Not all Grand Canyon views are seen within the National Park. When visiting the North Rim other options for viewing the canyon can be found in the Kaibab National Forest. Several points are accessible by gravel roads and although I cruise in a 2-wheel drive pickup truck these roads may be traveled by any high clearance passenger car or SUV, with caution.
I’ve previously visited some of the western viewpoints like Crazy Jug, Fence Point and Fire Point but am trying to see them all. So I drove out to Timp Point the other day. From the paved State Route 67 I followed Forest Roads 22, 270, 222, 206 and 271 for 16 miles. All very well signed along the way but I still recommend a Kaibab National Forest map. The road gets narrower and rougher the closer you get to the point. From FR222 on it’s an extra wide, one lane gravel road through forest of aspen, pine and fir. 15-25 mph was my average speed to be safe and I constantly watched for sharp pointy rocks and the occasional vehicle coming the other way.
Had to slow down a little for extra rough spots but the 1.5 hour gravel drive is certainly worth it. The views spectacular.
From the parking area a short trail of maybe 1/4 mile each way leads to a rocky outcrop which I chose not to boulder hop too far out on.
Views to the south across canyon, to the north to the canyon walls and west down canyon and beyond.
I only met two people along the trail and we stopped to chat. I answered a few questions because that’s what Park Rangers do even when off work.
The Rainbow Rim trail joins the many points from Parissawampitts to Timp for a total of 18 miles one way. This trail is for hiking, biking and horse traffic only. Picking a middle point and going out either way from a base camp would be ideal. There is no water so bring lots.
Just a few, 3 maybe 4, sweet camping spots along the southern rim of the point are private, spacious and have enough room to easily turn around. I saw one small trailer in a site. Sure would have to take it slow to tow out there.
So, when will I learn to bring all the camp gear when I go for a ride to explore a new place?
I sat at the edge of Grand Canyon watching an ant. One ant persistently trying to move a carcass at least 8 times its size. Would have made good macro video if I’d been able. That ant was kicking up dirt. Finally had to go for reinforcements.
I listened to the wind whisper in the pines, like ocean waves, very meditative. The smell of the Cliff Rose wafting in the air. Bird sounds, until a jet flew over.
A peaceful place to relax in the moving shade of a few giant old pines and enjoy a personal slice of the canyon.
Isn’t it terrible how man made noise intrudes on nature. In a 700 acre private forest, I connected to a massive beech tree. As soon as I had, the buzz of the insects ceased, no birdsong was heard and distant tractors, pumps, other machinery, traffic and aircraft noise became painfully loud. I was given to understand that no tree on this planet can escape this unhappy situation and that the trees are all permanently stressed.
Thank you for taking us to places I will not see in this lifetime.
In the park there are no low flight laws so I am unaccustomed to hearing planes. Could make me more sensitive to the sound. But I agree that nature shouldn’t have to put up with it either.
What wonderful views you found for your trouble. That’s the only trouble with keeping my never going to die Honda accord as my toad. It is SO low to the ground. But it’s paid for and SO reliable. Don’t know if she could make such a drive so thanks for showing it to me.
I think even your Honda could make this drive, slowly.
Every one is spectacular. I am so pleased I got to visit there when I did.
Thanks Joan. But you should come visit again. I could show you places the average visitor never sees.
And just when I’m determined to get rid of this old bouncy jeep for a tow car, I’m reminded of the many spectacular drives it takes us on. Thanks for this backroad view of your beautiful canyon.
I’d say a jeep is the perfect toad. Hope you’ll get to use it here sometime.
Beautiful place.
Beautiful area – thanks for taking me along for the ride. The road to Chaco Canyon is a wind rutted dirt road that seems to take forever – but so very worth the view once you get there!
I’ve heard that about the Chaco Rd and would like to give it a try some day.
We’ve hiked and camped near Crazy Jug many times, but we’ve never been to Tim Point. Beautiful photos! I want to hike or ride the Rainbow Rim trail sometime.
Crazy Jug is one of my favorites. I think horse riding on the Rainbow Rim trail would be ideal. Let me know when you do it, and maybe bring a third horse along for me.
Peaceful forest with amazing views. nice to have a beautiful place where you can get away from the job for a little while. We once spent a couple of hours watching leaf cutter ants. Amazing..we tracked them to their hill…(loved it, am glad to know I’m not the only one who can enjoy that sort of thing.)
Sometimes it’s the littlest things in nature that are the biggest Wow.
Gaelyn, Wonderful photos of your private bit of heaven! Looks really uncrowded – so different from the S Rim. I like the way the sun is caught in the tree.
Even the North Rim isn’t as crowded as the South. But these points in the forest rarely see much traffic. So glad for a place to hide with good views.
There are so many different view points and even though they’re all of the canyon I bet they are all so different. Plus the experience of getting to each one and the surrounding scenery also adds to the view point’s experience.
I’m trying to get to all the various view points on the North Rim. Each one is very different. Know I’ll share.
Gaelyn, as always, such beauty. You are a good park ranger to answer question even when off duty, and I like to think of you sitting there watching and ant! Kicking up dust no less! Amazing!
Heck I answer questions if I can even when I’m not in my own park. Nothing but a semi-growed up girl scout.
Ants are cool to watch.
What an adventure. I bet not too many people would even think of going to the rim via the National Forest. And I love how you are always on duty.
Great post!
Most visitors don’t have the time to explore outside the park. Their loss and a few others gain. Once a Ranger always a Ranger. 🙂
These are phenomenal photos! I love how you’ve framed them.
Thanks Samuel. It’s not too hard to take great shots of the canyon.
I have wonderful memories of the North Rim, we camped overnight just meters from the edge and woke to an incredible lightning storm passing over the canyon itself. What an adventure you had!
Monsoon season should be here soon. I love the power of storms over the canyon.
Howdy Gaelyn,
So sorry about your place at Yarnell and the loss of those Hotshots is so terrible..
I hope it does come out in the investigation that someone was responsible for NOT getting involved a lot sooner and is PUNISHED FOR IT !!! Probably be a ‘scapegoat’, though..
The ‘secret’ place sounds so secret and the ‘slow’ way to get there was an adventure too, also.. We drive ‘s l o w l y’ on gravel roads so as not to stir up too much dust, which settles on the environment and makes it look bad, also, let’s us SEE MORE..
I get so tired of seeing only the same pics from the South Rim and hardly any from the North Rim, except from the camphosts or you .. FABGRAMA does some while they are up there…
Hope you can find some peace and a ‘new’ winter camping spot in Yarnell, so you can watch OVER the BAYFIELD BUNCH…
Thank you. Yarnell will rise from the ashes. I hope at least something can be learned from this so it doesn’t happen again. May be time to change some protocols.
I’ll probably be back at the same place in Yarnell in the fall.
I hope to get more NR photos out soon.
Thanks for commenting.