This past summer my husband and I finally had an opportunity to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I’ve been wanting to visit the less popular side of the incredible national park by hiking all the trails we could find.
Here’s a quick list of the best Grand Canyon North Rim hikes.
But before we start, remember to pack your sunscreen! I swear by this sunscreen, I discovered it in France and now buy it in bulk. You’ll never catch me without it! While hiking in the Grand Canyon, the sun was intense and shade minimal. I can’t tell you how many folks I saw nursing sunburns at the end of the day, don’t let it happen to you.
Grand Canyon North Rim Hikes
Hike #1. Bright Angel Point Trail
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Distance: 0.5 miles
This short paved trail leads you to a breathtaking viewpoint of the Grand Canyon. And wow! Give yourself some time here to really soak in the views — because it’s hard to fathom such splendor.
When you’re done soaking in the views, make sure to have a snack at the Grand Canyon Lodge back porch. There’s interpretive signs all along the trail that share more about the history of the lodge.
Something interesting happened while we were visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
I had a strange sensation that I’ve never experienced before — I felt like I was going to fall over the edge whenever I looked down! It drove me nuts and I have absolutely no idea why I felt that way.
I’m guessing it’s the vastness of the landscape and the deep canyon valleys that made me feel “on edge.” But whenever my husband would get too close to an overlook (even if it was fenced in), I would semi-panic. So strange!
Hike #2: Cape Royal Trail
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Distance: 1 mile
- Best time to hike: sunset
This flat and paved trail offers panoramic views of the Grand Canyon on either side. Along the way you’ll have an opportunity to veer off to Angels Window – it’s definitely worth a stop!
We decided to catch sunset at the Cape Royal overlook because of Wotan’s Thorne (the mesmerizing rock outcropping shown in the photo above).
I’m always reluctant to commit to a “favorite” sunset — but if I were bold enough to commit, it would be the sunset we experienced here. It was breathtaking!
The way the colors eagerly changed and filled the valley with splendid shades of orange and pink were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.
Hike #3. Point Imperial Trail
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Distance: 0.2 miles
- Best time to hike: sunrise
This is the most popular spot at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to catch sunrise — for good reason! Of all the hikes we did at the park, this was the only one where we ran into other folks, which says something.
Make sure to bundle up because it’s very chilly in the early morning. I was surprised to be shivering with cold before the sunrise only to peel off layers minutes after the sun rose. But look at that view!
Completely worth the cold and early wake up call.
Parking is limited, so come early because sunrise at Point Imperial cannot be missed.
Hike #4. Cliff Springs Trail
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Distance: 1 mile
The Cliff Springs Trail is possibly my favorite hike in the park. We found it by chance (noticed a gravel turnout that lead to a trailhead), which made it feel like a little secret!
The trail meanders down an incredible ravine past a granary ruin until you reach a seasonal spring.
The springs are half a mile from the trailhead and were dry during our visit. We decided to continue down the overgrown trail until we reached the very end — at times it was heard to tell if we were still on a real trail, but we pushed through.
The trail ends at a magnificent overlook that provides a unique vantage point of Wotan’s Thorne!
Hike #5: Transcept Trail
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Distance: 3 miles
This easy trail connects the Grand Canyon Lodge to to the North Rim Campground. The hike is great for families with kiddos and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Grand Canyon.
The entire hike is 3 miles round trip, but the landscape doesn’t vary too much so many folks turn around after one mile. The adventure is up to you!
Grand Canyon North Rim Hikes (Tips)
America the Beautiful Pass
- All national parks charge an admission fee for a 7 day pass (typically $30). The cheapest route is to purchase an annual pass for $80 and you will have access to ALL national Parks for an entire year, plus 2,000 recreational sites throughout the US.
Practice Leave No Trace
- If you’re unfamiliar with Leave No Trace, it’s a set of guidelines to ensure you’re being a good steward of the land. You can read about the seven principals of Leave No Trace here.
Water, water, water
- Never underestimate how easily you may become dehydrated in the desert. Plan for 1 gallon of water per person, per day. Water stations are available at some popular trailheads, but bring your own to be prepared.
Sunscreen
- I swear by this sunscreen, I discovered it in France and now buy it in bulk. You’ll never catch me without it! The sun is intense and shade is minimal. I can’t tell you how many folks I saw nursing sunburns at the end of the day. Carry sunscreen and apply liberally.
Stay on the trail
- Respect the abundance of life around you and stay on the trails to avoid harming fragile plants and animal habitat. Leave plants, rocks and artifacts where they are – it is illegal to remove anything from the park.
Wear hiking boots with good traction
- Even though the trails are well maintained, jagged rocks and unstable soil are common. It’s easy to trip on the uneven surfaces, so set yourself up for success by wearing proper shoes.
- These are my hiking boots, and I’d sleep in them if I could.
Hiking with pups
- Dogs are NOT allowed on trails or overlooks.
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Until next time!
Antonina
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We are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon and the Mighty 5 in Utah. Did you add the Grand Canyon before or after your Mighty 5 in Utah? How much time did you need for the Grand Canyon? Which airport did you fly into?
Thanks for all the useful info! Deb
Hi Deborah!
How exciting! We added the Grand Canyon at the end of our trip but that’s because we drove our own car from Portland, OR!
I would recommend flying into Las Vegas and going to the Grand Canyon first then Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, & finally Zion before heading back to Las Vegas. I’ve included a photo of what that route would look like here.
The Grand Canyon stop adds about 4 hours drive time but is totally worth it if you can swing it. I would recommend spending at least half a day at Grand Canyon but one can gaze into that abyss endlessly without fully comprehending its many layers and rugged beauty.
If you do that route I would also recommended stopping off at Horseshoe Bend between Grand Canyon & Canyonlands which is right along the way!
Hope this helps 🙂
Cheers,
Antonina
Is the Grand Canyon a viable place to combine landscape photography with astrophotography?
Absolutely! If you’re shooting from the top then the landscape is relatively flat as far as the horizon line goes – no real mountains or anything protruding out of the canyon to change that. The moon has some epic shadow play in the canyon as well.
Cheers,
Antonina
Thank you for the information. My wife and I are planning on being there next weekend. The visiting Horseshoe Bend, Zion, Bryce, Vegas, and then coming through Yosemite on our way home to Stockton. If you have any info on Zip and Bryce it would be much appreciated.
Steve
Do the Fairyland trail at Bryce. Actually outside the entrance…4 hour hike.
On the North h Rim, our favorite trail is the Widforss Trail. 10 mile out and back…
Two other great trails on the North Rim, longer than those referenced in the article, are Widforss trail, and Uncle Jim’s Loop trail. These trails are easy to moderate, but are 7 to 11 miles in round trip length from the North Rim campground.