North Rim (morphed to Chicago B-day celebration)
- Thread starter Ted
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articulate
Expedition Leader
Entirely self promoting but this is right up your alley:
Point Sublime. A 19 mile dirt two track from the North Rim lodge area. You can camp right on the rim. Right ON the rim. No lie.
You will need a backcountry permit to do so. And there is little possibility that you'll even see another person out there. No lie.
The road that takes you there also splits a few times, and there is a web of forest roads in the Kaibab National Forest just north of the official park boundary. You could weave an adventurous path all the way to Toroweap probably. Do you have a state atlas? The big red book? That has all the roads you'll need.
Here's to life. I hope it helps.
Mark
Point Sublime. A 19 mile dirt two track from the North Rim lodge area. You can camp right on the rim. Right ON the rim. No lie.
You will need a backcountry permit to do so. And there is little possibility that you'll even see another person out there. No lie.
The road that takes you there also splits a few times, and there is a web of forest roads in the Kaibab National Forest just north of the official park boundary. You could weave an adventurous path all the way to Toroweap probably. Do you have a state atlas? The big red book? That has all the roads you'll need.
Here's to life. I hope it helps.
Mark
Nullifier
Expedition Leader
Jacob lake has a clean National forest campground. They have basic electric and bathrooms. No showers. Catch a check out shower @ the Jacob lake inn across the street for $5.00. There is another campground halfway between Jacob Lake and the enterance to the Grand Canyon N.P. but I was not impressed with it. To many people, not as clean as Jacob Lake, and since it was out of the Alpine forest it was noticably hotter.
Look out for Turkeys and Coyote's driving through the Prarie entering the N.P. I have never driven in and not seen them. Oh and keep a sharp look out for the Kiabib Squirrel and Hummingbirds. We saw the elusive squirrels but unfortunetly couldn't get a pic.
Park sign
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Campground enterance
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Hummingbird feeder in campground
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Fat guys can ride too! Note the mileage on the sign.
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Watch your step! LOL.
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Look out for Turkeys and Coyote's driving through the Prarie entering the N.P. I have never driven in and not seen them. Oh and keep a sharp look out for the Kiabib Squirrel and Hummingbirds. We saw the elusive squirrels but unfortunetly couldn't get a pic.
Park sign
Campground enterance
Hummingbird feeder in campground
Fat guys can ride too! Note the mileage on the sign.
Watch your step! LOL.
articulate
Expedition Leader
^^^nice!
That does remind me. The camping in the area is limited to your choice of developed campgrounds: Jacob Lake (above), Demotte (about 16 miles from the rim), and the North Rim Campground.
If you want primitive, you'll have to either go into the Kaibab National Forest, or get a backcountry permit if you want to be closer to the canyon.
Link-a-roo:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon/north-rim/camping.htm
:beer:
That does remind me. The camping in the area is limited to your choice of developed campgrounds: Jacob Lake (above), Demotte (about 16 miles from the rim), and the North Rim Campground.
If you want primitive, you'll have to either go into the Kaibab National Forest, or get a backcountry permit if you want to be closer to the canyon.
Link-a-roo:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon/north-rim/camping.htm
:beer:
flywgn
Explorer
Ted,
Last summer (August) we were shut out of a couple of the longer drives owing to wash-outs from T-storms, but we lucked out when we stopped at the NFS office in Jacob Lk. They told us about several tracks leading off to the east with views.
One of the nice things about the Kaibab NF here is that dispersed camping is allowed. We were told that Dog Point is nice, but we chose the East Rim Viewpoint area about 24 miles ± south of J Lk since we were towing the ATRV. The turnoff (FR611) is just past the De Motte camping area and only a couple of miles north of the NP gate.
We drove east on the dirt track, crossed the intersection with FR610 to Dog Pt and found several absolutely awesome camping sites on the rim. We were blown away. It was our first trip to the north rim and we are anxious to return.
The track led beyond our campsite for a couple of miles and the last pic below is taken on that road.
The photos below don't do the views justice, but that's my fault.
I might suggest acquiring the Kaibab National Forest, North Kaibab Ranger District map. The 1994 version was revised in 2003 and gives an excellent overview of the area. I believe you can purchase it on line. You can start at this site
http://gorp.away.com//gorp/resource/us_national_forest/main.htm
Have a ball. We did.
Last summer (August) we were shut out of a couple of the longer drives owing to wash-outs from T-storms, but we lucked out when we stopped at the NFS office in Jacob Lk. They told us about several tracks leading off to the east with views.
One of the nice things about the Kaibab NF here is that dispersed camping is allowed. We were told that Dog Point is nice, but we chose the East Rim Viewpoint area about 24 miles ± south of J Lk since we were towing the ATRV. The turnoff (FR611) is just past the De Motte camping area and only a couple of miles north of the NP gate.
We drove east on the dirt track, crossed the intersection with FR610 to Dog Pt and found several absolutely awesome camping sites on the rim. We were blown away. It was our first trip to the north rim and we are anxious to return.
The track led beyond our campsite for a couple of miles and the last pic below is taken on that road.
The photos below don't do the views justice, but that's my fault.
I might suggest acquiring the Kaibab National Forest, North Kaibab Ranger District map. The 1994 version was revised in 2003 and gives an excellent overview of the area. I believe you can purchase it on line. You can start at this site
http://gorp.away.com//gorp/resource/us_national_forest/main.htm
Have a ball. We did.
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DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
Hltoppr said:
Word! Toroweap is about 60 miles south of St. George and is remote. Bring plenty of water, extra fuel and you really need to be about as self reliant as anywhere in the Lower 48. I carried one spare and ended up with two flats by the time we got back to Fredonia (I also carry plugs to repair tires, which saved my bacon).
We pulled in at night, which can be unnerving since there are no fences, rails or any other man made hand holding developing to protect you from doing something stupid. A couple of the sites are only a few yards from the edge of the overlook, which is one of the most sheer drops into a canyon anywhere, better than 2000' straight down.
S
Scenic WonderRunner
Guest
OK!!!!!!!!!..........
You guys are getting me ALL Excited about doing this trip!!!!!!!!!!!
So just stop already!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....or I'll be spending over $300 in gasoline.....doing this trip!....and I'll balme it on you!.....:elkgrin:
You guys are getting me ALL Excited about doing this trip!!!!!!!!!!!
So just stop already!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....or I'll be spending over $300 in gasoline.....doing this trip!....and I'll balme it on you!.....:elkgrin:
Dave Bennett
Adventurist
Cool!
Awesome advice here, I'll have to check that out.
I went to the south rim last summer, I hiked down bright angel trail all the way to phantom ranch AND back in one day. 9am to 9pm. I'm not kidding, I was almost crawling coming back up in the dark. But, I had to do it and now I cant wait to go back and explore other parts of the canyon. That was the trip of a lifetime...
:victory:
Awesome advice here, I'll have to check that out.
I went to the south rim last summer, I hiked down bright angel trail all the way to phantom ranch AND back in one day. 9am to 9pm. I'm not kidding, I was almost crawling coming back up in the dark. But, I had to do it and now I cant wait to go back and explore other parts of the canyon. That was the trip of a lifetime...
:victory:
azskyrider
Observer
Jacob's Lake and Lee's ferry.
I have been hunting in Kaibab by Jacobs Lake for years. You can camp almost any where. If you pick up a forest service map the roads are laid out with markers and they are pretty good. A lot of wild life to see and track. There are some spots where you can still find some dinosaur footprints. I stumbled across one by accident while Hunting thinking I was all alone. Kind of made it spooky in a Jurasic Park sort of way.
In any event, the best part about jacobs lake is that there are many hiking trails with distant markers and maps. The markers were laid out so many 100 +feet so you basically walk marker to marker and not get lost. Some walking trails will criss cross incase you wanted to walk to a certain area and along the way there would be a sign telling you how many miles a direction will take you. The walking trails were nothing huge. 5 miles I think was the longest 1 way. These trails are nice and easy offering some really great scenery. It is also a short distance to Lee's Ferry. Great for excersize and they are short walking trails.
I highly recommend it.
I have been hunting in Kaibab by Jacobs Lake for years. You can camp almost any where. If you pick up a forest service map the roads are laid out with markers and they are pretty good. A lot of wild life to see and track. There are some spots where you can still find some dinosaur footprints. I stumbled across one by accident while Hunting thinking I was all alone. Kind of made it spooky in a Jurasic Park sort of way.
In any event, the best part about jacobs lake is that there are many hiking trails with distant markers and maps. The markers were laid out so many 100 +feet so you basically walk marker to marker and not get lost. Some walking trails will criss cross incase you wanted to walk to a certain area and along the way there would be a sign telling you how many miles a direction will take you. The walking trails were nothing huge. 5 miles I think was the longest 1 way. These trails are nice and easy offering some really great scenery. It is also a short distance to Lee's Ferry. Great for excersize and they are short walking trails.
I highly recommend it.
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azskyrider
Observer
Mike S said:
I struck up a conversation with a young lady who works there last year inquiring about after all these years the people still look the same, age, hair, skin color etc... Then she gave me the low down.The place is run by Mormons and most are Uni. students from Utah who come there to volunteer their time. They stay up there for a long period of time up to a year. No TV, Movies, Cars,trips home (not even for the holidays) and they basically work all day Monday thru Saturday. I asked what they did during the whole year with no time off to even go back home to visit . She said they all share one big room and they sing, dance, charity work and pray. During their time off they will go out and go hiking but no traveling back to the city. They all look and act innocent. Something you don't normaly see in people their age now a days. Good looking people. She also told me that there is a waiting list to get accepted to put there time in that place. I was shocked in a good way. At that age I do not think I could hack that much solitude from the outside world. The more I spoke with her, I met the others that said some were happy and others that were dieing to get out and party. I admire they have devotion to their faith to give up a little time of their youth to offer up their time for service to their faith.
They also told me that they also do not accept tips since they are not getting paid. If you leave a tip it goes to the owner of the store not to them. She told me other things and I saw her again some time later. She said she was now going back to BYU and finishing her degree. Very nice lady and I hope she is happy. Always nice to see people in such a cheery mood.
Nice friendly place.
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Ted
New member
Okay, so my July trip to the North Rim has now morphed into a trip to Chicago with a pub crawl and wine tasting (The whole point of the trip was Marilyn's b-day and she has changed her mind.) Still an expedition, one could perhaps argue; but one a little more akin to Hunter S. Thompson vs. Chris Scott.
However, I am now SERIOUSLY jonesing for this North Rim Camping Trip, and will probably look at one around Labor Day weekend. All the info on Toroweep has me definitely drooling.
Anyone care to meet up?
Cheers,
Ted
However, I am now SERIOUSLY jonesing for this North Rim Camping Trip, and will probably look at one around Labor Day weekend. All the info on Toroweep has me definitely drooling.
Anyone care to meet up?
Cheers,
Ted
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