Souvenirs From The Road: That Great Big "Grand Canyon", North Rim

The Grand Canyon plain and simple will just overwhelm your senses. It is such a unique combination of size, color and awe-inspiring geologic formations. This is truly a gift that was given to all of us to enjoy.

North Rim of the Grand Canyon

We drove through Flagstaff to get to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We really didn't realize that the last part of the trip to get to Jacobs Lake, Kaibab Camper RV Park, was so "strenuous" until the lady at the campground started talking about it when we were checking in. Wow. So nice to have such a great truck that is capable of handling our fifth wheel and the steep inclines and everything that comes with that. So glad we got the "beast"!

One of the prettiest scenic pieces driving in was the Vermillion Cliffs. They are just so colorful and so large. We also drove by Lee's Ferry, which is where the rafting trips that go through the Grand Canyon begin. I have to say that our little campsite here at Kaibab Camper RV Park is pretty nice. Sure, it is crowded and the type of park that we usually try to avoid. But we had these 2 days that we weren't so sure what to do with, so I chose to spend them here. We are close to the campground at the North Rim (which you have to reserve 6 months ahead or else you can't stay here) and there is lots to do in this area. But we just chose to take a really good chill pill and enjoy the moment. Have met some super nice folks, which is the best benefit of this lifestyle.

The Vermilion Cliffs

How about a rig shot at the lookout at the Vermilion Cliffs?

Jacobs Lake is really just a teeny tiny pond.

We did decide to drive out to the campground at the North Rim, just to make sure we wouldn't have any issues getting in with our large rig. Got some great pictures when we walked the Bright Angel Trail. You just forget how this place takes your breath away. And it was really windy which made it hard to take pictures and hold on to your hat.

Check out the bison herd as we entered the park

You see a lot more of the forest here on the North Rim.

So take a look below at what our 5th wheel looks like in Site #12 at the North Rim. Yes, you are so seeing right. The wheels on one side are free spinning. LOL! Otherwise, the site is really good. Across the road from us are the prime sites, which are actually situated with a view of the rim. We can see a little of their view from our lawn chairs which makes it just awesome! There is no electricity here so we run the Honda generator for a few hours in the evening and the morning. That is one quiet generator! There are folks that don't have a Honda and in this high altitude, they can't get theirs to work.

Oh my!

We took a drive up to Point Imperial, which is the highest point in the park. If I have mentioned this earlier, sorry, but the north rim is just so much better than the crowded south rim. We hiked on the Point Imperial trail for about a mile, just to get to another viewpoint of the canyon. It allowed us to see the Vermillion Cliffs in the background and you can follow the gorge of the Colorado River down to where the Grand Canyon starts. Pretty awesome stuff!

No wonder we kinda still wheezed going up the trail.

Wearing my centennial National Park shirt!

Some vague similarities to the Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon!

Here is your history lesson: In 1908 President Teddy Roosevelt sets aside Grand Canyon National Monument. In 1919 Congress creates Grand Canyon National Park. Up until that time it was where the Indians to the Spanish Explorers to 1869 where John Wesley Powell led an expedition through the Grand Canyon, followed by the railroad in 1901 to the South Rim, boosting the tourism.

Thursday we drove to Cape Royal. Spectacular breath taking scenery! First stop was at Roosevelt Point. It is 8325 feet above sea level here.

This is a picture of the Vermilion Cliffs in the back with the beginning of the Colorado River coming into the canyon. How cool!

Next stop was Walhalla Overlook. There are also some old ruins here. We are really starting to see the forest fire on the south rim.

The Ruins

Yep there's a fire over there!

Angels Window and Cape Royal were next up. Drop dead beautiful! This was a very easy walk, all paved trail with great views of the canyon, Angels Window, and the Colorado River.