The Grand Canyon

The North Rim

I first visited the Grand Canyon on its south rim in summer, nearly trampled by my fellow visitors. It was nice, but distractions almost outweighed the sights and I left wondering what all the fuss was about. At the North Rim a few years later, I found out. The North Rim gets one-tenth of the visitors that the South Rim does, and because it gets more precipitation than the South, its walls are more eroded and sloping, making it easier to see the river below. Hiking trails are uncrowded, and perhaps best of all, views are clearer and haze is less noticeable.

See It Now: Photo Tour

Best Time to Visit

Check the average highs, lows, and rainfall for your planned travel dates on our Grand Canyon Weather page.

• Any time of year is a good time to visit the North Rim, but late spring and early fall are perhaps the best.
• It is quite cool even in summer, with highs in the mid-60s as late as May and as early as September, and the gift shop does a brisk business in sweatshirts for the unprepared.
• Rainfall is lowest April-June and highest in August when summer rainstorms can put on spectacular shows.
• The park is closed in winter, usually from late October through mid-May, because of heavy snow.

Getting There

While the North Rim is in Arizona, it is most easily reached from southern Utah, and it is most logically included in a trip to Utah's red rock national park country. It can also be reached from Arizona, but while it's only 10 miles from the South Rim as the eagle flies, it's a 215-mile drive.

The most convenient way to get to the North Rim, if it's your only destination, is to fly to Las Vegas and drive. Trans-Canyon Shuttle operates a daily shuttle between the two rims.

Where to Sleep and Eat

The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only hotel within the park boundaries, sits almost on the rim of the canyon, and views from hotel rooms and the dining room are outstanding. Accommodations include four cabins that are so close to the rim that you can see the canyon from their porch. The North Rim Campground has drinking water but no hookups, and four rim sites with views. You will find showers, laundromat and store next door. Reservations are recommended for all accommodations.

What to See

Keep the copy of The Guide, the park newspaper, that you get when you pass through the park entry gate. It's an invaluable resource that will include articles, an event schedule and information about any unexpected closures.

The North Rim's views are its major attraction. The most accessible view point is Bright Angel Point, an easy half-mile round trip walk from the Grand Canyon Lodge. If you want to hike, a ranger can help you choose from the many hiking trails. Or, take a scenic drive to Cape Royal, 23 miles from the Grand Canyon Lodge. Stop for a picnic at Point Imperial, the highest vantage point in the park, then continue to Vista Encantadora, Roosevelt Point and Walhalla Overlook. At the end of the road, it's a 0.6-mile walk on a paved path to Cape Royal for a spectacular panoramic view of the canyon.

If you're adventurous, well-prepared with water and supplies and have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, take the 140-mile, three and a half hour drive over dirt roads to the Toroweap Overlook. It's one of the canyon's most spectacular viewpoints, but there are no facilities other than primitive toilets. Check with a ranger before you go.

Poll:How do you rate North Rim of Grand Canyon as a tourist destination?
Yuck! | OK | Good | Awesome!

See what others think.