01 Gate just south of Jacob Lake closed for winter Kaibab NF Hwy 67 AZ (800x600)

Welcome to Grand Canyon National Park, the North Rim. The gate will open at 7 am on Saturday May 15, 2010.

02 House Rock Valley & Kaibab Plateau Hwy 89A N AZ - Copy (800x551)

House Rock Valley and Kaibab Plateau looking west

Whether you drive into the North Rim from the east…

03 Hwy 89A S approaching Kaibab Plateau AZ (800x581)

Kaibab Plateau looking south

…or from the north you’ll experience summer desert, then possibly winter on the rim.

04 Jacob Lake AZ (800x596)

Either way, you’ll junction at Jacob Lake. A good place to stop for a snack. They home bake a variety of awesome cookies, the milkshakes are huge, and they have an absolutely amazing gift shop full of many Native American arts.

05 VC Jacob Lake AZ (800x382)

You might also want to check out the Kaibab Forest Visitor Center next door. There’s as much to do and see in the forest as the park.

06 Kaibab Lodge Kaibab NF AZ (800x586)

Or stop at the Kaibab Lodge for a meal about 20 miles (32 km) up the road. They have overnight accommodations quite frequently when the park is full.

07 Snow on the meadows melting Hwy 67 S Kaibab NF AZ (800x424)

The closer you get to the park the more it may still look like winter.

08 Entrance station GRCA NR Hwy 67 S AZ (800x489)

Be prepared to show your National Park Pass at the entrance station. What, don’t have one. Then it will cost $25 per car load to get in. Or ask about buying a pass. There are several different options.

09 Lodge GRCA AZ (800x589)

Have reservations? Check in at the Grand Lodge after 4pm.

10 Cabins GRCA AZ (800x570)

Then ask a porter to move the luggage from the parking lot to your cabin.

11 Bright Angel Trail GRCA AZ (593x800)

Take a walk out the Bright Angel Point trail…

12 Deva Brahma & Zoroaster Temples from end of Bright Angel Point Trail GRCA AZ (800x600)

…for magnificent views.

13 Brachiopod fossil along Bright Angel Trail GRCA AZ (800x598)

Brachiopod

You could even look for ancient sea fossils along the way but please don’t collect them so others may enjoy as well.

14 North Kaibab Trail Roaring Springs Canyon GRCA AZ (800x600)

Roaring Springs Canyon and North Kaibab trail

Maybe you have a permit to hike across the canyon or just want to enjoy a few miles of the North Kaibab trail.

15 Trancept Canyon from Widforss Trail GRCA AZ (800x599)

Trancept Canyon from Widforss trail

Or there’s other easier trails to enjoy the canyon views.

16 View E from Cape Final Trail GRCA AZ 2 of 3 (800x600)

There’s also a 20 mile (32 km) scenic drive with multiple overlooks and the Cape Final trail is a gentle 2 miles (3.2 km) each way through Ponderosa Pine forest.

17 Sego Lily Cape Final Trail GRCA AZ (599x800)

Sego Lily

You might see wildflowers along the way.

18 Kaibab squirrel GRCA AZ (800x587)

And spot a Kaibab squirrel.

19 VC GRCA AZ (800x563)

Be sure to stop into the Visitor Center and get the latest scoop on what to do at the North Rim. Maybe I’ll see you there.

20 Morning over Bright Angle Canyon form Lodge GRCA AZ (800x600)

I hope you’ll get a chance to greet the morning from the lodge veranda as the sun highlights the colorful canyon walls.

21 Gaelyn with view S from Point Imperial Walhalla Plateau GRCA AZ (800x600)

And if you keep following my blog you’re sure to see a whole lot more of Grand Canyon as I work my third Park Ranger summer season here. Better yet, come for a visit.