Grand Canyon National Park guide · 1 min read
North Rim: Bright Angel Point to Cape Royal
The North Rim sits on the Kaibab and Walhalla Plateaus, directly across the canyon from the busier South Rim.
At more than 8,000 feet, it stands well above its southern counterpart, and most visitor activity gathers around Bright Angel Point. For many people, this is where the first look into the canyon happens.
The Bright Angel Point Trail begins on the rim behind the North Rim Visitor Center and the Grand Canyon Lodge. It is a paved, easy walk of half a mile round trip with about 144 feet of climbing, following the rim out to a viewpoint. In places the ground falls away steeply on both sides, and a few sharp grades make the path unsafe for wheelchairs and strollers. It is a good spot to watch the sun come up.
The historic Grand Canyon Lodge has long been the heart of this area, though its main building has been lost to fire twice. Evenings near Bright Angel Point bring sunset viewing from several guardrail-lined overlooks. These fill up, so plan to claim a place early.
Cape Royal offers one of the widest views in the park, wrapping more than 300 degrees around you. Below, the Colorado River bends in a huge arc, turning from a southerly course to a northwesterly one. An easy trail of about 0.6 mile leads there and passes Angels Window, which you can actually stand on top of if the height does not leave you dizzy. The window photographs best in morning or midday light.
Cape Royal is also a popular place to end the day. Visitors gather along the edge to watch the sunset, with Wotans Throne rising in view across the canyon.
