, descend the short path to the overlook. Mount Hayden’s spire (8,372 feet) rises above Nankoweap Canyon. Late-afternoon or early-morning sunlight turns this Coconino sandstone peak from buff-colored to a rosy gold. The 40,000-acre Saddle Mountain Wilderness, part of the Kaibab National Forest, sprawls to the north.

Restrooms are located at the north end of the parking lot, and trailheads can be found at either end of the parking area: the Point Imperial Trail to the east and the Ken Patrick Trail [3] to the west.