![\"grca-n-rim-reading.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/tour.airstreamlife.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/09\/grca-n-rim-reading.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIn western terms it’s not a long drive from Kanab, UT down to the north rim “\u201c about two hours, versus three days in the horse-and-buggy era before the road was put in. \u00a0 But to get here is still a challenge for people, and so the north rim sees much less visitation than the south rim. People come here for the calmer, less crowded atmosphere, where you can sit and enjoy the views for hours without sitting in the midst of a mob.<\/p>\n
Here’s a quick comparison of North versus South rims:<\/p>\n
North Rim:<\/p>\n
Much less crowded; good opportunities for solitude
\nLess development (hotels, shopping, restaurants). One lodge.
\nMore 4WD roads
\nHigher elevation (about 8,200 feet at the lodge)
\nColder (closed after Oct 15)
\nCloser to other major parks<\/p>\n
South Rim:
\nHas a train station with daily service
\nFantastic Mary Elizabeth Coulter architecture everywhere
\nTram\/shuttle service to popular areas
\nLower elevation\/ warmer than north rim
\nBetter views of Colorado River
\nFar better chance of spotting condors
\nMore Ranger programs and talks
\nMore hotels and development
\nCloser to population centers (Las Vegas, Flagstaff) and I-40<\/p>\n
Both sides of the canyon have great hiking, mule rides into the canyon, inspirational views, etc., so you can’t go far wrong visiting either rim. \u00a0 No need to get into over-analysis; just pick one and have fun.<\/p>\n
That’s a trip best suited to a helicopter. Even though it’s only about ten miles from rim to rim (if you could fly like the California Condors that live here), the drive from rim to rim is over 200 miles. Imagine trying to see both Boston and New York in one day. \u00a0 They haven’t yet put a bridge over the Grand Canyon and let’s hope nobody ever does.<\/p>\n Since we’ve been here only one day, I’m withholding judgment on which portion of the canyon I like best. \u00a0 We’ve got three nights booked and it seems barely enough. \u00a0 We may have to come for a third visit next year and hike down to the bottom of the canyon before a decision can be made. \u00a0 In fact, I want to come a fourth time and drive the 61-mile primitive dirt road down to Toroweep (another portion of the north rim) and tent-camp a few days there, too. \u00a0 The Grand Canyon is an enormous place and in years of visiting I’m sure we will never experience even half of it.<\/p>\n So when we arrived yesterday, I found her in the post office at the lodge, and her traveling companion Don working at the lodge’s main desk. \u00a0 We haven’t seen Daisy in three years, but she looks great and seems to be having a wonderful life work-camping with Don from place to place. \u00a0 Their day off is Saturday, so we’ll spend part of the day with them, exploring some of the park together.<\/p>\n Campground report: \u00a0 The North Rim campground is very popular. \u00a0 Reservations are mandatory most of the season. \u00a0 There’s no overflow camping. \u00a0 All of the sites are shady, in a tall Ponderosa pine forest, and few are level. \u00a0 There are no hookups. From the campground it’s an easy 1.2 mile (each way) hike along the Transept Trail to the Lodge with spectacular views along the way.<\/p>\n The campground is very convenient with a good general store, free wifi at the store, bathrooms, dish washing sinks, dump station, etc. \u00a0 There are nightly amphitheater programs. \u00a0 We attended two afternoon programs at the Lodge (condors and geology), and the evening campground amphitheater talk as well.<\/p>\n<\/a>Some people can’t decide and so they try both rims. \u00a0 On the drive up the Kaibab Plateau yesterday, we stopped for a stunning view of the Vermillion Cliffs. \u00a0 We met a couple of guys heading up to the north rim as well, and they said, “We’ll see you there!”\u009d \u00a0 I asked if they were camping or staying in the lodge, and they replied, “No, we’re going on, to the south rim today.”\u009d \u00a0 Their plan was to drive to each rim and “see”\u009d them both in one day!<\/p>\n<\/a>We’ve met up with friends here. \u00a0 Daisy Welch, who writes occasionally for Airstream Life magazine<\/a> both in print and online<\/a>, left a note on our windshield when we were parked at Bryce Canyon last week. \u00a0 She spotted our Airstream parked in the shuttle lot on our last day (it’s not hard to identify with all the stickers on it). \u00a0 I emailed her the next day and found out she was heading to Grand Canyon north rim to work for a few weeks in the park.<\/p>\n