The Grand Canyon Part II: The North Rim

My husband and son enjoying the meadows on the way to the Arizona Grand Canyon North Rim.

After having dinner at the Jacob Lake Inn restaurant in Arizona (see The Grand Canyon Part I: Pipe Spring and Jacob Lake), we all decided to make the forty-minute drive to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  It was a bit late to be starting out but we figured we’d still be able to get there in time to see the sun set over the canyon.  The drive along Grand Canyon Highway (AZ 67) was wonderful.  Trees lined the road for some of the trip but then opened up to huge meadows full of flowers and tall grass.  At that hour of the evening they were also full of deer and our son had a great time pointing them out to us as we went by.

Our first glimpse of the majestic Grand Canyon North Rim came once we entered the national park itself.  Through gaps in the trees we could see the towering cliffs that dropped down into the canyon.  After a short drive along the rim we came to the parking lot of the Grand Canyon Lodge, the only hotel inside the park.  The hotel was very crowded when we got there so we were forced to park at the far end of the lot.  From that far out it’s a bit of a walk to the Lodge so if you have someone with you that has any physical limitations it’s a good idea to drop them off at the hotel entrance before parking; there’s a loop that leads right past the front doors for passenger drop off or unloading bags.  This is where we let my grandma out to wait while we made the trek through the parking lot.  A long covered walkway with wooden benches and chairs provided a comfortable place for her to sit while she passed the time.

The Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim. View from the trail.

The inside of the hotel is every bit as spectacular as the view it was built to honor.  A large lobby made of dark wood with towering ceilings is the first thing you see upon stepping inside.  Just beyond it is an incredible indoor viewing room with walls made almost entirely of huge windows.  Filled with comfortable chairs, it’s the perfect spot to look out over the canyon while still enjoying the air conditioning.  My dad and grandma opted to stay there while the rest of us headed outside to the giant deck.  Alhough the deck was covered with chairs and benches, the ones with the best view were placed right up against the deck’s rock wall.  We had to hang around for a while to get these prime seats but they were well worth the wait!

And sunset at the Grand Canyon was well worth the drive!  We were lucky enough to be there on a very clear night and the view was breathtaking; I found it even more beautiful than seeing it during the full light of day.  As it got darker a ranger brought out a telescope and gave anyone who was interested a glimpse of the moon.  At the same time a fire had been lit in the huge stone fireplace on the other end of the deck and another ranger was leading a discussion about the Grand Canyon after dark.  Although the trip back to Jacob Lake required yet another rousing go around of the Mickey and Friends CD, we were extremely glad we’d been able to see the beauty of the Grand Canyon at night.

The Grand Canyon at dusk.

After checking out of our little cabins the next morning, we once again made the drive to the North Rim (here’s where the DVD player came in handy)!  My husband and I, along with my sister and her husband decided to take one of the short walks that began just outside the Lodge.  We found that it was a bit more of a hike than a walk however as some parts of the trail were quite steep so we were glad that we’d loaded our backpacks with plenty of water.  The lookout at the end provided a spectacular view however, and made up for the hard work in getting there!  After our hike we met up again with the rest of my family and headed up to the restaurant in the Lodge for lunch.  The restaurant sits just off of the lobby and offers incredible views of the canyon.  The menu had a variety of options and everything we ordered was very good.  The deli/bakery also had very good food and was a less expensive option for those who don’t want to spend every meal in the restaurant.

View at the end of our hike.

There is a paved lookout to the right of the lobby but even that little adventure made me nervous with our son; we carried him the whole way because there were still too many places for little feet to slip. I did see quite a few couples on the trail that had babies being carried in front-packs and as long as you have good balance and stamina you’d probably be fine. Still, the trail had no fence and there were a few areas with a steep drop-off. We’d certainly go back with our small children but if you go without other family members you may need to prepare yourself to stay close to the Lodge since a lot of the hikes would be difficult or dangerous with toddlers. That was one of the benefits of staying at Jacob Lake despite the forty-minute drive; there was the playground for him to enjoy as well as a lot of open area for him to run around in. If you are interested in staying inside the park however, you’ll want to make your reservations early; the Lodge and the campground fill up very quickly.

My son & mom playing on the lawn at the Lodge.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is truly beautiful and provides some incredible views even compared with those of the South Rim.  It is a great deal smaller though and is only open from mid-May through mid-October as the road into the North Rim is usually closed by snow during the off months.  Alhough our son enjoyed it very much, he was limited to the lawns that surrounded the hotel since the trails really aren’t suited for small children; he stayed behind with my parents and grandma while the rest of us took our hike.

For more information on the Arizona Grand Canyon North Rim including lodging, campgrounds, and activities, visit their page at the National Park Service website (nps.gov/grca).  Also, if you haven’t already done so, make sure to read Part 1 of our Grand Canyon vacation!

About the Author: Kelsey lives in Southern Utah with her husband, their 3-year old son, and their newborn daughter. They enjoy the adventure of exploring new places together and love building memories through family travel.