North Rim Grand Canyon Lodging

Zion Park Lodging
East Zion Lodge
Vacation House
East Zion Cabins
Budget Lodging
Group Lodging
East Zion Golf
East Zion RV Park
Vacation Packages
Zion Bus Tours
Business Retreat

Southwest Parks
North Rim
Grand Canyon
Toroweap
South Canyon
Coyote Buttes
Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon
Grand Staircase
Cedar Breaks
Dixie National Forest
Red Canyon
Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Slot Canyons

Grand Canyon Forum

Mileage: Mount Carmel Jct.
Tuweep 90 miles
South Canyon 75 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Zion Park 12 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles

The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes the Grand Canyon!

In these pages you will find insiders information on the best Grand Canyon hikes and Backpacks including Tuweep and South Canyon Trails. This detailed guide includes road maps, park maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Grand Canyon North Rim hidden treasures.

Making grand memories in the Arizona national parks.

Arizona

Grand Canyon North Rim Road Map

Directions to North Rim Grand Canyon: From Zion National Park, take on U-9 through the park to Mt. Carmel Jct. Turn south on US-89 to Kanab. There is only one stop light in Kanab; this is where US-89 changes to ALT 89. Fredonia, Arizona is 6 miles. In Fredona take 89A to Jacob lake (36 miles), then take AZ 67 to the Grand Canyon North Rim park entrance.

Winter Road Conditions and
Highway 67 Road Closures

Grand Canyon's North Kaibab Trail is steep, but gorgeous. Follow the trail for a nice day hike or take it all the way to the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch.

Nearby Hiking

Snake Gulch Rock Art
 This huge site of pictographs is located near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Kaibab Forest in the Kanab Wilderness Area.

Nearby View Points

Crazy Jug Point
From Fredonia, Arizona, drive south on Highway 89A toward Jacob Lake for 1.5 miles and look for Forest Road 22 on the right. Turn right onto Forest Road 22 and follow the road, driving past several intersections and signs that indicate various vistas. At mile 28, notice the Big Springs Field Ranger Station. At 33 miles, turn right onto Forest Road 425, headed toward Crazy Jug and Monument Point. There is another intersection at mile 41, continue straight on Forest Road 425 to Crazy Jug Point. map

Monument Point
Follow the directions above, but  continue on Road 425 past Crazy Jug. Look for a corral and a "Y" in the road at mile 43 where you will turn right on Forest Road 292. Continue for .3 miles to the next "Y" and turn right. There is one more intersection at 44.5 miles. Continue straight through it and drive 2 more miles to Monument Point. map

Grand Canyon North Rim Hiking

This .2 mile round trip, is an easy and relaxing walk through the woodlands, more a view point than a trail. It has a great view of the Grand Canyon and there are more pullouts up the road that are not marked. To find the viewpoint, turn onto the marked road, driving toward the Cape Royal Trail.

Bright Angel Point

This 1 mile round trip begins near the Grand Canyon Lodge and weaves down to an impressive view between two tributary canyons. Roaring Springs Canyon is below and to the left.  The Transept is on the right. The long squiggly gorge seen straight ahead is Bright Angel Canyon. This is an easy walk with a 200' elevation change. The point is 8148'.

The 360 degree view point, at the end of this 1 mile round trip trail, gives the greatest view offered on either rim of the Grand Canyon. It's only comparison would be the spectacular Toroweap area. The trail is an enjoyable and easy, paved trail. It's a great family walk and there are few elevation changes. You will have the chance to walk out on Angels Window, a magnificent limestone arch. Begin the trail at the Cape Royal parking lot. Weddings are performed at the parking lot - picnic area where the trail begins.

There is a small pullout at the Angels Window overlook. It is on the left between Walhalla Point and the Cape Royal parking lot. There is a spectacular view of Angels Window from this view point. The 1 mile round trip to Cliff Springs begins across the road. There is a small sign, but it's hard to see when driving. The hike is through a forested ravine, past a prehistoric ruin (Ancestral Puebloans granary) wedged beneath a rock. The trail continues under a overhanging cliff and ends at a nice spring. There is a nice view of the canyon at the rim. You can continue past this point, but the trail is difficult and ends abruptly at a thousand foot drop.

Point Sublime

The scenic, 36 mile round trip to Point Sublime is usually traveled by 4WD rather than on foot. The 270° view at the end of the road is outstanding. The trip begins at the Widforss Trailhead. This view point is one of three rim grand slam views. The other favorite views are Bright Angel Point, Cape Royal, Point Sublime and Toroweap.

Moderate North Rim Hiking Trails

Transept Trail

This 3 mile round trip follows the North Rim along the Transept, which is a tributary canyon. The trail begins at the Grand Canyon Lodge and ends at the North Rim Campground. The views along the transept are nice and there are a couple of good photo opportunities along this trail.

Begin this 4 mile round trip from the Cape Final parking area. The Cape Final Trail is a gravel path, with little elevation change, through the forest to a lookout point on the east rim of the Kaibab Plateau. It is a nice trail if you like forested paths and it's not as crowded as some of the others.

Uncle Jim Trail

The Uncle Jim Trail is 5 miles round trip. The trailhead is the same as that for the North Kaibab and the Ken Patrick Trail. The start of this trail is shared with the Ken Patrick Trail and during the summer, shared with mule riders. Much of the hike is through a thick forested plateau with groves of ponderosa pines, spruce, fir and aspen. The path leads to an overlook of the Grand Canyon. Uncle Jim Ownes was the game warden for the U.S. Forest Service at the Grand Canyon in the early 1900's.

The 10 mile (round trip) trail rolls up and down through the forest, edging along some nice sections of the rim on the way to the Widforss Point Overlook (8000'). It begins at the parking lot across from the Kaibab trailhead and offers access to the area west of the Grand Canyon Lodge. Look for a brochure at the trailhead that describes the 14 markers found along the first half of the hike. Hikers looking for a shorter hike, just hike the first 2.5 miles of the trail and turn around after marker 14.

Ken Patrick Trail

The Ken Patrick Trail is 20 miles round trip or 10 miles using a shuttle or hitchhike. Doing the hike one way, 10 mile trip, would be moderate instead of strenuous. Point Imperial is 8803' elevation and the highest place in the Grand Canyon that can be reached by car. That is where this hike will begin. Follow the rock stairway to the trailhead. The trail has a 3 mile rim section between Point Imperial and the Cape Royal road. After the views of Mt. Hayden, and many far off views (such as those of Marble Canyon), the trail then forges through the forest. It's a relatively even path and easy to follow as it stays west of the rim. The Uncle Jim Trail branches off near the end (or beginning depending on where you start) of the Ken Patrick Trail.

North Kaibab Trail

The North Kaibab Trail is a diversified trail giving plenty of variety for those who want to backpack or day hike. This is the only North Rim trail leading to the Colorado River. The trail descends beneath the rim, through the forest, for the first 5 miles leading to Roaring Springs. Roaring Springs is a waterfall with water pouring from a muav cave into Bright Angel Creek. This creek is one of the Grand Canyon's largest tributaries and is home for beavers. Never hike past Roaring Springs in one day.

The following points along the trail can serve as a trail destination guide.

To the Coconino Overlook .75 mile one way
To Supai Tunnel 2 miles-one way
Redwall Bridge 3 miles-one way
Roaring Springs fork 4.7 miles-one way
Roaring Springs 5 miles-one way

The Esplanade

This 11 mile round trip begins on the backroad's in the Kaibab Forest. Hike down from Monument Point to an oasis of sandstone and hoodoos. This is an exhausting day hike geared for hardcore hikers only. This route will be difficult to complete in one day and is often done as a backpack in the fall or spring.

Tuweep

Hiking at and around Tuweep (Toroweap Point)

River Trip Story and Photos

Hiking in the Grand Canyon is incredible, but a trip through the Colorado River combines hiking with the river and it's unbeatable!

Web Southwest Parks

Grand Canyon North Rim

Grand Canyon - Arizona

You cannot see the Grand Canyon in one view, as if it were a changeless spectacle from which a curtain might be lifted, but to see it you have to toil from month to month through its labyrinths. -- John Wesley Powell Photo: North Kaibab Trail: North Rim Grand Canyon © Photography by Tanya

Disclaimer & Privacy Policy
All rights reserved © Copyright Zions Works
Do not use photos or maps without permission © Photography by Tanya