During one of our autumn vacations, we visited the American southwest. On a whim,
we took a side trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The first
thing we do is stop at the park entrance sign for a photo.
NPS Park Map
During the 12 mile drive to the North Rim, the sun is shining, bison are grazing along the roadside (I wasn't expecting to see bison here!), and we are listening to jazz tunes by Pat
Methany ... we are on our way to a great day here on the North Rim.
So what makes the North Rim a good place to visit?
According to the National Park Service: “The Grand Canyon is host to about four million local and international visitors each year. Due to the remote location of the North Rim (8,297’ elevation), only a tenth of those visitors will see this magnificent section of the park. Usually accessible from mid-May to mid-October, the North Rim offers visitors a campground, general store and camper facilities.”
The Visitor Center is generally a good place to begin any trip to a National Park especially if it is your first visit. The North Rim Visitor Center is open May 15 through October 15 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. Also worth noting, the public restrooms are located behind the building.
We aren’t camping but we need a
room for the night. The historic Grand Canyon Lodge (built in
1927-28) has 23 Western Cabins and over 90 Pioneer Cabins. We are
hoping that one of them is available tonight.
View of Lodge from Canyon
When it comes to lodging in National Parks, I don’t normally “wing
it” because rooms may not be available. On this particular
Wednesday, the Lodging Angels were with us. Someone just
canceled and we got a western cabin (a duplex) with two queen beds, private bath, gas
fireplace, a fridge, and a partial view of the canyon!
Western Cabin - Exterior & Interior
Now that we have secured a place to stay for the night, we walk along
the rim of the canyon. An easy and rewarding hike to do is the
quarter mile long Bright Angel
Point Nature Trail.
When I stand at one of the many canyon overlooks, I am in awe at the
canyon’s vastness (one mile deep and 275 miles long) and its scenic
beauty. Carved by the forces of erosion, it’s no surprise that the
Grand Canyon is one of the “seven wonders of the natural world”.
I’m not a geologist and don’t claim to know a lot about the scientific creation of this magnificent view before me. But I do know that the
layers of striking colors seen on the plateaus and buttes are the
result of small amounts of various minerals - mostly iron which
contributes to the colors that I see.
Zoroaster Temple
We want to photograph a Grand Canyon sunset too. Later, we walk part way
down the Bright Angel Point trail. First, I watch as the low setting
sun bathes the canyon walls in vibrant shades of orange and pink.
Then, I turn to the western sky. Clouds glowing in bright oranges
and yellows burn like a blazing fire filling the sky. Within a few
minutes, the colors begin to fade like the last embers of a campfire
finally giving way to the blackness of the night sky.
Sunset at the North Rim
We walk back to the Lodge where there is a charming “sit down”
restaurant. They are very busy and we are very hungry. So, we go to the deli
and order a “to go” pizza. We return to our cabin and enjoy a
quiet dinner.
After dinner, we return to the Lodge. The lounge area may be rustic in appearance but it is furnished with comfy couches facing large windows
overlooking the canyon. Tonight, we were hoping to see the moonlight
shining in the canyon but the moon isn’t cooperating.
Lodge Lounge Area
Next to this room is a patio with an outdoor fireplace and seating
area. The evening is cool but we make ourselves comfortable and
enjoy the rest of the evening.
Patio
Maybe tomorrow morning we will rise and shine with the sun and
photograph the sunrise ... it could happen!
The next morning … okay, it didn’t happen … we get up about an hour after sunrise. We are a little too late to see the intense colors of the sunrise on the canyon walls. Still, we spend about an hour on the rim.
Views Along Bright Angel Point
After we leave the Lodge, we drive the paved and winding Cape Royal
Road. This scenic drive is a little less than 20 miles long (from
the North Rim Entrance Road to Cape Royal parking lot). There are
several “must see” stops along the way.
Point Imperial: At
8,803 feet in elevation, it is the highest of the North Rim
overlooks. A short walk provides a closer look of the canyon.
Point Imperial
Mount Hayden
Vista Encantada
(elevation 7,497 feet): This stop looks out over the Walhalla
Plateau. There is a place for a picnic. So, while you here, feed
your tummy and treat your eyes to a scenic feast.
Roosevelt Point:
This viewpoint was named after the U.S. President, Theodore
Roosevelt, He was an outdoor enthusiast and loved nature. In
1903, President Roosevelt spoke of the Grand Canyon saying, “Leave
it as it is. You cannot improve upon it. The ages have been at work
on it, and man can only mar it. What you can do is keep it for your
children, your children’s children, and for all who come after you,
as the one great sight that every American should see.”
Roosevelt Point
Walhalla Overlook:
From this overlook, you can see the Unkar Delta. It
served as a seasonal winter home and farmland for the Kayenta
Anasazi who lived here 900
years ago.
Cape Royal area: The
National Geographic book “The
10 Best of Everything – National Parks”
ranked Cape Royal and Angels Window in the Grand Canyon as Number 1.
Angel's Window is
a large natural arch that
eroded out of a
large
rock that
juts
out into the canyon.
We stop to
photograph it from a distance. From here, we can catch a glimpse of
the canyon through the opening. Also, we can see the overlook that is above the arch. We drive to the Cape Royal
parking area where we walk
the
path that travels across the top of the arch to a viewpoint.
NPS Exhibit Sign
Cape Royal is a good place to be at sunrise and/or sunset. It is the southern most view
point on the North Rim. A paved trail leads to the overlook where we
find the widest panorama of any Grand Canyon overlook along with a
few recognizable landmarks..
Vishnu Temple
Wotan's Throne
While we are sitting on a bench and admiring the view, I notice the late afternoon sun is casting shadows - including ours. I can't resist taking a shadow selfie of us.
If we had a longer visit, we would have spent more time hiking some
of the trails. If you are interested in hiking opportunities at the
North Rim, you can find information by clicking on the following
link:
The day is getting late and we need to drive to our next American
southwest destination. For information on other parks and popular attractions in
this area, I invite you to view my blog posts by clicking on the
following links:
Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start
planning your memorable trip to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim,
please click on the “Plan Your Visit” link below:
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