Grand Canyon National Park: North Rim
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon, located in extreme Northern Arizona, is an undiscovered section of one of the most visited national parks in the nation. A day's drive from the South Rim, this part of the park is not as easily accessible as the South Rim, and so it is not nearly as crowded.
It is also over 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim, so the vegetation and climate are more mountainous rather than high desert. If you want to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, you should know some things about the area and accommodations.
Make Reservations
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is only open from mid-May to mid-October. When the first snow falls, the park closes, and when the snow melts, the park opens. There is only one lodge inside the park, Grand Canyon Lodge, and there is also a beautiful campground nestled along the rim in a pine and aspen forest. The park is not nearly as crowded as the South Rim, and has a totally different feeling than the South Rim. However, you still need to make reservations well in advance if you plan to visit. You can phone 303-297-3175 for lodging reservations, or visit the first Web site in the list below for more information.
Dining
The dining room at the Grand Canyon Lodge is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and there is a deli in the village area, too. The Rough Rider Saloon is also located in the main lodge, which also offers the "Coffee Saloon" serving coffee and breakfast items in the morning, and light appetizers in the evening.
What To See
There are many scenic drives from the North Rim area, the Point Imperial drive can take at least half a day, but will leave you with breathtaking views of Point Imperial, Cape Royal, and the Painted Desert to the east. Bright Angel Point, just off the entrance road is another popular scenic view just a short walk from the Lodge and campground. The park concessionaire also offers mule rides into the canyon.
Hiking
If you aren't in good shape, or are not an experienced hiker, don't even think about hiking the Grand Canyon! The terrain down is steep and rocky on both the Bright Angel and Yavapai Trails, and remember, once you get down inside the canyon, you have to come back out, and it will take you two to three times as long to come out as it does to go down. Also, the inner gorge of the canyon is MUCH hotter than the rim, and so, in the summer, it can be well over 100 degrees on the trail. Hiking the canyon is strenuous, and should only be done by experienced hikers. It is certainly not your average walk in the park!
Visiting the Grand Canyon is a memorable experience. Be sure to make time for a Grand Canyon sunrise or sunset. It is one of the most breathtaking things you will ever see. It is amazing to see how the colors of the canyon change in the ever-changing light from morning to night.
