Grand Canyon - North Rim

Bring an extra set of car keys; it could be a long wait for a locksmith. There are no automobile mechanics in places like the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and very few in the areas of northern Arizona and southern Utah, especially the Indian reservations. And always check all five tires (including the spare) to make sure they are properly inflated and have tread.

Distances are very deceiving in this part of the country, actual speeds are generally much slower than the freeway speeds you are used to and the amount of time you schedule for visiting a site may not be nearly enough.

Keep your gas tank full. Service stations are few and far between.

Film is generally available at most Parks, but carry extra just in case. Also, carry extra memory cards for your digital cameras. And don't forget batteries for digitals.

And put a good strap on your camera and ALWAYS keep that strap attached around your neck, or around your wrist, or clipped to your belt. During my trip I ran across two different people who had just lost their expensive cameras and all of their vacation pictures down the canyon or over a waterfall because they were just carrying it in their hand and dropped it.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is an amazingly beautiful placed to visit, whether it is for a half day (which I would think should be the absolute minimum), or for a week or two. First afforded federal protection back in 1893 it was not until 1919 that it became a National Park. Today there are nearly 5 million visits per year to the Grand Canyon the largest majority of course visit the south rim.

One very important thing to remember about the North Rim is that the elevation here is 8,000 feet above sea level, so visitors with breathing or heart problems may experience difficulties. All walking at this elevation can be strenuous and even though the short distances from one point to the next look easy, you should use real caution. Always carry at least double the water you think you might need. If you plan on hiking down to the canyon bottom, do NOT try to do it in one day no matter how fit you are, and carry plenty of extra water and provisions.

Climate:

Summer: Temperatures are cooler than those of the South Rim due to the increased elevation and can range from 40s-80s. Thunderstorms occur frequently during July through mid-September. Down in the canyon extreme temperatures are often above the 105 degree mark.

Winter: Heavy snowfall can occur during the winter months. The road into the North Rim (Hwy 67) is closed from the first heavy snow in November or December until mid-May.

Spring and fall weather is unpredictable. Be prepared for sudden changes.

There are three main look-out points with parking areas nearby. From each one you can get a new and wonderful view of the various parts of the canyon. A few of these look-out points do not have any kind of railing or fencing to keep you from the falling so care must be taken to keep a safe distance from the edge. Each of the viewpoints offers a look across the canyon, rather than looking down into its depths. The Colorado River is rarely seen even at a distance. To assist your planning here is a short description of each. Point Imperial and Cape Royal are reached via winding slow and scenic road.

Point Imperial, the highest point on the North Rim at 8,803 feet, overlooks the Painted Desert and the eastern end of Grand Canyon. The canyon here changes as the narrow walls of Marble Canyon, seen as a narrow winding gash opens to become “grand.” Layers of red and black Precambrian rocks, not visible at Bright Angel Point, add contrast and color. Part of the viewpoint is accessible.

Cape Royal provides a panorama up, down, and across the canyon. This vista is popular for both sunrise and sunset with nearly unlimited views to the east and west. The sweeping turn of the Colorado River at Unkar Delta is framed through the natural arch of Angels Window. If you are lucky you may be able to see the Desert View Watchtower across the canyon on the South Rim. This popular viewpoint is accessible via a paved, level trail.

Point Sublime is only accessible by four-wheel drive and some effort so we didn’t get to see it. It is the western-most of the North Rim viewpoints. I understand that the rough, two-hour (one-way) trip to this remote point is rewarded by a view that lives up to its name. Inquire about road conditions and possible closures before heading out. Most visitors make a stop at Bright Angel Point, at the southern end of the entrance road. From the parking area it is a short, easy walk to Grand Canyon Lodge and a classic view of the canyon. This facility is wheelchair accessible. A paved, non-wheelchair accessible half-mile (round-trip) trail leads from the lodge, out the spine of the ridge, to the point. This trail is steep in places, with drop-offs and stairs, but provides dramatic views into Roaring Springs and Bright Angel Canyons.

We took a full day to make our visit and felt that without taking any extended hikes (which we can no longer do), just the three viewpoints plus several other short stops along the road it was just about right. We were staying in Kanab, Utah about 80 miles north, so two hours each way to drive or you could stay, with reservations made well in advance, at the canyon at either campsites or the cabins and lodge.

This is a guaranteed five star site.

This little town south of Kanab, Utah on the way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon has missed out on the tourist crowds because of the lack of nearby sites. Kanab has Zion and Bryce National Parks very close and many motels to accommodate the crowds. And of course the Grand Canyon is 80 miles south.

So what has Fredonia got to do with that you ask.

Police, and low speed limits.

After you have driven through town at the low speed limit and you feel you are past the town the road turns and heads out into the open land of Arizona. But the speed limit sign is still another mile out and they post a patrol car with radar out past the corner where everyone puts their foot back on the gas. That police officer pulls over and writes tickets all day long, and probably at night too. I wasn't in a hurry that day or I would have gotten one too.

Be ultra careful of this area.