Grand Canyon 1 Day North Rim Itinerary

North Rim Scenic Vistas - 1 Day Grand Canyon Itinerary

The North Rim is the much less visited side of Grand Canyon, but it includes some of the most captivating views of the canyon for those who are willing to go the distance to get there. Only open during the summer months, the North Rim’s scenic drive takes you 11 miles along a dirt road that includes multiple scenic overlooks (including Bright Angel Point and Cape Royal) before ending at Point Imperial. Bring food (and maybe even a bottle of wine) so you can spend a leisurely day exploring before taking in a world-famous Grand Canyon sunset. This self-guided itinerary is best started from Page, AZ or Kanab, UT and includes Bright Angel Point/North Rim Lodge, Cape Royal and Point Imperial. Read the full one day itinerary below to learn more.

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Self-Guided Itinerary Details

Grand Canyon's North Rim:

The best locations to begin this trip from Page, AZ or Kanab, UT. To get to Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim, you’ll turn at Jacob Lake onto Highway 67S. A quick stop at the Jacob Lake Inn is well worth it to enjoy one of their famous cookies or milkshakes.

From Jacob Lake you’ll enjoy a scenic 45-mile drive through the forests and meadows of the Kaibab Plateau before you arrive at the national park entrance station. Once you enter the park, follow signs for the visitor center or North Rim Lodge.
Take the short and easy 1-mile roundtrip hike to Bright Angel Point for a grand and sweeping view of Grand Canyon.
The North Rim Lodge is a great place to enjoy lunch or a cold drink (on the outdoor porch if you can!) before heading out to Cape Royal Road for the rest of the day. Cape Royal Road is unpaved but passable for passenger vehicles, no four-wheel drive required. There are numerous scenic overlooks along the way, and you should stop at all of them—Point Imperial, Vista Ecantada, Roosevelt Point and Cape Royal.
There are a couple of options for scenic, flat day hikes along Cape Royal Road including Ken Patrick Trail from Point Imperial (up to 6 miles roundtrip) and Cape Final Trail (4.2 miles roundtrip). Timing a sunset at Cape Royal will reward you with an epic view and some once in a lifetime Grand Canyon photos.