The North Rim of the Grand Canyon

     We left Page,  Arizona (10/7) and drove by the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument and stopped at the Navaho Bridge over the Colorado River on our way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Vermillion Cliffs

 

  

Colorado River at the Navaho Bridge

       The campground at the North Rim was full and we were told that it is reservation only and fills up months in advance, so we drove back out of the park to the DeMotte Campground and were very thankful when we got the last available site.  After securing our campsite we drove back into the park.  Just inside the park we saw a small herd of Bison grazing in the meadow.    

Bison

       The area around the Visitor's Center and the Grand Canyon Lodge was packed with people.  We joined the crowd and hiked on a paved trail out to the nearby Bright Angel Point.  

 

       We then decided to drive the 23 miles from the Visitor's Center to Cape Royal at the far end of the park.  To get there, we drove the Cape Royal Road which is a paved, two-lane road, but narrow with no shoulder and lots of twists and turns and ups and downs.  Driving the truck camper on that road took all of Mark's concentration.  We stopped at four points along the road where there are views of the canyon.  We were able to easily find a parking spot at these overlooks since this side of the park was considerably less busy.  

Point Imperial

 

Point Imperial

 

Point Imperial

 

Vista Encantada

 

Vista Encantada

 

Roosevelt

 

Walhalla Overlook

 

Walhalla Overlook

 

Walhalla Overlook

        At the end of the road we hiked the Cape Royal Trail which was an easy walk on a flat, paved trail with views of the canyon.