Cape Royal Road Along The North Rim

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim, and you won't find the South Rim crowds here. The Cape Royal Royal Road provides you with a nice drive along the North Rim. The road is about 23 miles in length and you should plan a full day to stop and explore all the North Rim has to offer.

The historic Grand Canyon Lodge is a popular destination. The Lodge was originally built in the 1920s on the rim of the Grand Canyon. A fire during 1932 caused the lodge to be rebuilt. Be sure to visit the Sun Room to view Bright Angel Canyon which cuts 11 miles into the plateau. Look for the Brahma, Deva, and Zoroaster Temples.

From the pamplet box next to the log shelter at the parking lot, you can get a self-guided brochure. From the parking lot, you can follow the paved trail to Bright Angel Point. This point divides Roaring Springs Canyon from the Transept Canyon. If you listen carefully, you can hear Roaring Springs cascading from a cave which is 3,000 feet below the rim.

If you want to take a nice walk, you can follow the level Transept Trail 1.5 miles along the North Rim. If you want to get a little more excercise, take a short hike on the North Kaibab Trail. Don't travel too far down the North Kaibab Trail because it is quite a hike back to the rim of the canyon.

From Grand Canyon Lodge, you will drive 3 miles north to Cape Royal Road. This is one of the most scenic drives in Grand Canyon National Park. You will drive through forests of fir, spruce, ponderosa pine and aspen. Be sure to look for mule deer early in the morning and evenings. The white-tailed Kaibab squirrel is also found in the forests of the North Rim on the Kaibab Plateau.

A great spot to watch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon is at Point Imperial. You will need to turn off the Cape Royal Road and drive about 3 miles to the 8,800 foot viewpoint. Point Imperial is the highest viewpoint on either rim of the Grand Canyon.

Once you return to the Cape Royal Road, you will travel through the Walhalla Plateau. Make sure you stop at Vista Encantada for spectacular views of the northeastern canyon and the pinnacles of Tritle and Brady peaks.

The road will end at the Cape Royal parking lot. You can follow a half-mile nature trail that leads past Angels Window. From the overlook, you can see Vishnu Temple and Wotans Throne. Far across the canyon, you can see the Palisades of the Desert. This overlook provides a great place to watch the sun set which provides for a nice ending to your day along the Cape Royal Road.