Biking

Biking is allowed on all paved and dirt roads on the North Rim [1]. You can bring your own bike or rent one at Grand Canyon Lodge’s hike and bike outfitters. In Arizona, bicycles are subject to the same traffic rules as automobiles. Traffic through the park on Highway 67 can be heavy on summer weekends, and Cape Royal Road is narrow and curving—treacherous on a bike.

Hiking trails [2] are off-limits to bicycles, except for the Bridle Path [3] that travels between the lodge and the campground. One option for mountain bikers is to take the Point Sublime Trail, a rugged two-track that begins near the Widforss Trail [4] parking area, and travel part or all the way to Point Sublime [5]: 17 miles, nearly a day’s journey.

You must obtain a backcountry permit [6] if you plan to camp overnight at Point Sublime. To apply, fax or mail an application to the Backcountry Information Center (P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, fax 928/638-2125). Applications are available on the park’s website (www.nps.gov/grca [7]). However, if you arrived at the North Rim without a permit, you can check in at the North Rim Backcountry Office (8 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m. daily) to see if last-minute permits are available. The office is housed in a small trailer, located off Highway 67 just north of the campground road.

Neighboring Kaibab National Forest offers bicyclists miles of trails, dirt tracks, and gravel roads, many bordering the canyon rim. Note that bicycles are not allowed within the forest’s Kanab Creek [8] or Saddle Mountain wilderness areas. For more information, contact the North Kaibab Plateau Visitors Center [9] (928/643-7298) at Jacob Lake.