To and at North Rim

  Monday 21st

Earlyish, well off by 9am, start to go to the North Rim which as I previously mentioned is approx 12 miles north of where we started but some 230 miles by road. The canyon or rather the Colorado River and tributaries make going in a straight line a little difficult. We would have walked it! but we had the rv.

Again the majority of the journey was hot and dusty with desert scrub plateau scenery being the norm.
Stopped at Cameron Trading post where we bought an Indian Clown, they were traditionally clowns who taught by fooling around and showing how stupid it was to do such things in normal life i.e. eat a whole water melon in one go.

Crossed the Colorado river on the replica bridge built alongside the Navajo bridge built in 1927, I think the first bridge across the Colorado from there onward and upward to the North Rim.



As we got higher and over 6500 to 7000ft the scenery changed quite dramatically and started to become alpine in nature with tree both pines and aspen and long large fertile pastured valleys. Quite open grassed area and all very relaxing after a lot of desert.  The area was all national park so uninhabited
and completely non commercialised.  Huge forest fires had taken out large areas at the beginning  of the road into the North rim and after 5 years this was starting to regenerate.  Aspen first which like open damp areas to grow followed by the pines which require the shade of the aspen to start growing.

The aspen is a lovely tree shining white bark and super yellow green leaves, tall 100ft or more but the early spring leaves on the smaller trees were gorgeous shimmering and whispering in the sun and breezes.

North rim is much quieter than the south, one hotel or lodge and one campground. Many dedicated walkers in the area which is obviously more temperate than the south rim and we walked some four miles along the edges of the canyon from camp to Lodge and back.  With the different flora and fauna the north rim has far fewer points to view the canyon and apart from around the lodge you have to travel some 20 miles by car for other dedicated views.  I have no doubt the brave can scramble through trees and bushes to other vantage points on the edge but hidden dangers are stressed advising against this occupation.  As with all national parks there is no commercialism so you bring your own food drink etc where ever you go, we are ok with the rv as it is all self contained.

North v South  we enjoyed the north as it was more restful and softer scenery, more European I suppose but the canyon was missing a lot of the time.  To see the whole scope of the canyon the South is the definite starting place with some 12 miles or so of direct views out over the rim so for limited time the south has the vote but visit the north later if possible.