Though it is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and up to 6,000 feet deep, when most people say they are “going to the Grand Canyon” what they really mean is that they plan to visit the main area of Grand Canyon National Park at its South Rim, 60 miles north of Williams, AZ. In fact, as much as 90% of the people who claim to “see” the Canyon do so from South Rim Park and its overlooks. However, the vast land of this great Natural Wonder of the World offers dedicated travelers so much more than the cliché, beginning with the oft-overlooked North Rim, sometimes called the “other” Grand Canyon.
The Advantages of the North Rim
Unlike the built-up and tourist-y nature of the South Rim, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon remains largely untouched and offers visitors some truly unique perspectives of this massive beauty and the diverse culture of animals, plants, and Kaibab topography it provides. With an average elevation of 8,000 feet above sea level, this more weather-prone and colder area is only open from May-October. However, during those months visitors can stay overnight in either the North Rim’s campground or in the Grand Canyon Lodge-North which includes cabin and motel accommodations. The later also includes a full-service restaurant and take away deli.
There are many unique aspects to the North Rim including its two most popular lookouts, Point Imperial and Cape Royal, each located within a short drive of the main North Rim area. Point Imperial, the highest elevated area of the North Rim, sitting at 8,803 feet above sea level, overlooks the Painted Desert and the Canyon’s east end. Viewers from this vantage point see not only the “grand” openings of the Canyon itself, but the more narrow passageways which define its unique structure and most treacherous coves. Cape Royal, on the other hand, provides unique panoramas of the entire expanse of the Canyon from east to west. As such, it is a popular place for viewing sunrises and sunsets.
The North Rim: So Close, Yet So Far
As the crow flies, the area known as the North Rim, located directly across from the main area of the South Rim, is only 10 miles away. However, if you are anything but a bird, getting to the North Rim takes a bit more planning and preparation.
Technically speaking, the North Rim, along with the rest of the Canyon and areas surrounding it, are all part of one contiguous National Park. Thus, there is an “official entrance” to the North Rim located 30 miles south of Jacob Lake, AZ. If you’ve never heard of Jacob Lake, AZ, you’re not alone. The area surrounding the North Rim is, for the most part, vast, open land, the Kaibab Forest to be exact, and a stark contrast to the more built-up South Rim and its surrounding areas including Williams and Flagstaff. Travelling to the North Rim by car takes quite a bit of time, nearly 5 hours; it is 242 miles away from Williams, AZ.
There are other ways to see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, however, and many of these options also present travelers with a one-of-a-kind vacation experience. Each day, Grand Canyon Airport in Tuasyan, AZ hosts helicopter tours to the North Rim which also feature amazing views of the Kaibab and surrounding areas. Serious hikers also have the option of booking camping spots at the base of the Canyon and at various camp spots in its interior. This journey takes 2-3 days and is not for the faint of heart. However, and the National Park Service has quite a few guidelines for those planning a rim-to-rim hike, found here.
Regardless of one’s means of getting there, seeing the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is a truly authentic (and unique) way to cap off a vacation to this area. So much more than just a tourist trap, travelling to the North Rim, whether by foot, by car, or by helicopter, gives travelers a more complete view and appreciation for just how much of a “wonder” the Grand Canyon really is…
