Once we left Utah we headed to Jacob Lake, AZ our campground headquarters for our visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, then on to Boulder City to see Hoover Dam. Talk about a “roads well-traveled”, that was Highways 9, 59 & 89A for us, back and forth we went. 

There are two ways to get from Zion NP to Jacob Lake. One path involves many switch backs and the skinny tunnel that leads out of Zion.  We had taken that route with the truck and knew we did not want to have a 26-ft. camper dragging behind if we traveled it again.  The other is Hwy 9 which took us right through Hurricane, UT which is where Sand Hallow State Park is located, the park I stayed at while Tracy was at his class reunion!  That’s OK.  Our previous visit meant we knew right where a grocery store with a big parking lot, (camper attached at this point!) was located so we loaded up on supplies.

We pulled into Kaibab Camping Village by way of a gravel road.  When they say the north rim is less crowded I can see why. This is the last non-national park campground before the rim and it’s still a 45-minute drive to the rim. 

We decided to leave for the park a bit later as it was 37⁰ when we woke up. This meant a line at the entrance, maybe 10 cars, big whoop, at Zion, it wouldn’t be unusual to see ½ mile long lines to get in!   Once into the park it was another 10 miles to the visitor’s center and the lodge, lots of driving in this park.

Lunch was the first order of business.  Like all the other national park lodges we have seen this one was lovely as well.  We had a wonderful window seat and looked out into the canyon as we ate.  I don’t usually mention food but Tracy had a great salad with duck on it…my Indian flat bread taco was good but once he gave me a few bites I must admit to duck envy! By the way, they local source as much of their food as possible, pretty cool!

   It had turned into a warm, sunny day, so we took a beer outside and sat in the Adirondack chairs and enjoyed a little of the afternoon.  Fortified with beer and food we took off on our first hike, Bright Angel Point.  Well by golly, it was a stairway just off the veranda we were sitting on, how convenient.  There are actually two walk outs on either side of the lodge.  Beautiful!!

After that walk we stopped at the Visitor’s Center on the way back to the truck.  On our drive in I saw a large black bird with white under its wings.  It wasn’t huge like one would think of a condor so I was curious as to what it might be.  Well…hanging from the ceiling is a wooden mockup of a condor from underneath and low and behold, it’s white!!  When I asked one of the rangers they said that vultures do not have the white.  I am darn sure I saw a condor…way cool!!

Our next stop was Cape Royal, a whopping 23 miles/40-minute drive from the Lodge.  Some very nice vistas along the way as well as aspen trees with turning leaf colors!

It was an easy walk with a great view of Angels Window, a natural arch.  Walk a little further and you end up on top of the window with beautiful views of the canyon.  Beyond the window is the Cape Royal look out with more great views of the canyon and the Colorado River.

Back into the truck to head over to Point Imperial look out.  From this vantage point you can see the other rim of the canyon and beyond, very impressive!

"Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children, and for all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American... should see."  Love that quote about the Grand Canyon from Theodore Roosevelt 1903…so very true!

The aspens made the ride out of the park so pretty! Once outside the park, you pass a very long meadow area.  As it was approaching dusk, we saw several groups of mule deer.  They are so cute, even from a distance those great big ears give them away!!

Talk about cute here is the Kaibab Squirrel, running around our campground.

Maybe if our squirrels at home where as cute as this I wouldn’t hate them so.  Probably not, because they wouldn’t look so cute hanging out in our bird feeders!!

Besides the squirrels our campground wasn’t all that great and we were happy to hit the road.  We headed off to Boulder City, NV and the Hoover Dam.  Now just like before, we ended up going back the same road we came on, this time it was Hwys 59 & 89A…ah well, back and forth, forth and back we went!!

Thanks for coming along!