The North Rim Campground is located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona, approximately 212 miles from the South Rim's Grand Canyon Village area. The canyon's rustic and less populated North Rim is home to abundant wildlife, hiking trails, and unparalleled views of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
The facility is at an elevation of 8,200 feet, with pleasant summer temperatures and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. There may still be snow on the ground when the campground opens in mid-May; likewise, it may snow before the last reservation day in mid-October. Because of this variability, visitors should come prepared for any weather.
Campground:
A picnic table and campfire ring with a cooking grill exists at every campsite. Water spigots and fully plumbed restrooms with utility sinks are available throughout the main campground. The tent-only section has a vault toilet nearby, but tent campers are allowed to use the main campground's facilities as well. All sites in the main campground are pull-throughs and are measured for the combined length of an RV/trailer and tow vehicle. Due to the heavily forested landscape, RV/trailer awnings may not be accommodated depending on the site. The tent-only section can only accommodate a single vehicle per parking spot. Satellite parking for extra vehicles is available by the campground kiosk. The campground kiosk is open during normal business hours for reservation check-in and general information.
Visitor Services:
The Grand Canyon Lodge (concessionaire) operates the General Store, showers/laundry facility, and gas station that are located near the campground. The General Store is open seven days a week. The showers/laundry facility hours are posted on the doors and may change throughout the season. Showers and laundry machines are coin-operated; a change machine is located in the laundry room. During park-wide water restrictions, the showers/laundry facility may be closed to conserve water. The gas station is open 24/7 for credit/debit card customers. The Grand Canyon Lodge offers sit-down and grab-and-go food services everyday through October 15th.
The Grand Canyon Lodge and North Rim Visitor Center are one mile south of the campground. The nearest town is Jacob Lake, 41 miles away, and the closest full-service grocery stores and medical facilities are in Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona.
North Rim Campground to reopen June 9th for 2023 summer season
NORTH RIM, Ariz.—The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open on Friday, June 2 at 6 a.m. to mark the official start of the 2023 season. Following a record-setting snow season, this delayed opening is necessary to ensure the safe plowing of State Route 67 and allow staff to reopen visitor facilities on the North Rim.
“We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our neighbors and visitors with this delay as our partners and park staff work to open the North Rim roads, trails, and facilities safely,” said Superintendent Ed Keable.
Key changes this 2023 season include:
April 12-June 2
Trail closure of the North Kaibab Trail from Cottonwood Campground to the North Kaibab Trailhead.
During the winter season, the North Kaibab Trail and North Rim pipeline received significant damage from rockfall and landslides, making many areas unsafe and impassable for inner canyon hikers. In order to safely rebuild and maintain the North Kaibab Trail and repair damaged sections of pipeline, there will be a continuous trail closure in effect from April 12-June 2, 2023. The closure area will be from Cottonwood Campground to the North Kaibab Trailhead. No hikers will be allowed to pass through this area under any circumstances.
June 2
The Visitor Contact Station will reopen, and daily ranger-led programs will resume.
The Grand Canyon Conservancy Bookstore will reopen.
The Backcountry Information Center will reopen.
Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations, including lodging, groceries, retail, food and beverage services, shower and laundry and the gas station, are anticipated to open. The lodge dining room will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with reservations required for dinner service.
Questions on overnight lodging reservations for North Rim facilities may be made by contacting Aramark Destinations at 877- 386-4383 or by visiting their website at www.grandcanyonnorth.com.
Mule ride services will be available to the public. For information on Grand Canyon Trail Rides, please call 435-679-8665 or visit their website at canyonrides.com
June 9
The North Rim Campground will reopen.
Reservations for the North Rim Campground must be made by calling 877-444-6777 or online at recreation.gov. Campground reservations outside of the park at Demotte Campground, located on the Kaibab National Forest, can be made by online through recreation.gov.
July 1
The Cape Royal and Point Imperial Roads will reopen to the public. Snow removal, damage assessment, and road repairs necessitate the closure of these roads until this date to ensure visitor and worker safety. The gate will be locked near State Route 67 to allow workers to complete the full extent of the road improvement project.
The W1, W1a, W4, and the Fire Point Road which access the Widforss Trail, Point Sublime, the North Bass Trailhead, and other destinations on the Kaibab Plateau within the park, will be reopen to the public. These closures are necessary to protect park resources and allow crews to remove downed trees currently blocking the routes.
All other roads including State Route 67 will remain open to vehicle traffic through the end of the season.
For more information on visiting the North Rim during the 2023 season, please visit: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm.
Open Season:
UPDATE: Due to the significant snowpack, the North Rim Campground will not reopen for the season until June 9, 2023.
The North Rim Campground is open from May 15, 2023 to October 15, 2023. Campsites are by reservation only; there are no first-come, first-served sites. This campground is consistently full during the season, but other camping options are available outside of the park in the Kaibab National Forest.
No-Show and Refund Policy:
No-shows after 24 hours will forfeit their reservation and the site will be released for resale.
No refunds after your scheduled date of arrival.
Check In/Out:
Check-in begins at 12:00 PM and check-out is by 11:00 AM. This campground is on Arizona time (MST). Campers may not check in any earlier than 12:00 PM.
Operating hours of the campground kiosk regularly change for operational needs and thus not advertised through Recreation.gov; however, hours will be posted on the front window for arriving campers. The kiosk is closed for 1/2 hour for lunch in the afternoon.
It is recommended to arrive at the campground during daylight hours as Highway 67 into the park is a very long, remote drive (no cell service for 40 miles) and wildlife like deer are abundant. Campers arriving after-hours will find their campsite assignment posted at the Campground Kiosk and must confirm their reservation with the camp host the next morning.
Site Dimensions:
Campsites are measured to accommodate the combined length of an RV/trailer and tow vehicle. Sites range from 15-40 feet in length; please verify your combined length before booking a site as campground staff may not be able to accommodate your equipment. Satellite parking is available by the Campground Kiosk if a tow vehicle will not fit into the site.
Note: the Scenic Road to Point Imperial and Cape Royal is limited to a vehicle length of 22 feet (6.7 meters) maximum.
Site Requirements:
All vehicles must remain on the pavement and pull in according to the one-way traffic pattern. Some sites are left-sided pull-ins, and thus, typical trailer doors will be positioned on the opposite side of the site's picnic table and fire pit.
Camper Courtesy:
Quiet hours are 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM Arizona time (MST).
Do not walk through anyone else's campsite; please remain on the pavement if walking to the restrooms or dumpsters.
Do not bathe, wash dishes, or do laundry at the water spigots.
Keep pets leashed and under your control at all times; do not leave pets unattended.
Generators and Dump Station:
There are no water/electrical/sewer hook-ups. Generator use is limited to the hours of 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Arizona time (MST). Generators cannot be used outside of these hours.
A dump station and fresh water fill-up is located near the campground entrance and is free to use.
Protect Wildlife:
Deer, ravens, coyotes, squirrels, and other wildlife frequent the area.
All food must be stored in a vehicle or hardsided container.
Do not leave trash bags unattended. If wildlife rip open the bag and disperse the trash, it is your responsibility to clean it up. Dumpsters are located throughout the campground.
Do not leave clotheslines, hammocks, or sports nets up when not in immediate use; this will prevent wildlife from becoming ensnared.
Campfires:
Do not gather wood or vegetation; firewood is for purchase at the General Store by the campground. Campfires must be burned in designated fire pits. Fire restrictions are common throughout the season.
Showers and Laundry:
Shower/laundry facility is operated by the concessionaire. Water restrictions are common throughout the season and these facilities may be closed to conserve water.
Livestock:
The North Rim Campground cannot accommodate livestock. Visitors planning on coming to the North Rim with livestock must contact the Backcountry Information Office at (928) 638-7875 Monday-Friday from 1:00 PM-5:00 PM Arizona time (MST).
Vehicles per Standard Campsite:
No more than two (2) passenger vehicles -OR- an RV towing one (1) passenger vehicle -OR- one (1) passenger vehicle towing a trailer.
Any vehicle that you sleep in (campervan, rooftop camper, pick-up truck camper, passenger car, etc.) is considered an RV/trailer and may only accommodate one (1) additional passenger vehicle; ie. two (2) campervans may not occupy the same site.
Tents per Standard Campsite:
Limited to three (3) small tents -OR- one tent (1) in addition to an RV, trailer, campervan, rooftop camper, or pick-up truck camper.
Tent-Only Sites:
Limited to (1) large tent -OR- two (2) small tents. Sites are approximately 100 feet from parking area. No more than one (1) passenger vehicle. No RVs, trailers, campervans, rooftop campers, or pick-up truck campers are permitted. A vault toilet is provided near the tent-only section but tent campers may use the main campground's facilities.
Group Sites:
Only tents are permitted and parking is limited to three (3) passenger vehicles per site. No RVs, trailers, campervans, rooftop campers, or pick-up truck campers are permitted. Satellite parking is available by the Campground Kiosk for additional vehicles.
North Rim Campground is shaded by large Ponderosa pines interspersed with aspens, which turn golden-yellow in the early fall. The campground borders Transept Canyon, a side canyon that drains into the main canyon, providing a stunning view for the premium campsites. The North Rim lies on the Kaibab Plateau, an area that has been uplifted by geologic processes, making it higher in elevation. Many species of wildlife call the Kaibab home, including the tassel-eared Kaibab squirrel which is found nowhere else in the world. A short walk along the Transept Trail or a visit to the Grand Canyon Lodge during sunrise or sunset yields spectacular views of yellow, orange, red and violet on the canyon walls. Although there is no view of the Colorado River from North Rim, layers of rock display billions of years of geologic history.
Hiking is the most popular activity for visitors. Campers have access to the Transept Trail, an unpaved trail that travels along the rim to the North Rim Visitor Center and the Grand Canyon Lodge, as well as the Bridle Path, a well-maintained gravel trail, which cuts through the forest and connects with the North Kaibab Trail. The North Kaibab Trail descends into the Inner Canyon and is a short walk from the campground.
The Bridle Path and Arizona Trail (across the park road from North Kaibab Trail parking lot) are the only trails that allow bikes and pets. Bikes and pets are prohibited on all other park trails, including the North Kaibab Trail into the Inner Canyon.
The scenic Cape Royal Road is two miles north of the campground. This scenic drive provides access to Point Imperial, Cape Royal, and Cape Final. Vehicles longer than 22 feet are prohibited from driving this road.
The Point Sublime Road (also marked as W-1 on some maps) provides access to the Widforss Trail. Vehicles longer than 22 feet are prohibited from driving this road.
NPS. GENERAL DELIVERY North Rim AZ 86052
For campground inquiries, please call: 928-638-7814
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North Rim Campground is 210 driving miles (4.5 hours) north of Mather Campground on the South Rim.
This facility is located at the end of State Highway 67, about 41 miles (66 km) south of Jacob Lake, AZ, 87 miles (140 km) south of Kanab, UT, and 120 miles (193 km) southwest of Page, AZ. Highway 67 is the only road into and out of the North Rim. There is no access by road across the canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim.
From State Highway 89A, take Highway 67 south for 30 miles (48 km) to the Grand Canyon North Rim Entrance Station. The North Rim Campground is located about 11.5 miles (18.5 km) further. The campground is the second right after the North Kaibab Trailhead parking area (past the turn for the Administration and Backcountry office) and down the road beyond the Sinclair gas station.