Last Updated on: 8th June 2023, 10:35 pm
The Grand Canyon has long been one of America’s most iconic and popular destinations. A large majority of people, however, visit what’s known as the South Rim. The North Rim, in contrast, sees only a fraction of the visitors. And with equally impressive views, it’s ideal for those who want to escape the crowds. In the following Grand Canyon North Rim guide, we’ll be covering how to experience the top highlights in a single full day.
To my surprise, the Grand Canyon North Rim was among the least crowded National Parks I visited in the entire Southwest. Compared with the South Rim’s five million annual visitors, the North Rim only gets about a million each year. But why?
A major reason is that the North Rim is only open from around mid-May to mid-October. This has to do with its higher elevation, which is at 8,000 ft (or 2,400 m) compared to the South Rim at 7,000 ft (or 2,100 m).
Another reason is simple logistics. People coming to Arizona from afar to see the Grand Canyon will likely be flying into Phoenix, which is much closer to the South Rim. The two rims, in fact, are as much as 4.5 hours apart by car.
Visiting Tips
All in all, the North Rim is a lot smaller than the South Rim, so many visit as a day trip. This Grand Canyon North Rim guide, therefore, focuses on an itinerary that most will be able to complete within a single day, starting from around 9 am until sunset.
This itinerary is more driving-focused than it is hiking-focused, though a few short hikes are included. Of course, there are also plenty of additional hikes to consider if you have more time and are able to stay within the park. Check the end of the article for more details on both.
Despite the Grand Canyon being synonymous with Arizona, the best base for those visiting the North Rim is actually Kanab, Utah. The journey lasts a little under two hours. You can also check the end of the guide for more info on accommodation within Kanab.
Organized tours to the North Rim are hard to come by, with the exception of this tour from Las Vegas. It even includes an ATV ride at the bottom of the canyon – something definitely not featured in the guide below!
Bright Angel Point
Arriving at the Grand Canyon North Rim, you’ll encounter two major landmarks near the main parking lot: The North Rim Lodge and Bright Angel Point.
Having departed from Kanab at seven in the morning, I arrived at the North Rim just before nine, and I decided to start the day with some breakfast.
The views from the restaurant window are spectacular. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find some open seats on the patio. As we’ll cover later, this is also a popular sunset viewing spot.
The North Rim Lodge also functions as a hotel, while it’s in this general area that you’ll find most of the North Rim’s cabins. But more on those below. Also in this general area is the official Visitor Center and several additional restaurants.
Just next to the North Rim lodge is an easy, flat trail taking you to an overlook of Bright Angel Point. The walk over is just half a mile, or 0.8 km roundtrip. And before the final viewpoint, there are a couple of additional overlooks to stop at along the way.
This area was named after the Bright Angel Fault, which was formed about 60 million years ago when one half of the earth’s crust was raised and the other was lowered.
In the distance, one can see the San Francisco Peaks (if there are no wildfires, that is). And looking into the canyon, you’ll see five distinct layers of stone that were formed over the last 70 million years.
The different layers are comprised of things like limestone, sandstone and shale, revealing that at various points in time, this region was once a sea, a desert and perhaps even a swamp.
Point IMPERIAL
As mentioned, if you want to see the best of the Grand Canyon North Rim, your day is going to consist of a lot of driving. From the lodge area, head back north along the Grand Canyon Highway and turn right onto Cape Royal Road.
Eventually, the road will fork. And in this Grand Canyon North Rim guide, we’ll assume you’ve first turned left (north) onto Point Imperial Road. The various landmarks along Cape Royal Road to the south of the fork will be covered further below.
At 8,803 ft, or 2683 m, Point Imperial is the North Rim’s highest viewpoint, and arguably the most stunning. There are a few different vantage points to enjoy from near the parking area, including one overlook directly atop a cliff.
It’s also from around here that one can start (or finish) the Ken Patrick Trail, which is about six miles out and back. (At least the eastern section – other parts of the trail are unmaintained, which is why many do a portion of the hike from Point Imperial.)
While I didn’t try this hike, you may decide to do the Ken Patrick trail instead of the Cape Final Trail (more below) and still have time for everything else in this North Rim guide.
Cape Royal Road
Returning to the fork mentioned earlier, this time veer to the left to continue heading south along Cape Royal Road, which is home to many of the North Rim’s most iconic viewpoints.
The road eventually culminates at Cape Royal itself, after which you’ll need to return the way you came.
Roosevelt Point
The first landmark you’ll pass is known as Vista Encantada, which mainly functions as a picnic area. The real highlight of this area is Roosevelt Point a bit further south, which ended up being my favorite stop along Cape Royal Rd.
The point was named after Theodor Roosevelt, the 26th president of the US, who played a large role in preserving the Grand Canyon in the early 20th century, not to mention numerous other parts of the Western United States.
More than just being a simple overlook, Roosevelt Point also features a brief yet thrilling hike. Confusingly, however, the AllTrails app only mentions a brief loop hike.
But as you get closer to the edge, you’ll see that the trail actually extends quite a distance along the ridge.
While easy and straightforward enough if you’re careful, this might not be a good idea for those with a fear of heights. But if you’re up for it, this is one of the most impressive sections of the Grand Canyon North Rim, as it allows you to enjoy amazing views in all directions.
Hiking Cape Final
The next stop along Cape Royal Road is known as Cape Final. But there are no overlooks by the parking area. Instead, you’ll have to hike to them, with the entire out-and-back hike extending to 4.2 miles (6.7 km) roundtrip.
It begins rather uneventfully, as you’ll just be walking through an ordinary forest for a while. It won’t be too long, however, before you encounter some viewpoints, though these are just unofficial stops along the way.
As you approach Cape Final, you’ll encounter yet more viewpoints. But again, they offer just a taste of what’s to come.
Considering how it was a perfectly clear day (and also a Sunday), I was surprised by how few people I encountered on this trail. I never would’ve imagined that parts of the Grand Canyon, of all places, are where one should go to escape the crowds. But I wasn’t complaining.
Eventually, after some easy scrambling up a large boulder, I arrived at the final and most impressive viewpoint. The view was indeed excellent, but I wouldn’t consider it better than Point Imperial, Roosevelt Point of Cape Royal.
While I enjoyed Cape Final, I wouldn’t call it essential. If you’re interested in hiking and only have a day at the North Rim, I’d recommend researching some alternative trails that are roughly the same length and deciding what looks best to you.
Walhalla Overlook & Ruins
The next stop is the Walhalla Overlook, which you’ll find right next to the parking lot. There’s not a whole lot to say about this one other than the fact that it’s another great view that one can enjoy with minimal effort.
But there’s more to this stop than first meets the eye. When most people think of the Grand Canyon, archaeology isn’t typically the first thing that springs to mind.
But if you cross the road and take a short trail into the forest, you’ll find the foundations of what once would’ve been a village.
From the 11th-12th centuries AD, this area was inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloan people. Also known as the Anasazi, the Puebloans built thriving cities at places like Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde, though they established plenty of small villages throughout the Southwest as well.
Given the climate at this high elevation, the Puebloans would’ve only stayed here during summer. And in its prime, the whole village probably just housed a few dozen people.
Be sure to take a pamphlet which can tell you more information about each room, which were likely all part of a single elaborate adobe structure.
Incredibly, archaeologists have discovered dozens more Anasazi sites along the canyon floor.
Cape Royal
Reaching the southern end of the road (about fifteen miles south of Bright Angel Point), you’ll finally arrive at Cape Royal itself. Having arrived at the North Rim at around nine in the morning, it was already late afternoon by the time I made it here, and the lighting for photography was excellent.
This is an extensive area with various trails and overlooks to stop at. As with Bright Angel Point, the trails here are flat and paved and can be enjoyed by people of all fitness levels.
One of the most remarkable landmarks around here is Angel’s Window, which is a natural arch in the uppermost limestone portion of the canyon. It really does look like a window, or as if someone knocked a massive hole through the side of the rock.
Eventually, the trail will lead you to the top of that very rock, with the hole directly below you. For those who weren’t daring enough to walk out along Roosevelt Point, Cape Royal is a much more accessible way to appreciate a full panoramic view of the Grand Canyon North Rim.
Looking down, you can clearly see the Colorado River winding along the bottom of the canyon, about 5000 ft below where you’re standing.
You can also spot formations that were named by geologist Clarence Dutton as ‘temples,’ including a ‘Vishnu Temple’ and ‘Shiva Temple’ after the Hindu deities.
Sunset
If you’re staying a full day at the Grand Canyon North Rim, you might as well stick around for sunset. While Cape Royal is said to be a good spot for that, I decided to return to Bright Angel Point, another popular spot for sunset viewing.
Admittedly, I find both sunsets and sunrises to be overrated – especially when it comes to photography. Just because a place is beautiful in daylight doesn’t automatically mean it’s going to look great during sunset. And this is the case for Bright Angel Point.
Anticlimactically, the sun just sets behind one of the canyon walls in the distance. I walked all around looking for some interesting angles, but couldn’t find any except for a spot behind a tree that most people miss.
The area is indeed pretty, however, just after the sun disappears and when a faint orange glow still lingers in the sky.
Driving back in the dark, be sure to take it slow and watch out for animals – particularly deer.
Additional Info
While several hours apart by car, both the North Rim and South Rim are part of the same Grand Canyon National Park. At the time of writing, it costs $35 to enter (learn more here).
If you’re visiting from abroad, note that in contrast to many other countries, US parks typically charge per vehicle rather than per person. However, if you’re traveling by bicycle instead, they’ll charge you for an individual pass which costs $20, while those on motorcycles will be charged $30.
(For what it’s worth, there’s no manned kiosk at the North Rim, though there is a machine from which you’re expected to buy your pass. As nobody seems to check, it basically goes by the honor system.)
Considering how many National Parks and National Monuments there are to see in the Southwest alone, the best option for most will be to buy an ‘America the Beautiful’ Annual National Parks Pass.
These cost $80 for the year. In most cases, you’re already saving money by just visiting four National Parks/Monuments anywhere in the country within a full year.
What’s more, is that only one person in your vehicle needs to have the pass. Additionally, seniors can buy the pass for just $20. So if you have someone over 62 in your party, just have them get the annual pass and everyone else will be set.
As for where to get the pass, you can purchase it in person at most National Parks or Monuments. But you can also order it in advance online.
Even if you already have an annual pass, you’re usually supposed to ‘check in’ at the park or monument Visitor Center. But if you arrive before the office opens, you should be fine just leaving your pass visible on your dashboard.
Aside from staying in Kanab, Utah, visitors also have the option of staying within the park itself.
This can be difficult to arrange, however. As mentioned above, the season for the North Rim is quite short in general. And sometimes the season for the North Rim Lodge is even shorter. Get the latest updates here.
Regarding the North Rim campground, you can make reservations on the Recreation.gov website or app.
The Grand Canyon North Rim guide above features a hike at Cape Final (4.2 miles, 6.8 km). As mentioned, however, the views at the end, while indeed impressive, aren’t any better than the overlooks you can reach in your car with little effort.
While that’s the only hike I’ve tried, you might want to consider swapping it for a different one. If you only have a day, consider the Uncle Jim Trail (4.7 miles, 7.6 km), which should take around three hours.
If you’re relatively fast and start your day early enough, you could try the Ken Patrick Trail from Point Imperial (6 miles, 9.6 km).
Another option is the Wildforss Trail. But at 9.6 miles (15.5 km), you likely wouldn’t have time to combine it with all the other spots mentioned above. If you’re visiting for more than one day, however, it’s said to be one of the North Rim’s top hikes.
Another longer hike is the Arizona Trail, which is 12.1 miles (19.5 km) long.
The North Kaibab trail is the only maintained trail that will take you down into the canyon, but there’s no official end point. Therefore, you’ll come across wildly different lengths and time estimates.
You can learn more about all these hikes at the official Visitor Center or by checking apps like AllTrails.
While it may be a small town of about 5,000 people, Kanab has plenty of hotels to choose from.
I stayed at Travelodge by Wyndham Kanab, a basic hotel that was perfect for resting after long days out in nature. They also provide free breakfast. Other popular options close to the center include Comfort Suites and the Hampton Inn.
Camping is another great option. The nearby Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, for example, has campsites ranging from $25-40.
Also nearby Kanab is the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), meaning you’re allowed to camp in most of the area for free. This also includes spending the night in your RV. If you don’t have your own, consider renting one on a site like Outdoorsy.
As Kanab is a small town, the best way to get there is to drive. While you don’t need a 4×4 for the Grand Canyon, consider renting one anyway, as the Southwest in general is full of rough dirt roads.
For those doing broader travels throughout the region, Kanab makes for a good stop in between Page, Arizona and St. George, Utah.
The nearest major airports to Kanab are Las Vegas (about four hours) and Salt Lake City (about five hours).