Grand Canyon National Park
North Rim Visitor Services
Grand Canyon National Park at the North Rim is located in northern Arizona, 215 miles by road from the South Rim. Of the more than 4.6 million visitors to the Grand Canyon in 2005, only about 10 percent traveled to the more remote north side.
The North Rim, however, is certainly within reach. Route 67, leaving U.S. 89A at the junction near Jacob Lake, is the scenic Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway. Follow it 43 miles through forests and meadows to the majestic North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The road is closed from November to mid-May.
Park Fees: Effective May 1, entrance to the North and South rims is $25 per car and $12 per pedestrian or bicyclist (good for seven days). A 12-month Grand Canyon Pass is $50. You can also purchase the America the Beautiful—National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for $80 (see page 10 for more information).There is a backcountry fee of $10 for a permit and $5 per person per night.
Visitor Center: The NPS North Rim Visitor Center is adjacent to Grand Canyon Lodge. Staff members can answer your questions regarding the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas. Exhibits, books for sale and accessible restrooms are also available. Park rangers at the North Rim offer numerous free, fun and educational activities including nature walks, geology talks and evening programs. For general park information, call (928) 638-7888.
A free newspaper, The Guide, lists services and activities, including times and descriptions of current park programs. Pick up a copy of the North Rim edition, which is distributed at park entrances, or at the information desk.
Camping: Please see page 74 for more information.
Dining: Grand Canyon Lodge Dining Room is rustic yet elegant and offers superb views of the canyon. Food service includes children's menus and is available daily, usually from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations are required for dinner. Call (928) 638-2611 for more information.
Deli in the Pines is also located in the Grand Canyon Lodge complex (open daily during mealtimes). Picnic lunches may be ordered from the cashier. Please try to order the day before.
Rough Rider Saloon, open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., is located in the Grand Canyon Lodge Complex.
Coffee Saloon (in the Rough Rider Saloon) offers fine coffees, bagels and baked goods. Open 5:30 to 10:30 a.m. daily. Light fare, appetizers and cocktails are served after noon.
The General Store, which is located near the campground, serves fast-food items. Call (928) 638-2611 for current hours of operation.
Gasoline: Gasoline is available on the access road leading to the North Rim Campground. No diesel is available. Please call (928) 638-2611 for current hours. Five miles north of the park boundary, gas and diesel are available at the North Rim Country Store (except during winter).
Gifts: Gifts and souvenirs, including American Indian crafts, may be purchased at the gift shop in the Grand Canyon Lodge complex. Call (928) 638-2611 for current hours.
Groceries: Groceries, camping and backpacking supplies, and sundries are available at the General Store, located across from the North Rim Campground. For current hours, please call (928) 638-2611.
Guided and Self-Guiding Tours: Horse or mule trail rides are available. Schedules for each are posted in the lobby of Grand Canyon Lodge where tickets may also be purchased. For advance reservations, contact Canyon Trail Rides, P.O. Box 128, Tropic, UT 84776; or call (435) 679-8665.
If you prefer to drive, several points of interest are easily reached by car. See "Sights to See" on page 72 for more information.
Hiking: Please see page 74 for more information.
Lodging: Grand Canyon Lodge was originally designed in the 1920s by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who also designed The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite and the lodges at Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks. Underwood's design burned down in the 1930s and was rebuilt to a differ-ent design.
A National Historic Landmark, the lodge is an informal and spacious hotel. Constructed of massive limestone walls and timbered ceilings, it features dramatic vistas of the canyon and the surrounding area. Its rustic style complements the canyon rim environment.
As a general rule, accommodations are in heavy demand May through October. Prospective visitors should try to make their reservations several months in advance, if possible. Contact Xanterra Parks & Resorts®, 6312 S. Fiddlers Green Circle #600 N, Greenwood Village, CO 80111; (303) 29-PARKS (297-2757) or toll-free at (888) 297-2757; or visit online at www.GrandCanyonNorthRim.com. The reservations office is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (MST), seven-days-a-week.
Medical Emergencies: Dial 911 from a pay phone or residence. Dial 9-911 from your hotel/motel room.
Post Office: A post office is located in the Grand Canyon Lodge complex.
Religious Services: Interdenominational services presented by a Christian Ministry in the National Parks are held Sundays on the lodge veranda, in the lodge auditorium or at the campground amphitheater. Sunrise services are held every Wednesday on the lodge veranda. Check at the lodge desk for exact times and locations.
RV Facilities: Motor homes and trailers up to 35 feet long can be accommodated at the North Rim Campground. A sanitary dump station is available. There are no hookups.
Showers and Laundry: Showers and laundry are located near the North Rim Campground. Call Grand Canyon Lodge at (928) 638-2611 for current hours.
Special Services -: Many North Rim viewpoints, facilities and some trails are wheelchair-accessible, or accessible with assistance. Inquire at the NPS Visitor Center near the lodge for an Accessibility Guide.
Weather Information: Please call (928) 638-7888 for information.
Park Address: For any additional information, contact Grand Canyon National Park at the North Rim. Please write: P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023; (928) 638-7888.
Grand Canyon In Depth
News from the Parks
Ken Burns on Vacation/Location at Glacier National Park
September 5, 2008 - 1:39pm
It's too early for civilians. As dawn's first light falls on the jagged peaks, creeps down the dwindling glaciers and glides across glass-faced Swiftcurrent Lake, most of the tourists in the Many Glacier Hotel are still snoozing.
September 5, 2008 - 1:39pm
It's too early for civilians. As dawn's first light falls on the jagged peaks, creeps down the dwindling glaciers and glides across glass-faced Swiftcurrent Lake, most of the tourists in the Many Glacier Hotel are still snoozing.
Town Government Rejected by Tusayan
September 5, 2008 - 12:15pm
Tusayan voters have rejected creating a town government for their small community just outside Grand Canyon National Park. Voters turned down incorporation 69-56 in a divisive election over development issues. "We once again said no to massive commercial development here in Tusayan," said Clarinda Vail, a spokeswoman for the Vote No on Tusayan Incorporation group.
September 5, 2008 - 12:15pm
Tusayan voters have rejected creating a town government for their small community just outside Grand Canyon National Park. Voters turned down incorporation 69-56 in a divisive election over development issues. "We once again said no to massive commercial development here in Tusayan," said Clarinda Vail, a spokeswoman for the Vote No on Tusayan Incorporation group.
Tauck Hosts its 10,000th Guest-Volunteer in Yellowstone National Park
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
Dupuyer Elementary School Offering Students Unique Learning Experiences
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
Boston Trustees Discuss Township Issues
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
