No trip to Las Vegas is complete without visiting the Grand Canyon, and why not take the road less traveled and visit the famous North Rim? Thousands of feet higher than the South Rim, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon provides impressive vistas, trails along the Colorado River, and a better glimpse at the inner canyon.
The Grand Canyon North Rim retains a sense of solitude, a remote wilderness rich with scenic hiking trails and overlooks with spectacular vistas. The North Rim beckons day hikers, who want to traipse through meadows thick with wildflowers and dense clusters of willowy aspen and spruce trees, and breathe crisp, Alpine air – all under vast, blue skies.
One of the highlights of the Grand Canyon North Rim is Bright Angel Point, which lies at the end of the Bright Angel Point Trail, a half-mile loop (800 m) and one the most popular of the North Rim corridor trails. From the point, you can see and hear the rush of Roaring Spring, the North Rim's only water source, which lies 3,600 feet (1,100 m) below the rim. You'll find more scenic overlooks at Cape Royal, one of the most spectacular settings in the Grand Canyon. At Angel's Window Overlook is a breathtaking view of the natural bridge that forms Angel's Window.
Point Imperial is the highest point of the Grand Canyon, at 8,803 feet (2,683 m) above sea level, and overlooks the painted desert and Marble Canyon. Cape Royal provides panoramic views of the canyon, desert, and Colorado River.
Keep in mind, it's only about 10 miles (16 km) across the canyon, separating the North and South rims. By car it's another story: from the North Rim the South Rim is a 5-hour, 215-mile (345 km) drive.
The Grand Canyon North Rim runs into both Arizona and Nevada, and is part of Grand Canyon National Park. The North Rim is about 275 miles (442 km) east of Las Vegas and about 207 miles (332 km) from Flagstaff in Arizona.
Visitor facilities at the North Rim are open from mid-May to mid-October. Facilities on the North Rim are closed from mid-October to mid-May, although you can drive into the park and stay at the campground until the first snow closes the road from Jacob Lake.
To get to the North Rim, you take Highway 89A to Highway 67/North Rim Parkway. A Trans Canyon shuttle runs between the South Rim and the North Rim during the months the North Rim is open.
Hoover Dam is usually the first stop in Nevada when headed down the road towards the Grand Canyon North Rim, since you have to pass it in order to get here.
