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Tag: Cape Final Trail

Hiking to the rim Cape Final trail

June 7, 2017

lupine Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWhen a friend who likes to get outdoors shows up at the canyon and I have a day off we decide to go hiking on the Cape Final trail.  One of my many favorite trails on the North Rim, 4.2 miles round trip over relatively gentle terrain through one of the best examples of a Ponderosa pine forest and to amazing views at the rocky rim.

lupine Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

There’s been just enough fire in this area to make for a healthy forest, open, park-like, grassy, and covered with lupines.  It’s not nasty or charcoaled.  A Ponderosa pine forest should experience fire every 3-8 years to thin out the small saplings and burn off the down material.

spider web burn ponderosa pine Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaYet humans suppressed fire for so long, we altered natural ecosystems for our own selfish reasons.  I, like you, don’t visit public lands to see char but I believe we have a better understanding of the important role fire plays in forest ecology.  So there is evidence of burn along the trail.

Horned lizard Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Motion from a tiny Horned Lizard caught our attention.  These docile creatures blend in well with the forest floor.

Little Colorado River from Cape Final North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe forest opens to a canyon view looking almost due east to the mouth of the Little Colorado River, not the river itself.

Little Colorado River from Cape Final North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThis is the area that has been proposed by a Scottsdale-based developer to build a tram that could potentially move up to 10,000 visitors a day to the bottom of the canyon on the Navajo Reservation.  The Grand Canyon Escalade development would also feature hotel, restaurant, and other resort attractions.  The proposal at the confluence seems to go on and off the table regularly.  I don’t think most of the Navajo and Hopi people want it so near sacred land. The Park Service certainly doesn’t support the idea.  It would be quite visible from several overlooks along the Cape Royal Road including the Cape Final trail.  Many people and organizations want to Save the Confluence.

canyon view Southeast Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWe sat in one of the two campsites for lunch.  Yes, you can get a permit to camp on the rim at Cape Final.

canyon Colorado River Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThen we walked a bit further for another canyon view and a piece of the Colorado River.

blue butterfly on ragweed Cape Royal trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWe had lollygagged out to the rim taking about two hours but then booked back in an hour as we’d been invited to a neighbor’s BBQ.

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Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, Places I've been, United States , , , 21 Comments

Stretching my legs on the Cape Final hike

 cape-final-trail-map

Stretching our legs for this weeks hike on the North Kaibab trail. Mike will hike down seven miles with me to Cottonwood campground Thursday. Then Friday he hikes back up almost 4,000 feet and I continue down seven more miles to Phantom Ranch. Saturday to Tuesday I’ll be on the Colorado River then fly back to Kanab, Utah where someone will pick me up along with another employee/river runner.

Mike on Cape Final trail & sign North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Oh yea, so what does that have to do with a Cape Final hike? Just a little warm up and Mike testing out his new backpack.

 Ponderosa pine shows lightning strike Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

At two gentle miles each way, this is an awesome hike through a healthy Ponderosa Pine forest. Healthy because of fire. I read somewhere that one out of ten mature Ponderosa pines on the North Rim have been struck by lightning and the evidence surrounded us.

Wildflowers along Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Along with a colorful wildflower show.

Canyon view NNE with Little Colorado River mouth along Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

The trail approaches the rim as if from out of nowhere.

 Ponderosa pine forest along Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Then briefly winds back into the forest.

Canyon view South from Cape Final North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

With a dip and a climb we were back to the rim. 

Gaelyn looking into canyon from Cape Final North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

I wanted to see the river. Was it still flowing like chocolate?

 Colorado River at Unkar Delta from Cape Final North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaColorado River at Unkar Delta from Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Yes!

 Mike setting out picnic at Cape Final North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Mike put out a delicious picnic lunch.

 Mike at Cape Final & smoke from SR fire North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Then we walked to the tip of Cape Final to enjoy the views. And saw smoke from the New Water fire on the South Rim.

 Raven in ponderosa pine along Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

All too soon it was time to head back. How did we know? The Raven told us so.

 Y-shaped ponderosa pine along Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Why did we listen?

 Birds nest on snag along Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

It was time to fly home.

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, National Parks and Monuments , 16 Comments

Hiking Cape Final Trail at Grand Canyon National Park

Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona Karen and I went hiking Wednesday on the Cape Final Trail located on the Walhalla Plateau. Four miles (6.44 km) round trip through Ponderosa Pine forest to several awesome views of the canyon.
Horned lizard Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMountain Short Horned Lizard
This little creature crossed our trail but didn’t hang out long enough for many photos.
View northeast Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaView northeast into Grand Canyon
We reached the rim and ate our lunch with this magnificent view.
Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThen the trail returned briefly back to the forest.
Sego lilies Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSego Lillies
These beauties waved in the breeze to us as we continued.
Karen Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaKaren, don’t jump!
The end of the trail provides spectacular views.
End of Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaYet you always want to be careful standing on overhanging rocks.
Prickly Pear cactus bloom Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaPrickly Pear Cactus
At the rim edge cactus still bloom.
View south Cape Final trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaView south across Grand Canyon
It’s about 8 miles (12.87 km) to the south rim as the condor flies. But we had to hike back 2 miles (3.22 km) to the trailhead. We were tired upon our return and Karen’s feet hurt. Need to get out there more often girl.
To read a very funny story about the serious subject of hiking the Grand Canyon check out this article from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, National Parks and Monuments , 20 Comments

Lijit

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