Along the North Rim

Fall is my favorite season to explore our national park country. I enjoy hiking and photography, and conditions will be great for both during the next several weeks. The heat of summer is gone - the nights are cool and days are pleasantly warm. The canyons come alive with color as Mother Earth responds to seasonal changes.

And the crowds are gone. You don't have to fight for space at popular viewpoints. It's easy to find solitude in the backcountry.

The weather is usually dry and mild, and travel conditions are good. This is the perfect season for a road trip.

Grand Canyon's North Rim is particularly attractive during the fall. While the huge canyon is inspiring when approached from any direction, the North Rim is higher than it's southern counterpart and, in my opinion, its vistas are more spectacular.

As the crow flies, 10 miles of thin air separate the canyon's north and south rims. But by car it is a 215-mile drive. Millions of tourists swarm the South Rim, which is a popular destination year-round. Because it is more remote and less developed, the North Rim attracts only a fraction of that number.

Better scenery, fewer tourists and the chance to find solitude - in my mind that is all good.

Kanab, Utah, serves as gateway to the North Rim. The national park is located about 80 miles south of town along Hwy 67. Kanab is also close to Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks, and to Lake Powell. You can easily take in all these scenic areas in one trip.

Bright Angel Point attracts the most North Rim visitors. It is located at the end of the entrance road, near the lodge and visitor center, and provides dramatic views into the canyon.

Point Imperial and Cape Royal can be reached via a winding, paved scenic drive. Point Imperial provides views of the eastern Grand Canyon, where narrow Marble Canyon opens up and the landscape takes on grandiose dimensions.

Cape Royal is my favorite of the easily accessible viewpoints. There are great views both up and down canyon, and photo opportunities are excellent at both sunrise and sunset. A natural arch called Angels Window can be used to frame the scenery, creating a stunning image.

Point Sublime can be reached via a rough road that can be driven by high-clearance vehicles. It is about two hours (one way) to the viewpoint. Few casual tourists have a vehicle suitable for that drive and so you may have the area all to yourself.

North Rim visitor facilities usually close for the season in mid-November. (The highway may remain open for a short time thereafter, until it is closed by snowfall). During the winter, the only public access into the North Rim is on foot, skies, or snowshoes. Snowmobiles are not allowed to operate inside Grand Canyon National Park.

Toroweap (also called Tuweep), a remote backcountry viewpoint on the north side of the canyon, is one of the most dramatic vistas for photographers. From Toroweap, the canyon falls off some 3,000 vertical feet, almost straight down to the river. The viewpoint is accessible via long drives over rough, dirt roads suitable for high clearance vehicles. No visitor services or facilities are available.

The roads into Toroweap are not maintained for winter travel, but are usually drivable between storms. Some of the great Grand Canyon photos have been taken at Toroweap during the winter.

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Grand Canyon is a must-see destination.

Let us help you book your national park trip.

- Dave Webb

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