From the south rim of the Grand Canyon we made the trip over to the North Rim. This is about a 7 hour drive and takes you way east and north to cross the Colorado River at Marble Canyon. From Marble Canyon we travelled north and west again and finally south to the North Rim. The North Rim is higher than the south by about 2,000 ft. I think it offers the more beautiful aspects of the canyon, but the south is more popular perhaps because it is easier to access. Unfortunately, the North Rim has much less capacity for camping and we did not have a reservation and there was not on-the-spot availability. We left the North Rim and headed north into Utah as the sun set and were treated to spectacular views of the rising “staircase” of the Colorado Plateau. Unfortunately, the sun was extremely oblique and good pictures were not possible — Sigh!

The beauty of the river at the Marble Canyon.This picture shows why I like the North Rim best. First, the colours are more vivid and varied and second, many more features are visible and closer to the viewer. This photo is taken from Point Royal and looks south and a little east towards Desert View. You can see the step anticline along the southern rim (in the far distance) and the Painted Desert to the left.This picture shows more beautiful colour in a view directly east from the northern part of Point Royal. You can see the Colorado River meandering in a smaller canyon as it disappears in the distance at Marble Canyon. You can't actually see Marble Canyon but you can see the Vermillion cliffs in the distance which are just north and west of Marble canyon.This photo looks out from near the North Rim Lodge and looks straight south. The San Francisco mountains are visible on the horizon. Flagstaff is just south of these mountains. The North Kaibab trail runs down into the valley running from lower centre up and to the right.The view from the eastern edge of Point Royal. The Navajo Mountain at the southern end of the Glen Canyon recreational area in Utah is visible on the horizon.

 

Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) 2001
Bryce Canyon 2001