Goldens on the Road: The Grand Canyon

Monday, June 24, 2019

The Grand Canyon – North Rim

The Grand Canyon – North Rim

Thousands of people visit the Grand Canyon every year: In fact the South Rim receives about Five Million visitors annually while the North Rim hosts around One Million visitors annually and the West Rim hosts about 200,000 visitors annually. According to the National Park Service these numbers rise each year. So, since we had both been to the South Rim in the past we decided to visit the North Rim this time.

According to the National Park Service the North Rim is a whopping 8,000 Feet high vs the South Rim at 7,000 Feet. Typically the South Rim is open year round while the North Rim is only open from Mid-May to Mid-October. Weather extremes do occur at either Rim from time to time. You know … Mother Nature can be unpredictable!!! The North Rim receives more precipitation, the temperatures are cooler and the forests are thicker than the South Rim.

Observing the awesomeness of the Grand Canyon from the North Rim or the South Rim is magnificent! So if you have never been to the Grand Canyon please add it to your ‘bucket’ list as you will not regret it!

We found the North Rim to be more remote with little variety among the tours and activities offered. Activities are typically limited to camping (tents and really small RV’s … we were in an RV Park well outside of the National Park!) Hiking, walking, mule rides, horseback riding and river rafting. There is a lovely Park Lodge and Cabins if you would like to stay in the Park.

The photo below is of Brighty, the most legendary Burro of the Grand Canyon. Visitors stroke Brighty's nose for good luck. Brighty survived in the Canon for 30 years, had a children's book written after his memory and a movie made both called "Brighty of the Grand Canyon".

Sooooo … not being ones for riding on animals or rivers we enjoyed ourselves by hiking and walking through some of the beautiful forests. We did take the Goldens with us to the park so these hikes were limited to where dogs were allowed to go. That was ok, as you can see we had multiple opportunities to enjoy the views of the Canyon and the Park … And plenty of the other guests in the Park certainly enjoyed visiting with Ivy Rose and Isabella Blue (or Izzy for short!).