The North Rim is the “other side” of the Grand Canyon and throughout the year only a small percentage of the visitors who come to the Grand Canyon explore this area. Located 21 miles from the South Rim, the journey is long when traveling in a car – four and a half hours. Staying at WillowWind RV Park places our guests about two and a half hours from the Grand Canyon North Rim. From May to December tourists can enjoy the convenience of a gas station, emergency repairs, gift shops, mule trips, and more. The Grand Canyon has a rich history and serves as the ancestral home of many Native American cultures. There is plenty to do in the area including a scenic drive. Southern Utah has so much splendor to behold, and the Grand Canyon North Rim is just one sight to see on your travels through the state.  

Nature’s History

The Grand Canyon is located in northern Arizona, northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona. At its depth, it is one mile deep while extending 270 miles long, and approximately 18 miles wide. The Grand Canyon is estimated to have formed five to six million years ago when the Colorado river cut channels through the river. With rock formations this old, it has provided scientists with an exceptional area to study the history of our earth. The first outside explorers on record to have found the Grand Canyon are Spanish settlers in the 1540s. After mining the area many years later and finding that the area was better served by the tourism industry, the Santa Fe railroad was built to travel straight to Grand Canyon Village. The park became an official state park in 1919. 

The Havasupai people have a strong connection to the land that is their ancestral home – the Grand Canyon. Other past inhabitants are the Hopi, Paiute, Navajo, and Zuni people. Tribal history has marked that the Havasupai lived in and around the Grand Canyon for nearly 800 years. 

Fun Facts About the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is full of surprises and spectacles that leave visitors in awe. Although it is estimated that the Grand Canyon was formed five or six billion years ago, it is just that – an estimation. A study performed in 2012 led scientists to suspect that it has been around for nearly 70 million years. 

Here are a few fun facts about the Grand Canyon:

• The Grand Canyon creates its own weather systems: depending on where you are in the park, a few miles could mean dry conditions or extremely wet conditions.

• Many fossils are found in the area, but no dinosaur bones: it is likely that the canyon formed much later than the existence of dinosaurs, although the rocks are much older.

• The Supai Village has a population of approximately 208: at the base of the canyon, there is a village that cannot be accessed by the road where residents receive mail via pack mule. 

• Fish are not aplenty in the canyon: the Colorado River’s ecosystem is not particularly friendly as a habitat for fish, with only eight species found there. 

Things to Do on the North Rim

Expanding over 1.2 million acres, the Grand Canyon is vast for those who are inclined to explore. Visitors can find a hiking trail to suit their abilities, with difficulties ranging from casual to very difficult (even for experienced hikers). One can embark on a simple one-mile hike for a short trek or tackle a ten-mile hike round trip. 

The Grand Canyon Lodge offers mule rides from mid-May to mid-October. They usually offer an hour ride or a half-day ride along the rim or inner canyon. You can also find others who provide guided hikes or ATV trips through the area. 

North Rim Scenic Drive

There are three different viewpoints you can visit on a scenic drive through the Grand Canyon North Rim: Point Imperial, Walhalla Overlook, and Point Sublime. The first two can be reached on paved roads, but Point Sublime requires a trek through a dirt road.

Cape Royal is another option for a winding scenic drive on the North Rim. The perspective from this area is an expansive panorama in all directions, creating a picturesque moment with views of the Colorado River peeking through Angel’s Window arch. Visitors can capture some incredible sunsets and sunrises from the cape. 

Lesser-Known Spectacles of the Grand Canyon

The North Rim provides respite from the most popular destinations around the Grand Canyon and is considered to be one of the lesser-known areas for tourists. There are plenty of other opportunities to explore some of the roads less traveled in the area as well. One such road is Diamond Creek Road. Although it is not paved, travelers can obtain a permit to drive down this road to make their way down into the canyon. It is the only road that allows visitors to travel into the canyon itself. Another incredible spectacle that doesn’t make the itinerary of many Grand Canyon visitors is Havasupai Falls. This 100-foot waterfall is water enriched with calcium carbonate and is perfect for a relaxing swim in an inspiring setting. 

Where to Stay on Your Visit

There are many places to stay in the area when visiting the Grand Canyon North Rim. Hotels and campsites are numerous, but some travelers prefer to stay somewhere a bit further from the main tourism action. WillowWind RV Park is located two and a half hours from Grand Canyon North Rim and provides a much-needed quiet space away from the crowds. With large and mature shade trees, our park offers more shade from the summer sun than anywhere other RV Park in Southern Utah. You can enjoy your stay while taking advantage of amenities like our air-conditioned clubhouse, laundry facilities, clean restrooms, full hookups, free WiFi, and so much more. Be sure to make your reservations in advance, as spaces fill up quickly!

Additional Resources:

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm 

https://www.history.com/topics/landmarks/grand-canyon 

https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/8-facts-about-grand-canyon-you-never-knew 

https://www.utah.com/destinations/national-parks/grand-canyon-national-park/things-to-do/north-rim/  

https://grandcanyonhelicoptertour.net/10-hidden-gems-of-the-grand-canyon/