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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

Toroweap is the best view at the Grand Canyon!

Hiking at Toroweap (Tuweep)

Lava Falls

Photo Album: Lava Falls Pictures
Trail Map: Lava Falls Map
Day hike: Yes, but camping at Lava Falls is allowed with a permit.
Distance: 1.5 miles ( 2.41 km) one way
Average hiking time: 8 hours - 2-4 hours down, 2-6 hours up.
Difficulty: Strenuous and precarious. Falls are common, loose footing, bouldering.
Permits: no, unless you want to backpack and camp down at the river
Trail conditions: This trail is hot in the summer and is in full sun. Carrying enough water might be impossible for some. Consider hiking in the spring. Gloves are good protection from sharp rocks and cacti. Barrel Cactus are common along the route. Many hikers will find themselves using their hands often on the down hike to keep from falling on unstable footing. Cairns mark the route.
Trailhead: The Lava Falls route and Vulcan's Throne route share the same trailhead.
Trailend: Same as starting
Trail access: 2.5 mile 4WD road that is impassible if water is in the usually dry Toroweap Lake.
Elevation Change: 2540' in 1.5 miles. This is steep, do not underestimate the hike.
Starting Elevation: 4180' at Lava Falls Trailhead
Colorado River Elevation: 1640'
Off the beaten path: yes
Classic Park hike: Inner Canyon hike that is rarely traveled.
Best season: Spring and Fall. Winter the daylight hours might be too short, summers are too hot.
Water availability: No drinking water, but there is of course water at the river.
Restrooms: Toroweap Campground or Toroweap Rim

Lava Falls Trailhead: From the Toroweap Rim go back down the road 2.8 miles and take the unmarked dirt 4WD road toward the usually dry Toroweap Lake and past the cinder cone of Vulcan's Throne. When there is excessive rain the lake bed can become muddy and the road will be impassible even with a 4WD.

There is no trail, but there is a route of sorts down to the Colorado River through a corridor. If you are looking for an enjoyable and scenic trail this is not it, but it does have its value. The hardcore hiker will be drawn to the challenge and the end point is the river. Do not underestimate the time needed to finish this hike since route finding is difficult and in the dark might be impossible. To add to this, the path is a jumbled mess of sharp and unsecured rock.

Make your way down the steep and unstable section, following the sparse display of cairns along the way. The first named section of the trail is called Vulture Valley. It's a bit unsettling to look up in this barren land and see the Turkey Vultures circle overhead as they like to do in this section of the route. At the bottom of Vulture Valley is a vertical step with a down climb. Climb up and over the large basalt ridge where the Colorado River and Prospect Valley are now visible. Toward the bottom of the route bright angel shale is visible. The roar of Lava Falls, although a low hum from the Toroweap Overlook, is now crystal clear. The falls are found .3 miles downstream from the routes end. In the Grand Canyon the Lava Falls section here forms rapids that are perhaps only second to the Crystal Rapid.

Best Trail Features: Trail leads to the Colorado River.

The Trail: This is the shortest and steepest rim to river hike in the Grand Canyon. Lava Falls was formed in 1939 by debris from Prospect Canyon. Watching the boats navigate the 13' drop is a high point of this hike.

Options: Hike up the cinder dome at the end of the hike rather than fighting the loose footing along the cairned route. if you are good at route finding you could even begin the hike this way.

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Grand Canyon North Rim

Grand Canyon - Arizona

There was in this immensity... a silence so profound that soon all the noises from the life around us on the Rim were lost in it, as if our ears had been captured forever, drowned in these deeps of quiet. -- Priestl Photo: North Kaibab Trail: North Rim Grand Canyon © Photography by Tanya

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