Road Trip: South to North Rim

“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road." - Jack Kerouac, On the Road (1957)

Scenic Saddle-Up: Where to Stop on a Road Trip from South to North Rim

If you're itchin' for an adventure that'll knock the dust clean off your boots, let me spin you a yarn 'bout a road trip from the Grand Canyon's South Rim to its wilder, quieter cousin up north—the mighty North Rim. It may be just ten miles as the crow flies, but if you ain’t sproutin’ wings anytime soon, you best saddle up for one heck of a journey.

Now, before y’all get any harebrained ideas 'bout hoofin' it from one rim to the other, let me caution ya. That little ol’ gap stretches into a 22-mile goliath of a hike—down, across, and back up with more elevation than a double-decker mule ride and summer temps that'll cook your bacon before it hits the skillet. Nope, today we're tradin' trail dust for tires.

Grand Canyon Village & El Tovar: History on the Edge

We begin our expedition at the famed Grand Canyon Village. If you've got a taste for highfalutin' history, make a pit stop at the El Tovar Hotel. Built in 1905, she's a slice of luxury right on the canyon's lip, with a moosehead in the lobby gifted by Teddy Roosevelt himself. ‘Cause nothin’ says hospitality like a stuffed critter from a President.

Grandview Point: A Miner’s Panorama

From there, steer your rig east along Desert View Drive. First stop: Grandview Point, a panoramic perch where miners once chased fortunes down Horseshoe Mesa. The old Grandview Hotel’s bones now bolster the Desert View Watchtower, our next stop.

Desert View Watchtower: Murals and Canyon Dreams

At the Watchtower, murals by Hopi artist Fred Kaboti grace the walls and telescopes beckon you to peer deep into canyon dreams. It’s art and awe all rolled into one stone tower.

Little Colorado River Gorge: A Pre-Canyon Peek

Leavin’ the park, we roll through the Navajo Nation on Highway 64, makin’ a side stop at the Little Colorado River Gorge. Ain’t quite the Grand Canyon, but it sure is a mighty appetizer—with 1,000-foot drops and authentic Navajo crafts to boot.

Cameron Trading Post: Tacos and Tradin'

Next up: Cameron Trading Post. Born in 1911, it served as a crossroads for Navajo and Hopi traders. Today, it dishes out Navajo Tacos big enough to feed a hungry cowboy and his horse. Don’t forget the museum and secret courtyard out back. It’s a treasure, I tell ya.

Navajo Bridge: Spanning History and Wings

Now we head north on Highway 89, then west on 89A, where Arizona’s Painted Desert and Vermilion Cliffs set the stage for our next act: Navajo Bridge. One span’s historic, the other’s modern, and both overlook the mighty Colorado River. Keep your eyes peeled for California Condors—the sky’s answer to canyon royalty.

Lee’s Ferry: River Runnin’ and Rebel History

Just yonder lies Lee’s Ferry, the only spot for hundreds of miles where you can drive right up to the river. It’s where river runners launch into the Grand Canyon, and where John D. Lee once operated his infamous ferry.

Cliff Dwellers: Rocks and Resilience

A bit further up the road, we stumble upon Cliff Dwellers—a Depression-era homestead clingin’ to the rocks, built by a couple seekin’ healing desert air. It's like somethin’ straight outta a Western daydream.

Vermilion Cliffs: Sandstone Spectacles

As we roll along the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, you’ll spy surreal sandstone formations, secret canyons, and THE Wave—though you’ll need a golden ticket (read: permit) to see it up close.

Jacob Lake Inn: Cookies and Cabin Charm

Climbin’ higher on Highway 89A, the desert gives way to ponderosa pines on the Kaibab Plateau. Turn south on Highway 67 at Jacob Lake, and don’t pass up the cookies at the inn—they’re so good, I reckon angels put in overtime bakin’ ‘em.

Aspen Groves and Bison Herds: Northbound Beauty

Golden aspens greet you on your final leg into the park. And if luck’s ridin’ with you, you just might catch a glimpse of the elusive Kaibab bison herd.

Grand Canyon Lodge: The North Rim Finale

Finally, you roll into Grand Canyon Lodge—perched 8,000 feet high and stately as a timbered cathedral. From its back porch, the view’ll steal the words from your lips and leave your soul hummin’.

So if you're ponderin’ a journey that’s equal parts scenic spectacle and historical hoedown, this here South-to-North Rim road trip is just the ticket. And if you want every twist, turn, and tasty stop mapped out for you in fine detail, gallop on over to grandcanyonposse.com/itineraries and rustle up one o’ my hand-crafted travel guides. They’re chock full of trail wisdom, local lore, and Cowboy-approved stops.

Until then, may your gas tank stay full, your boots stay dry, and your spirit stay wild.

See ya on down the trail, partner.