The Grand Canyon

Please note:  The Grand Canyon North Rim is open officially from May 15 to October 15.   The north rim is often open later than October 15, in the fall, if the snow has not begun to fall. 

From Cave Lakes Canyon it is a beautiful drive to the Grand Canyon.   You will pass through an open valley before you climb up onto the Kaibab Plateau and enter the Kaibab National Forest.   This forest is dense and the drive amongst the pines is refreshing and beautiful.   You may catch a glimpse of some of the large mule deer that inhabit the forest.   You'll pass through Jacob Lake and continue through the forest to the North Rim.

The north rim is considered to offer the best views of the Grand Canyon as it is approximately 1,000 feet higher than the south rim.   At the north rim of the Grand Canyon you'll find three main scenic overlook points that you may wish to visit;  Bright Angel Point, Point Imperial, and Cape Royal.  

Bright Angel Point is found at the south end of the entrance road and offers a paved half-mile round trip walking trail to the point where you will have broad views of the Grand Canyon.

For Point Imperial and Cape Royal you have the option of allotting about half a day to experience the scenic pullouts and short hikes that are available.   Point Imperial sits at 8,803 fee and is the highest point in the Grand Canyon.    Cape Royal may offer the one of the widest views of the canyon and it is a great spot to view a sunrise or sunset.    

Hiking:  You can venture down into the canyon and hike as far as you wish, but remember that you must come back up the way you came, and you are at higher elevations which makes the air thinner.  For all hiking experiences in the Grand Canyon it is very wise to bring extra water, food, and supplies based on the length of your trek. 

Mule trips are available at the north rim for those who want to venture down into the canyon but don't relish the idea of hiking back up.   

Back-country (dirt-road) access to the North Rim at Toroweap.    If you have a vehicle that is up to the challenge, then you'll find the trip to Toroweap on the north rim of the Grand Canyon to be worthwhile.    You'll need  full-tank of gas, and preferably a  good four-wheel drive vehicle.   The views at Toroweap are 3,000 feet down to the might Colorado River below.