Grand Canyon North Rim

Offering fantastic views with less congestion, those willing to drive five hours and 212 miles from the South Rim will be rewarded with a chance to see the canyon without the crowds.

Camping the North rim

Find quiet at cool North Rim sites like the DeMotte and North Rim Campgrounds. Read More...

The Other Side: North Rim Trip-Planning Guide

The Grand Canyon North Rim is located in northern Arizona atop the Kaibab Plateau at an elevation between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, about 1,500 feet higher than the South Rim. Read More...

Characteristics of this area
Offering fantastic views with less congestion, those willing to drive five hours and 212 miles from the South Rim will be rewarded a chance to see the canyon without the crowds.

Weather
Situated at 8,000 feet, North Rim summer temps range from 60 to 80 degrees. Fall and spring temps range between the upper 60s and lower 40s. Winter conditions include snowy and icy roads and trails. For a recorded message providing information about road conditions, contact Grand Canyon National Park at (928) 638-7888.

Landscape

Opt for a trip to the North Rim for fewer people, a lusher landscape (the North Rim gets far more precipitation than the South Rim) and (arguably) better views.

Park map
Grand Canyon panorama map
Area map
North Rim overview
North Rim roads and trails map
North Rim detail

Wildlife
California condor
Kaibab squirrel
Mule deer
Bighorn sheep
Bobcats
Coyotes
Mountain lions
Beavers
Gophers
Peregrine falcon
Bald eagle

Best views
Cape Royal provides views of the South Rim’s Moran Point, only eight miles across the canyon.
Toroweap Overlook rises 3,000 vertical feet from the Colorado River and provides views of the Lava Falls Rapid.
Point Imperial is lauded as the highest vantage point in the park.

Lodging
Grand Canyon Lodge-North Rim
Kaibab Lodge(18 miles north of the park)
Jacob Lake Inn (45 miles north of the park)

Dining
The Lodge Dining Room
The Grand Canyon Cookout Experience
Deli in the Pines
The Coffee Shop
Roughrider Saloon
Kaibab Lodge Restaurant (18 miles north of the park)
Jacob Lake Inn (45 miles north of the park)

Activity options
Chat with a ranger, pick up a guide book or peruse the exhibits at the North Rim Visitor Center before heading out to see the canyon.
One-hour and half-day mule rides are offered from mid-May to mid-October for $40/person and up.
Great hiking options about on the North Rim. Try the Bright Angel Point Trail (0.5 miles), Uncle Jim Trail (5.0 miles), Ken Patrick Trail (20 miles) or one of the many other options.

Distance from nearby park entrances and cities
207 miles from Flagstaff, Ariz.
212 miles from South Rim
351 miles from Phoenix, Ariz.
275 miles from Las Vegas, Nev.

Top Ten Things to do in Grand Canyon

1. Stand on the Grand Canyon Skywalk

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a horseshoe-shaped walkway that extends almost 70 feet out into the Grand Canyon. Visitors on the Skywalk, which has a clear, 4-inch-thick glass bottom, peer over the railing, or down through their stance to see the Canyon and all of its 4,000 feet of vertical abyss. Read More...

2. Go Hiking or Backpacking

Grand Canyon National Park, and the greater Grand Canyon region, is a hiker’s dream. Most of Grand Canyon National Park is undeveloped backcountry. There are literally hundreds of miles to hike and backpack and explore. Despite the Grand Canyon’s popularity and numbers of visitors each year, visitors only need to hike a small distance to enjoy some solitude. Read More...