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Category: Grand Canyon National Park North Rim

26 July 2023

No bad views of Grand Canyon

Wotons Throne & Cape Royal Desert View SR GRCA NP AZ

view S Cape Royal NR GRCA NP AZMultiple views of Grand Canyon, Wotan’s Throne from South Rim and North Rim

When I was a Park Ranger visitors frequently asked which side is better, there’s no bad views of Grand Canyon, so visit both sides.  And that’s what I did.

trees canyon CO R clouds Navajo Pt SR GRCA NP AZ

light in canyon Navajo Pt SR GRCA NP AZOn this summer journey, I planned to enjoy views of Grand Canyon from both sides, starting with the South Rim.  So after my wonderful loop drive from Sunset Crater to Wupatki national monuments I continued north on SR89 to Cameron and entered the park from the east side, so much less crowded than the main Village area.

orange Globe Mallow flowers canyon CO R clouds Navajo Pt SR GRCA NP AZ

Desert View Tower Navajo Pt SR GRCA NP AZI stopped at Navajo Point and under cloudy skies enjoyed the views of Grand Canyon including a distant look at the Desert View Watch Tower.

truckcamper Kaibab NF AZThen I continued to my forest camp only one mile of rough and rutted dirt road to boondock for the night with a gentle rain.  Not overcrowded, this Kaibab National Forest location is along the way to the Grandview Fire Tower, where I camped last summer.

west view Moran Pt SR GRCA NP AZ

temple pk Moran Pt SR GRCA NP AZThe next day I met a Ranger friend at Moran Point and we spent the day catching up, reminiscing, and enjoying views of Grand Canyon.  I am always amazed that the average park visitor doesn’t spend more than two minutes at an overlook.

 late light Ponderosa Pine needles FR310 Kaibab NF AZ

Ponderosa Pine flower FR310 Kaibab NF AZ

pine pollen puddle reflection FR310 Kaibaba NF AZPine pollen on puddle

pine pollen on windshield S Kaibab NF AZPollen on truck

It rained intermittently over the next several days so I was glad to have a great signal and worked on the next video about Arivaca Creek and the Cruz Ranch and a blog post about my visit to Bisbee during early June.  Yes, I’m that far behind.  The rain helped clear the air of Pine pollen.

CO R Desert View SR GRCA NP AZ

Desert View Watchtower SR GRCA NP AZAfter five nights in this forest location it was time to hit the road for some new views of Grand Canyon.  First stop at Desert View Watch Tower, the furthest east overlook with some of my favorite South Rim views of Grand Canyon.

blue Larkspur flowers FR310 Kaibab NF AZMoth on orange Globe Mallow flower Desert View SR GRCA NP AZ

                           Larkspur                                                                                Globe Mallow

I parked in the oversized vehicle lot and walked due west to the rim following a social trail towards the tower with lots of flowers along the way.

Desert View Watchtower SR GRCA NP AZ

GRCA stickers & hat pinThe only reason I went inside the tower was to add another sticker and hat pin to my collections.

SR89 N AZ

Echo Cliffs Navajo Rez SR89 N AZOnce back to SR89 I headed north across the amazing Navajo Reservation desert landscape.

Echo & Vermilion Cliffs SR89A W AZ

menu Cliff Dwellers SR89A Hatch AZStopped for lunch at Cliff Dwellers then climbed up onto the Kaibab Plateau and much cooler temperatures at 7,000 feet.

cookies Jacob Lake Inn AZOf course I had to get desert at Jacob Lake Inn.

truckcamper Jacob Lake AZThen opted to camp nearby.

cows person Crane Lk snow Kaibab NF AZIn the morning I drove south across the Kaibab National Forest surprised at how full the lakes were in the meadows.  Guess I should have expected that because of the record breaking snow fall.

light on Aspen Kaibab NF AZStopped at the entrance station and said hello to a known Ranger then continued to the end of the road.

Grand Lodge verandah NR GRCA NP AZParking wasn’t a problem because the Lodge wasn’t open yet for food service or overnight accommodations.  All that snow followed by melt took out a huge section of both the water pipe and North Kaibab trail so they were under water restrictions.

view from lodge NR GRCA NP AZNo Rangers in the visitor center as it’s now all sales space for the history association.

Mt Hayden Pt Imperial NR GRCA NP AZ

Saddle Mt Marble Canyon Vermilion Cliffs clouds Pt Imperial NR GRCA NP AZEnough of that, I wanted more views of Grand Canyon.  So I drove the scenic road with the first stop at Point Imperial.  I actually had the overlook entirely to myself for a measurable amount of time.

Greenland Lake NR GRCA NP AZ


light on Aspen leaves NR GRCA NP AZ

Made another stop at Greenland Lake, the fullest I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen it bone dry.  “Lakes” on the Kaibab are actually sinkholes in the limestone, not huge but good water sources for wildlife.

Wotons Throne Wedding Site NR GRCA NP AZ

yellow Desert Sunflower flowers in rock hole Cape Royal NR GRCA NP AZThen on to the end of the road to Cape Royal for my favorite views of Grand Canyon.

sunset Cape Royal NR GRCA NP AZ

sunset thru pines Cape Royal NR GRCA NP AZ

sunset Cape Royal NR GRCA NP AZ

Wotons Throne sunset clouds Cape Royal NR GRCA NP AZEspecially sunset.

Deer Lake Kaibab NF AZDeer Lake

view E Marble Plateau Vermilion Cliffs Navajo Mt Kaibab NF AZView east Vermilion & Echo Cliffs with Navajo Mt beyond

I could have stayed for days stopping at every overlook for many hours enjoying a variety of views of Grand Canyon.  However, I had other places to go and people to see.  So I headed back north with just a couple stops along the way.  Including Jacob Lake Inn once again for a dozen cookies to take as treats for the friends I’d visit in Kanab, Utah.

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Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim, Places I've been, RV life, South Rim, United States national parks, Park Ranger, RV living, summer 2023 20 Comments
30 July 2018

A quick visit to the North Rim and Kanab

canyon storm sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI made quick visits to the North Rim and Kanab so I could move on to Bryce National Park for full moon.  I definitely had mixed feelings about returning to the park after all the BS this winter.  Yet, the canyon will always hold a fascination for me.

signs & entrance station to North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaLeft Marble View early, for me, in the morning and enjoyed the slow drive through the forest.  Knowing the Ranger working the entrance station made it emotionally easier to enter the park.  Didn’t even have to show my Senior Pass.  Went to the visitor center and chatted with several people I know.  Then at the Lodge for more visiting.  And stopped by the administration building to fill water bottles and found more familiar faces.

Wotans Throne last light sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

last light canyon SF Pks sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDrove out to the end of the scenic road to Cape Royal where I planned to photograph sunset.

Wotans Throne canyon sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

trees sunset clouds sunburst Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaA storm was brewing on the South Rim and as soon as the sun set another show began.

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBoth colors and lightning kept me shooting.

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd shooting…

canyon sunset lightning Wedding site North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset lightning Wedding site North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

…and shooting.  I was SO excited!!!!  First time I’ve successfully captured lightning.  The above shot is available for print.  people cars Bison storm clouds SR67 North North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBack by the campground I was able to dump tanks and take a shower.  Nice facilities, clean, and six minutes of hot water for $1.50 in quarters.  Believe it or not the first time I’d ever been in the place.  Then engaged in a little more visiting before heading out of the park.  I’d planned to camp on the forest somewhere near Jacob Lake but when I got there it was pouring and I had second thoughts about muddy forest roads.  So I stayed on level pavement near Jacob Lake Inn for the night.

trees Vermilion Cliffs SR89A North Kaibab National Forest ArizonaIn the morning I dropped off the Kaibab Plateau headed north to Kanab for a lunch date with a friend and a driveway to park in for the night.

Sierra cat in harness on leash Kanab UtahPlus I bought Sierra a harness and leash in town.  She tolerated me put on the harness without scratching or hissing.  Then we stepped outside.  I sort of let her lead me but also stopped her from going any place I didn’t want her.  We never got more than 10 feet from the camper but that’s OK, its a start.  Considering we’ll be in a campground at our next stop she might not get out again for a little while.

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04 October 2017

Saying goodbye to monsoon at Grand Canyon

September 27, 2017

Transept trail Oza Butte storm North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMy first season of monsoon at Grand Canyon I wasn’t keen on the rain though I do like thunder and lightning.  I really didn’t know what to expect having grown up in the Midwest with all day, many days, hard rains.  And living in the northwest I adapted to months of mist and rain.  However it wasn’t more than a few seasons before I learned to anticipate and embrace monsoon.

Ranger cabin fall aspen North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSecond of two days off was time to do laundry.  I have to drive about a mile into the administration area which takes me past the original 1926 Ranger residence.  The golden aspen have called to me for years to take photos of this rustic cabin in the woods.

Transept trail Oza Butte storm North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaFinished with laundry for another three weeks (yea, I have enough uniforms to do that) I drove home past my previous parking place for the 5th-wheel with a view across canyon and saw a storm approaching over the South Rim.

Transept trail Oza Butte storm North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Transept trail Oza Butte storm North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMaybe I’ve become a bit of a storm chaser but I knew this could be the last one of the season.  So when I got home, grabbed the camera and quickly walked three minuets to the rim.

Transept trail Oza Butte storm North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAlthough the Transept Trail follows the rim foliage can obstruct views.  I worked my way carefully downhill from the trail but didn’t go far.  Really don’t relish a slide off the rim for photographs sake.

Oza Butte storm over South Rim from Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThunder rolled across the canyon felt as much as heard.  Saw a few bolts of lightning but I’m not quick enough to capture that with the camera.  Fortunately I returned home before the storm opened overhead and thunder rocked the RV.

Isis Temple storm over South Rim from Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaIt was a rather light-weight monsoon this season, not much thunder and lightning, and even less rain.  Sure glad I didn’t invest in a lightning trigger this year although I dearly want one.  What the heck, I live where we usually experience almost three months of exciting stormy weather during monsoon at Grand Canyon.  But then what’s normal about weather.  Maybe next year.

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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