The North Rim

There was a period of time in the history of our nation's parks when visitors experienced the outdoors from the comforts of all that money could buy. Trains would bring people to places where roads didn't otherwise exist, large hotels with every imaginable service could be found and   restaurants offered the best dining and drink that was available anywhere.

At Yosemite National Park in California, it was the Ahwahnee Lodge where Ansel Adams celebrated with the social upper crust in the 1930s. At the south Rim, the Bright Angel Lodge was a symbol of luxury where people of means could take the train from Williams into the park and enjoy all the luxuries available.

At the North Rim, the Grand Canyon Lodge was erected in 1928. Seemingly not to be out done by other parks, this structure was designed by architect  Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who produced a near masterpiece in architectural design. He incorporated the essence of the canyon's nature by building a massive structure from ponderosa pines and sandstone. From the entrance, you can walk directly to the observation area that's immediately ahead as you enter, and take in the Grand Canyon through massive windows.

Today, there are no college age employees greeting you with song and later a dinner performance in the lodge's restaurant as it was in the early days, but the grandeur and romance of this place still remains. Whether you visit the North Rim as a guest of the hotel, camp in the nearby park service campground, or simply drive in for the day, you'll most likely agree that this is a very special place. For those who have visited the south rim and seen the sights, the view from the north, while still the same canyon, provides a whole new, bright perspective to this 11 million year old canyon.

Getting to the North Rim is a bit more challenging than some parks. At the south rim, all you have to do is turn north at Williams, and you end up at the Grand Canyon south rim about an hour later. It makes a great vacation destination, and even a simple, quick side trip from other adventures.

From the north, however, the journey to the canyon rim is more deliberate. It's more than a side trip while going other places. The first issue is timing. Being more remote and significantly higher in elevation, the park is not open all year. Expect the park to be open only from mid-May through mid-October.

To get there from the south rim takes you on a 218 mile journey, even though you can stand at the south rim and look at your destination only 12 miles away. From the north, if you're traveling along I-15, you can exit at St. George and the North Rim is 154 miles south, over two lane state highways. From Kanab, Utah, which is a likely spot to stay if you drive a big rig, the trip is only 86 miles.
 

All of this sounds like it's a bit of a stretch to even try to get there, and many people admittedly don't go because it takes more of an effort than other great destinations. Still, if you're in the neighborhood visiting Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, or any number of southern Utah destinations, the North Rim should be on your list. The terrain is about 1,000 feet higher than the south rim, and therefore offers a very different forest. Instead of the pinion and juniper forests along the south rim, the north side offers aspens, large fir trees and even some scrub oaks. There are meadows with tall grasses, and much more water in terms of streams and ponds than on the south side. In fact, the water supply for the south rim comes via a pipeline from the north rim.

Because of its relative seclusion compared to other popular destinations, this park offers a unique opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon with fewer pressures from large crowds. Sure, lots of people come here, but the pressure is significantly less when compared to other parks or the south rim.