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The Grand Canyon North Rim is the quiet side of the canyon. It sits about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim. It is a long drive from anywhere, and it is open for only part of the year. Build the trip around the season dates. Treat 2026 as a planning year, because fire recovery has cut services back. For the busier rim with year-round services, start with our Grand Canyon South Rim itinerary.
I would build the trip around the season dates before anything else. I would not treat the North Rim as a South Rim substitute. We have done big national park days with nieces and nephews along, and the early starts worked better. Every status, fee and date below was read on the park’s own pages on October 3, 2026. Recheck before you book.
Grand Canyon North Rim vs South Rim
The North Rim is higher, cooler, emptier and seasonal. The South Rim is the opposite on every count. About 90 percent of visitors go there, according to the park’s basic information page. The table uses the park’s own figures.
| Question | North Rim | South Rim |
|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 8,297 feet | Averages 7,000 feet |
| Share of visitors | About 10 percent | About 90 percent |
| Season | Services usually May 15 to October 15; road closed December 1 to May 14 | Open 24 hours, 365 days a year |
| Summer highs | Typically in the 70s°F | Generally in the 80s°F |
| Yearly snowfall | 142 inches | 58 inches |
| Drive to the other rim | About 212 miles, about 4.5 hours | About 212 miles, about 4.5 hours |
The temperature gap is simple physics. NPS says temperature rises 5.5°F for each 1,000 feet you lose. The river at Phantom Ranch typically passes 100°F in summer. Altitude is the other half. At 8,297 feet, go slowly on day one and drink more than you think you need.
Is the Grand Canyon North Rim open?
Only for part of the year. The park’s directions page says Highway 67 and the North Rim are closed to all vehicle traffic from December 1 through May 14. In 2026 the park welcomed visitors back at 6 a.m. on Friday, May 15. Services were limited.
The North Rim status page says the rim stays open through November 30, 2026, or until the first major snowstorm. The same page said overnight lodging is not available on the North Rim this season. It lists Grand Canyon Lodge as destroyed in the Dragon Bravo Fire in July 2025. Potable water is not available anywhere on the North Rim.
Three late-season dates on that page shape a fall trip. The campground was listed as open only through October 15, 2026. Cape Royal Road and Point Imperial Road are listed as closed from sunset October 15 through sunrise November 3 for road repair. The gas station closed for the season on September 19, so buy fuel at the Country Store or Jacob Lake.
The park had not posted 2027 dates in early October 2026. I would wait for them, then book the campground the day reservations open.
How to get to the Grand Canyon North Rim
Everything goes through Jacob Lake, Arizona, where Highway 89A meets Highway 67. The entrance station is 31 miles south of Jacob Lake on Highway 67, per the entrance station page. Another 13 miles beyond it lie the rim and developed area. One NPS page gives the first leg as 30 miles, so call it 31 or so.
From Page you reach Jacob Lake on Highway 89 and Highway 89A. From the Utah side you come through Kanab on Highway 89A. That makes the North Rim a natural south end for a loop with our Zion itinerary or the Utah Mighty 5 road trip.
Plan fuel and phone use before you leave pavement. The pocket map lists limited cell service on the North Rim. It lists fuel at Jacob Lake and at the Country Store, about 4 miles north of the park. I would fill up at Jacob Lake and carry the day’s food and water.
Entry costs $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle or $20 per person on foot or bike. The pass is valid for seven days, per the fee page. The entrance station page says it covers both rims when the North Rim is open. One fee line still referred to the 2025 closure, so ask at the gate. Cards only, since the park no longer takes cash. Visitors who live outside the US pay an extra $100 each from age 16, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. For the full budget see our national park road trip cost guide.
Cape Royal Scenic Drive
This is the main event on the North Rim. The NPS pocket map lists Point Imperial at 11 miles and about 20 minutes one way. It lists Cape Royal at 29 miles and about 50 minutes one way. Point Imperial is the highest point on the rim at 8,803 feet. It looks out on the Painted Desert and the east end of the canyon.
The road then passes Vista Encantada, Roosevelt Point and the Walhalla Glades Pueblo. It ends at Cape Royal, at about 7,800 feet. NPS calls Cape Royal one of the premier sunset spots in the park. The paved walk to the point is 0.8 miles round trip. A short side path leads to Angels Window.
Vehicles over 22 feet are not allowed on Cape Royal Road. The road is narrow, winding and has blind corners. NPS also warns that fire-damaged slopes may close it temporarily after storms. If you drive it near dusk for the sunset, leave a margin for the drive back. In 2026 the status page lists both scenic roads as closed from sunset October 15 through sunrise November 3. Check it before you drive out.
Grand Canyon North Rim hikes
The best walks here are short. The pocket map lists the lengths and times below. As of its September 30, 2026 update, the status page lists the trails marked open in the table. It lists Bright Angel Point, Widforss, Transept, Uncle Jim and the North Kaibab as closed, even though a May 21 park release said the North Kaibab reopened May 15. The status page is the one to trust. Every open trail in the table except the Bridle Trail starts on the two scenic roads. Those roads are listed as closed October 15 to November 3.
| Trail | Distance and time | What you see | Status, fall 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt Point Trail | 0.2 miles, 20 minutes | A canyon viewpoint on Cape Royal Road | Listed open |
| Cliff Springs Trail | 0.8 miles, about 1 hour | A trailhead on Cape Royal Road | Listed open |
| Cape Royal Trail | 0.8 miles, about 1 hour | A 270-degree view and Angels Window | Listed open |
| Bridle Trail | 1.6 miles one way, about 1 hour | A walk through the park forest | Listed open |
| Point Imperial Trail | 4 miles, 2 to 3 hours | A longer walk from the Point Imperial area | Listed open |
| Cape Final Trail | 4.2 miles, 2 to 3 hours | A longer walk to the Cape Final overlook | Listed open |
| Bright Angel Point Trail | See the park page | Canyon views near the developed area | Listed closed |
| North Kaibab Trail | Coconino Overlook 1.5 miles round trip; Supai Tunnel 4 miles round trip | The main trail into the canyon | Listed closed |
Grand Canyon North Rim camping
Camping was the only way to stay inside the park in 2026. The campground was listed as open only through October 15. Recreation.gov listed the North Rim Campground as reopening June 1, 2026. Showers and laundry stay closed for the season. Potable water is not available at the campground, but the General Store sells it. There is no gray or black water dumping.
The status page listed DeMotte Campground, outside the park, open through October 31 on a first-come basis. In early October 2026 the park listed Stage 2 fire restrictions for the season. Campfires, charcoal grills and outdoor smoking were prohibited. Check the current rule before you go. Kaibab Lodge, 4 miles north of the park, lists rooms and cabins from May 15 to November 15 on the pocket map.
After the campground closes, North Rim camping from October 16 to May 14 needs a permit, per the backcountry permit page. Use our national park camping checklist for gear. Add extra water containers for the dry camp.
Rim to rim Grand Canyon
A rim-to-rim crossing is a serious backcountry trip, and NPS is blunt about it. The status page listed the North Kaibab Trail as closed in fall 2026. Treat this section as planning for a later season. Do not hike from the rim to the river and back in one day. Plan on reaching Bright Angel Campground before 10 a.m. to beat the heat in the inner gorge.
The North Kaibab trailhead sits at 8,241 feet. Bright Angel Campground sits at 2,480 feet, 14 miles below. The park’s trail sheet puts Roaring Springs at 4.7 miles and Cottonwood Campground at 6.8 miles. Day hikers are told to start before 7 a.m. for Roaring Springs and to stop there.
Overnight stays below the rim need a permit. The fee is $10 per permit plus $15 per person per night below the rim. The early-access lottery closes at 5 p.m. MST on the first of each month. The Trans-Canyon Shuttle page says reservations are required and the ride takes 4 to 5 1/2 hours. It also noted adjusted fall 2026 schedules and credits for reservations affected by park closures.
Grand Canyon North Rim itinerary
Start with one day, because one day covers the scenic drive. I would reach the entrance early and drive to Point Imperial first. Then I would work south along Cape Royal Road and finish at Cape Royal. Take the short walks in order, and bring a full day of food and water.
Two days is better. On day one, drive the scenic road in the afternoon and watch sunset at Cape Royal. On day two, return to Point Imperial early. Walk the Point Imperial Trail or the Cape Final Trail, then leave by midday. With no lodge in 2026, base at the campground or DeMotte while they are open, or a room outside the park.
When is the best time to visit the Grand Canyon North Rim?
The best window is late spring or early autumn, inside the park’s season. NPS says lodging and services usually run May 15 through October 15. The road to the rim usually stays open through November 30, weather permitting. Monsoon thunderstorms arrive mainly between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. in July, August and early September. In those months, plan the scenic drive for the morning.
Is the Grand Canyon North Rim worth it?
Yes, if you want a quieter canyon and can live with a long drive and a short season. NPS says only about 10 percent of Grand Canyon visitors go to the North Rim. If you need lodging, a visitor center and year-round access, the South Rim is the easier trip.
How far is the North Rim from the South Rim?
The park’s directions page puts the drive between the two rim villages at about 212 miles and about 4.5 hours. Other NPS pages round it differently, so treat it as a long half day. The road runs east through Cameron and Bitter Springs, then west on Highway 89A to Jacob Lake.
Do you need a permit to hike rim to rim?
A day hike needs no permit, according to the park’s backcountry permit page. An overnight stay below the rim does, so a two-day crossing needs one. The page lists $10 per permit plus $15 per person per night below the rim.
Can you hike rim to rim in one day?
NPS warns against hiking from the rim to the river and back in one day. A one-way crossing also needs a ride home, and the Trans-Canyon Shuttle page says reservations are required. Some people cross in a day, but that is a fitness and heat call, not a casual one. I would not plan it as a day trip.
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Published October 19, 2026.
Photo credits: (1) featured, Cape Royal viewpoint on the Grand Canyon… — National Park Service, U.S. Government work, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; (2) Ponderosa pine forest with scorched trunks… — Ken Lund on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; (3) Forested road leading to Point Imperial on… — Daniel Schwen, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; (4) Sunrise light on Angels Window rock opening… — National Park Service, U.S. Government work, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; (5) Sunset over the canyon from Bright Angel… — Daniel Schwen, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; (6) View across the eastern Grand Canyon from… — Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.