The Happiness Function

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon offers a unique experience separate from the South Rim. Located at an elevation of over 8,000 feet with initial views hidden by the dense forest, visitors reach the North Rim overlook to peer out in awe of the Grand Canyon’s magnificence. In this article, we’ll tell you about all the things to do at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, including scenic drives, where to hike, and camp. Now, let’s plan a memorable road trip to the North Rim!

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What to Do at the North Rim Grand Canyon

Did you know that the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is visited 90% less than the South Rim? The Grand Canyon is so massive that driving from the South Rim to the North Rim takes over four and a half hours. The drive from the South Rim to the North Rim is about 220 miles. If you were to hike from the North Rim to the South Rim, it is a 21-mile trek.

There are many things to do at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and it is definitely worth seeing.

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Best Grand Canyon North Rim Activities

The main activities to do while visiting the North Rim include:

• Hiking
• Camping
• Going on a mule ride
• Checking out the Visitor Center
• Overlooking Bright Angel Point
• Driving the scenic drive and stopping at all the viewpoints to enjoy and take photos

North Rim Grand Canyon Hiking

There are 13 different day-hiking trails visitors can do from the North Rim. Below is a quick summary, including the trail name, distance, and time estimated to hike.

1. Bright Angel Point Trail

• Distance: 0.5-mile (roundtrip)
• Time to hike: 30 minutes

2. Transept Trail

• Distance: 2-miles (one-way)
• Time to hike: 1 hour

3. Bridle Path

• Distance: 1.9 miles (roundtrip)
• Time to hike: 1 hour
• Pets allowed on this path

4. Widforss Trail

• Distance: 9.6 miles (roundtrip)
• Time to hike: ~ 6 hours

5. Uncle Jim Trail

• Distance: 4.7 miles (roundtrip)
• Time to hike: ~ 3 hours

6. Ken Patrick Trail

• Distance: 9.8 miles (one-way)
• Time to hike: ~ 6 hours

7. Arizona Trail

• Distance: 12.1 miles (one-way)
• Time to hike: ~ 7 hours
• Pets allowed
• Bicycles allowed

8. North Kaibab Trail

• Distance: TBD, not recommended to try to hike to the Colorado River and back on the same day
• Recommend talking to Visitor Center first before hiking for trail status
• Be sure to plan ahead

9. Point Imperial Trail

• Distance: 5.4 miles (roundtrip)
• Time to hike: ~ 3 hours

10. Roosevelt Point Trail

• Distance: 0.2 miles (roundtrip)
• Time to hike: 30 minutes

11. Cape Final Trail

• Distance: 4.2 miles (roundtrip)
• Time to hike: ~2-3 hours

12. Cliff Spring Trail

• Distance: 0.8 mile (roundtrip)
• Time to hike: ~ 1 hour

13. Cape Royal Trail

• Distance: 0.8 mile (roundtrip)
• Time to hike: ~1 hour

Camping at the North Rim Grand Canyon

The National Park Service manages only one campground at the North Rim. Check out recreation.gov to make a reservation ahead of time at the North Rim Campground.

Grand Canyon Mule Ride North Rim

Going on a mule ride through some of the Grand Canyon trails is definitely one way to see the North Rim! Mule rides are surprisingly popular. You’ll want to research some of the guiding outfits to plan your adventure. We have not done this, but it looks fun!

North Rim Visitor Center

You will want to stop at the Visitor Center. Grab a trail map, check out the bookstore, browse the exhibits, and be sure to walk to Bright Angel Point.

Bright Angel Point

You simply cannot miss walking the paved 0.5-mile (roundtrip) path to the Bright Angel Point overlook! This location offers one of the more famous vantage points from the North Rim into the Grand Canyon.

North Rim Scenic Drive

If you’re not planning on hiking much, the scenic drive from the Visitor Center to Cape Royal is a great way to visit the North Rim.

Or, if you spend more than one day at the North Rim, hike and squeeze the scenic drive into your trip.

The Scenic Drive is 23-miles to the Cape Royal lookout point from the Visitor Center. It takes roughly an hour each way.

Be sure to stop at the other main lookout points, including Point Imperial, Vista Encantada, Roosevelt Point, Walhalla Overlook, and Angels Window to enjoy the views and take photos.

Distances from Other Nearby National Parks

When we visited the first time, we actually paired it with a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park.

Below are the distances and times to get to the North Rim from other nearby national parks:

• Zion National Park to North Rim Grand Canyon Visitor Center – 122 miles
• Bryce Canyon to Grand Canyon North Rim Visitor Center – 158 miles

How to Get to the North Rim

The first time we visited the North Rim, we thought we would drive through the North Rim Entrance Station to be greeted instantly with insanely beautiful views of the Grand Canyon. This was not the case! Pablo and I were both like, Where is it?!

From Jacob Lake, in Northern Arizona, on Highway 67, head south 30 miles. You eventually meet the North Rim Entrance Fee Station.

From the North Rim Entrance Fee Station, you are still 14 miles from the actual rim. Continue driving the winding road through the Kaibab National Forest towards the Visitor Center area.

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Below are the distances from other popular road trip destinations to help you plan your trip:

• North Rim Grand Canyon to or from Las Vegas, Nevada – 266 miles
• Kanab, Utah, to North Rim Grand Canyon – 80 miles
• Salt Lake City, Utah, to Grand Canyon North Rim – 392 miles
• Phoenix, Arizona, to the Grand Canyon North Rim – 351 miles

Be sure to double-check with Google or your map navigation system to get times and approximate distances to plan your road trip to the North Rim!

Closest Airport to the North Rim

The closest airport to the North Rim is located in Kanab, Utah, 80 miles or two hours away.

The closest major airports are in Las Vegas or Phoenix. Flagstaff is also an option.

Booking.com is a great way to get deals on a flight and rental car.

Where to Stay at the North Rim Grand Canyon

There is one lodge to stay at – the Grand Canyon Lodge besides camping. If you’re interested in staying here, we definitely recommend making reservations way in advance.

Campgrounds Near the North Rim

As we were saying earlier, there is only one campground at the North Rim managed by the National Park Service, the North Rim Campground.

There are a few other options outside of the park to camp at, including:

• Jacob Lake Campground – U.S. Forest Service
• DeMotte Campground – U.S. Forest Service
• Dispersed Camping in the Kaibab National Forest – U.S. Forest Service

If you’re new to dispersed camping, you might enjoy our article about primitive (dispersed) camping.

North Rim Grand Canyon Maps for Hiking and Camping

To plan hiking in the Grand Canyon and dispersed camping in the Kaibab National Forest, we recommend having the National Geographic maps below:

• Grand Canyon North and South Rims
• Grand Canyon East

North vs. South Rim Grand Canyon

When planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, you might wonder which part of the Grand Canyon is better to visit.

Both the North Rim and South Rim offer epic views of the Grand Canyon. The North Rim and the South Rim are different.

While planning your trip, consider the proximity and distances you are willing to drive, the time of year you would like to visit, as well as activities you’d like to do.

We personally love visiting the North Rim because it has fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and more options nearby for dispersed camping. We also like all of the options for shorter day hikes. Plus, we can take our dog on two of the trails.

When Does the North Rim of the Grand Canyon Open?

Did you know the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed during the winter? The North Rim is only open seasonally from May 15 through October 15. This part of the park closes because of the snowpack since it is located at an elevation of over 8,000 feet.

Weather

The weather is typically cooler than the South Rim because it is located at a higher elevation. When planning your trip to the North Rim, plan like you’re going on a trip to the mountains. The weather at the North Rim will be cooler in the mornings; temperatures will warm up as the day goes on, then cool off again in the evenings. There might be an afternoon rain shower or even a snowstorm depending on if you are visiting in May or October.

We visited at the beginning of June one year, and it was cold, and there was an evening thunderstorm.

Before you go, check out the Grand Canyon National Park Service weather and road conditions.

What to Pack

Plan to pack for all temperatures and bring lots of layers to accommodate the weather and your comfort.

As we were saying, plan for all four seasons when you visit the North Rim.

Here is a checklist of what we pack in our road trip waterproof bags:

• Rain and windproof jacket
• Light down jacket
• Synthetic long-sleeve sun shirt or base layer
• Long pants for cooler nights
• Short sleeve shirt
• Long thin pants for hiking in the sun (you want sun protection, especially at high elevations)
• Shorts
• Wool socks
• Hiking shoes
• Brimmed hat
• Sunscreen and SPF chapstick
• Water bottles – at least one gallon per person per day in the desert
• Day hiking bag
• Food
• Camera
• Personal Toilet Tries
• Undergarments

Get our FREE camping and hiking packing list!

If you are planning on camping and are curious about what to pack, check out our other post on what to bring for tent camping.

Summary of Things to Do: North Rim Grand Canyon

Below is a summary of the main (and best) things to do at the North Rim:

• Hiking
• Camping
• Going on a mule ride
• Checking out the Visitor Center
• Overlooking Bright Angel Point
• Driving the scenic drive and stopping at all the viewpoints to enjoy and take photos

If you’re looking for a breathtaking outdoor adventure, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is definitely worth a visit. With its rugged landscape and stunning views, this area of the canyon will leave you feeling amazed and inspired. So pack your bags and get ready to explore one of America’s most beautiful natural treasures! We hope you have a memorable road trip to the North Rim.

Thanks for reading.

Ashlee & Pablo

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You might also enjoy…

Are you road-tripping through the Southwest?

You might also like our other articles on Southwest National Parks, hiking, and camping:

• Zion National Park: Things to Do in Zion 2-Day Adventure Guide
• Bryce Canyon National Park: How to Visit Bryce Canyon in One Day
• Capitol Reef National Park: Best Guide to Visiting Capitol Reef National Park
• Arches and Canyonlands National Parks: Fun Arches & Canyonlands in One Day Itinerary
• Moab: Moab Summer Road Trip Ultimate 3-5 Day Guide
• Moab: Things to Do in Moab Fun Outdoors Adventures
• Utah: 20 Adventurous Outdoor Things to See in Utah
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: 5 Best Camping Spots at Lake Powell
• Grand Canyon South Rim: How to Spend One Day at the South Rim
• Utah Camping: How to Camp for FREE on BLM Land
• Tent Camping: Everything to Know Camping for Beginners

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We would love to hear from you!

When are you planning on visiting the Grand Canyon? If you have been, what were your favorite things to do at the North Rim?

Did you know the Grand Canyon is a recognized World Heritage Site?