Quote: Cape Royal Drive is an excellent drive to take when visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The drive is approximately 23 miles each way, and it is not a loop. You can either drive down and take each view point as it comes or drive straight to the end and then stop off on the way back, we chose the former.

Our first stop was Point Imperial which is located at the end of a three mile spur road. Point Imperial is the highest point on the North Rim at 8,803 feet and overlooks the northeast side of the park. There are picnic areas and toilets located near the parking area. From the car park you walk to a railed overlook, which offers truly outstanding views. From here you can see the Vermillion Cliffs and Echo Cliffs which are way off into the distance. Look down and you can see straight down to the bottom of the canyon, awesome. If you can tear yourself away from this view you can then travel back down the spur to Vista Encantadora where again there are picnic tables, but no toilets. Again you will see magnificent views.

The next stop on the drive is Roosevelt Point, which is one of the few places you can see the Colorado River running through the canyon. This vista has even more fantastic views where you can really see the vastness of the canyon itself.

The next stop, Walhalla Overlook, is quite a ways down the trail, but in my view offered some of the best views of all. Don’t be fooled and stay near the parking area where there are good views, but walk along to the end of the parking section and there is a pathway to another railed overview. Here you can see for miles. It is truly breathtaking.

If you can pull yourself away travel a little bit further and you come to Cape Royal. There is a large car park here with toilets and picnic areas. There are several options you can take here. You can take the Angel’s Window trail which leads you to stunning views--yes, more. Here the view takes its name from a triangular hole in the cliffs through which you can see the Colorado River snaking through the canyon. It is beautiful. The other option is to take the trail which takes you above Angel’s Window and give some of the best views the canyon has to offer. You have travelled 23 miles to get here, but believe me it would be worthwhile driving 200 miles for this view. It is spectacular.

All the trails on this drive are short and easily walked. We went at the beginning of July and didn’t encounter any queues. In fact at most of the stops we were the only people there. Not sure if it is always like this at this time, or we were very lucky.

From journals The Northern view of the Canyon

Quote: Wow! I've traveled a fair amount and there is NOTHING like the Grand Canyon. If you are camping, make your reservation early or plan on arriving at 8am to see who leaves. We stayed on the North Rim (best place to see the sunrise).

The hotel is perched on the edge of the precipitous with only a railing in the way. Behind the hotel are several well-run campgrounds. If you get there late, you can sleep in your car, but you will be cold. They had snow the day before we arrived (on June 15th!) It warms up pretty fast though, especially in the canyon. The mule ride into the canyon beats hiking the trail, mainly because of what the animals are naturally inclined to do in the morning. If you take the full day package, you go to the bottom of the canyon and can do some swimming.

The views are spectacular!

From journals On the Rim of the Grand Canyon

Quote: After driving through somewhat desolate terrain to reach the North Rim, the sudden appearance of tall pines and aspens is like a cool drink of water! The drive to the rim from Jacob Lake is itself very beautiful--thick forests suddenly open up into meadows where you are likely to see deer and fox.

About 3 miles from the Grand Canyon Lodge, you'll find the road to Imperial Point and Cape Royal--two major scenic vistas. At the fork, you'll go left to Imperial Point, and right to Cape Royal. Imperial Point is the highest point on either rim, and allows you magnificent views of the Painted Desert, Mount Hayden, and Saddle Mountain. Heading back to Cape Royal, you'll want to stop at the Vista Encatadora overlook and the Walhalla Overlook. Nearby are Anasazi ruins. Hike the half-mile trail to Angel's Window, an amazing natural arch. Then continue on to the tip of Cape Royal.

From the Grand Canyon Lodge, walk the flat and easy Transcept Trail, which is about 1.5 miles long and takes you from the lodge to the campground. Along this trail, we encountered several deer that came very near us. From the lodge, you can also walk the half-mile trail to Bright Angel Point, where you look down on Roaring Springs, 3,000 feet below.

If walking is difficult for you, you can still see these magnificent vistas from the overlook areas.
From journals Kaibab Kountry - Grand Canyon North Rim

Quote: The Grand Canyon is so immense, it is hard to imagine. And nothing will make you feel as tiny and insignificant as looking down toward the floor one mile below and realize water cut this gorge in a period of more than 63 million years.

We picked the north rim as opposed to the south rim because it is less crowded with tourists. Of course, there were still people oowing and aawing the splendor of the canyon. And if you don't have your own transportation, you will not be able to reach the north rim.

The north rim has several good vantage points, all at the end of forks off route 67, a 40 miles-long dead-end road through the Kaibab forest. Bright Angel point holds the tourist information center, where you can buy postcards and souvenirs. Angel's Window is accessible by wheelchairs and if you squint real hard, you can make out the Colorado river in the distance.

Be advised that the north rim is not accessible year round. In winter the roads may be closed due to snowfall.

From journals The grand Grand Canyon