Grand Canyon.. North Rim

Welcome to one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Grand Canyon was on my list of priorities - somehow, despite expressed and unexpressed desires, it never came about despite numerous trips to the USA over the last ten years. However, not one to easily let go, I sounded out my kids - now full-blown adults - for a trip to GC over the July 4th weekend, 2019. To my happy surprise and a bit of astonishment, they undertook planning and arranging the trip.

Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide, and attains a depth of over a mile. Located in the northwest corner of Arizona, close to the borders of Utah and Nevada, it was carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries which cut through layers of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted, over the centuries.

Landing in Vegas a day before, we had a restful night and a hearty meal at 3 am at the Cosmopolitan before setting off on our road trip to North Rim. The five-hour Arizona road trip from Vegas to the Grand Canyon might seem like an endless stretch over desolate land but it is indeed an experience. Putting on my favorite playlists that the kids indulged, we sang along with the Sound of Music, Cats, Alice, La La Land, and before Freddie Mercury could complete Bohemian Rhapsody, we reached our destination Burro Flats.

Burro flats high desert lodge is on the outskirts of Kanab city, rural natural surroundings with cliff side view. The Air BnB hosts were warm and welcoming and threw the house open to us. The spacious and cheerful kitchen greeted the weary travelers. Sitting by the verandah we watched the sun set and heard the sounds of silence speak with awesome nature as the earth and sky bonded. As the darkness descended, the stars glittered like Lucy in the sky with diamonds. The moon arose casting a warm glow and we wondered how it would be on the Dark side of the moon. With no city lights as far as the eye could reach, we sat, each with his or her own thought in contemplative silence as time ticked away the moments that made up a thrilling day!

We woke up the next morning to stillness and the penetrating streak of light from the sun. Sanchitram and I wanted to catch the sunrise over the mountains. The crisp chill air cut through our clothes and dampened our cheeks as we stepped out. We felt that we were the only individuals left in the world as we trekked. Taking deep breaths, as if to conserve the freshness, we smelt the exhilarating smells of sage and other herbs around. As it dawned the shimmering rays cast sunshine over the mountains of Kenab. The incredible golden light bathed the distant mesas turning them to a vibrant red. The red mountains surrounding the desert community enveloped by the eternal blue skies were a vision that one wished to remain forever.

After a hearty breakfast we set off for our drive to the North Rim. The drive of two hours was filled with spectacular views every minute of our journey. The road was narrow and windy, with long meadows and pine trees. We stopped at the LeFevre outlook for sweeping views of the grand staircase and colorful cliffs.


Bright Angel Point is by far the most popular viewpoint in the North Rim. It starts at the Grand Canyon Lodge which is a great place to buy souvenirs, take a rest, or grab a bite. The total trial length is .7 miles in length round trip. Although paved, the trail is steep in a few places. There are park rangers who patrol the path. They are good to talk to if you have questions. Because the North Rim is about 1,000 ft higher than the South Rim, this view looking down to the South Rim is breathtaking.


My fear of heights was much more pronounced at the North Rim. There are no walls separating the visitors from the canyon's edge. It was terrifying to walk on the edge and look out into the open space. Watching people especially my children get dangerously close to the edge in order to get a good shot for Instagram was nerve-wracking. They insisted on me to get some Insta shots. Egged by my children, I managed to get over my fear and stood by the edge of some great pictures.
After a lunch break at the Grand Canyon lodge, we decided to walk to the Coconino Overlook. It is a 1.3-mile out-and-back trail. It was a relatively safe hike with no sudden drops/edges. The views on the way down were nice, however, the path is filled with mule puddles and flies. It was smelly and we were in a hurry to get to the overlook point. Some parts of the trial were very dusty and a bit hard to walk through. We wished to hike to the tunnel point, however, we had a long journey to South Rim. Stopping at Coconino overlook we sat by the edge of the rocks and soaked in the beautiful views of the canyon. The return hike was strenuous and hot. It was around 3 pm. We were happy to get to the start of the trail and rest our weary legs before our drive to the South Rim.

Time spent at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is like no other adventure you will experience. Its remote wilderness, overwhelming size,  and incredible Canyon views with its colorful landscape are unbeatable. Whatever one reads on the net, some of which have stunning pictures and extremely well-expressed blogs, it does not prepare one for the actual reality. which is beyond expectations. I thank my dear children Shruthi and Sanchitram for this incredible holiday experience.