The North Rim receives less than 15 percent of the total visitor traffic to the Grand Canyon. For those looking to see a side of this geological wonder missed by most tourists, however, a trip to the North Rim can be a quieter and more personal experience.

Although the two rims are separated by only 10 miles, the trip by road from rim to rim is over 200 miles. The South Rim is mostly desert, while the North Rim is heavily forested with pine, spruce and fir. The North rim gets snow and is closed to all but cross-country skiing during the winter months of October to May. Please call ahead to check conditions and make sure the road is open before your planned trip.

Most visitors make their first stop at Bright Angel Point, at the southern end of the main road. It is a short, easy walk from the parking area and the Grand Canyon Lodge, and offers a classic view of the canyon.

For the more adventurous visitor, the North Kaibab Trail is the only main-tained trail down into the canyon to the river. Guided mule and horse trips are available.

Point Imperial is the highest point on the North Rim at 8,803 feet, and over-looks the Painted Desert and the eastern end of the Grand Canyon. The canyon transforms as the narrow walls of Marble Canyon open dramatically to become truly “grand.”

Cape Royal provides a panoramic view up down and across the canyon. These seemingly unlimited vistas looking to the east and west, make it a popular spot to view sunrises and sunsets. The sweeping turn of the Colorado River at Unkar Delta is framed through the natural arch of Angels Window.