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A dramatic sunset view of the Grand Canyon from Mather Point overlook on the South Rim, with warm golden and red light bathing the layered sandstone cliffs while tourists gather along the railed viewing platform.

Arizona · Grand Canyon National Park

North Rim

A thousand feet higher than the South Rim and open only mid-May through mid-October, the North Rim is a separate four-to-five-hour drive — cooler, quieter, and far less crowded. Bright Angel Point and Point Imperial are the headline overlooks, and the North Kaibab Trail drops toward the river; since the 2025 fire destroyed Grand Canyon Lodge, the campground is the only place to stay inside this side of the park. Plan it as its own trip, not a day-trip from the South Rim.

A dramatic sunset view of the Grand Canyon from Mather Point · near Grand Canyon National Park

Overview

North Rim — Grand Canyon

A thousand feet higher than the South Rim and open only mid-May through mid-October, the North Rim is a separate four-to-five-hour drive — cooler, quieter, and far less crowded. Bright Angel Point and Point Imperial are the headline overlooks, and the North Kaibab Trail drops toward the river; since the 2025 fire destroyed Grand Canyon Lodge, the campground is the only place to stay inside this side of the park. Plan it as its own trip, not a day-trip from the South Rim.

Headline Hikes

Top trails in Grand Canyon

  1. North Kaibab Trail

    29.5 mi 6,870 ft gain

    Strenuous Out & back

    The North Kaibab is the North Rim's corridor trail and the least-visited, most demanding of the Grand Canyon's inner-canyon routes, descending steep switchbacks through narrow side canyons to the Colorado River with water stations at Cottonwood and Manzanita. Most hikers tackle the full 29.5-mile out-and-back as a multi-day backpacking trip; Supai Tunnel and Roaring Springs are common day-hike turnarounds from the rim. The NPS strongly warns against hiking from the rim to the river and back in a single day because of extreme inner-canyon heat and a 6,000-plus-foot climb out, and search-and-rescue calls are routine. Any overnight camping requires a backcountry permit, and the North Rim is seasonal, generally open mid-May through mid-October.

    View on AllTrails →

Trail descriptions are field-tested summaries; verify current conditions and closures with NPS before hiking.

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Sightseeing

Viewpoints in Grand Canyon

  • Overlook

    Bright Angel Point

    Short walk

    A narrow rock promontory on the North Rim, reached by a half-mile paved trail from the Grand Canyon Lodge that runs out along a fin to a railed overlook with the canyon falling away on both sides. It is the most accessible big view on the North Rim and a short walk from the lodge, visitor center, and shuttle. Remember the North Rim is only open mid-May through mid-October.

    Best at sunset

    Explore Bright Angel Point
  • Point Imperial

    Overlook

    Point Imperial

    Roadside

    The highest viewpoint on either rim at 8,803 feet, at the end of a paved spur road on the North Rim. It looks east over Marble Canyon, the Painted Desert, and the spire of Mount Hayden, with the early sun lighting the cliffs — a favorite sunrise stop. A short paved path leads from the parking area to the railed overlook.

    Best at sunrise

    Explore Point Imperial
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Camping

Camping in Grand Canyon

  • In-park · Frontcountry

    North Rim Campground

    Reservation 125 sites

    Reopening June 1, 2026 after the 2025 fire (expect limited services) — the only developed campground on the cooler, far quieter North Rim at 8,200 feet, with no water at the campground.

    Data Source: Recreation.gov

    Campground Details
    Reserve on Recreation.gov

    You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov

Campground listings sourced from the Recreation Information Database (RIDB). Recreation.gov is the only authorized booking site — confirm fees, dates, and site counts there before reserving.

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Where to Stay

Lodging near Grand Canyon

  • In-park lodge Closed

    Grand Canyon Lodge (North Rim)

    On the North Rim, at Bright Angel Point

    Proximity Inside the park

    Destroyed in the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire — there is no overnight lodging on the North Rim for the 2026 season.

    A rebuild of the historic 1937 timber-and-stone lodge at Bright Angel Point has not been scheduled. To sleep at the canyon in the meantime, the South Rim lodges — El Tovar, Bright Angel, and the rest — are the year-round option, about a 4.5-hour drive around the rim. Check the park's current conditions before planning any North Rim trip.

In-park lodges book direct through the concessioner; gateway-town stays surface through partner search.

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Save on Entry

One pass covers Grand Canyon — and every other US national park.

The America the Beautiful annual pass pays for itself in two or three park visits. Free entry, free passenger fees, and no more fumbling for a credit card at the kiosk.

America the Beautiful National Park Pass — the 2026 annual pass card Buy your pass → Learn more about the pass

Ships from US Park Pass. Free shipping in the continental US.

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