3 reasons why the North Rim gets its own tour
Biking the Grand Canyon is a great way to immerse yourself in the astounding nature of the area. When it comes to Grand Canyon Bike Tours, you might think that if you’ve experienced one side of this natural wonder, you’ve seen it all. Turns out, the North Rim is unique enough to be the focus of two separate tours with Escape Adventures.
The Grand Canyon North Rim – 4 day and the Grand Canyon North Rim – 5 day tours are both combination Mountain Biking and Hiking tours. The roads to get to this area usually don’t open until mid-May.Therefore, the 4 day tour runs from May to September, while the 5 day starts in May and extends into October as weather permits.
Reason 1: Not the temperatures that you’d expect
When you think of the Grand Canyon, there’s the immediate thought of beautiful vistas, followed by the dread of scorching temperatures, especially in the summer! With an elevation of ~9,000 feet, the North Rim offers a high altitude escape from the heat. These tours can run even during the summer months because of the heat relief that the high elevation provides.
Reason 2: Kaibab Squirrels
The North Rim ecosystem is so removed from surrounding environments, the Kaibab National Forest has its own species of squirrel native only to that 20 by 40 mile area. It is mostly distinguished by the tufts on its ears that grow longer with age and can extend 1 to 2 inches. This species of squirrel isn’t found anywhere else in the world. Also, it’s so cute!
Reason 3: The Rainbow Rim Mountain Bike Trail
The North Rim has the whole package- the setting, the camping views, the wildlife, the light- it makes for an amazing wilderness experience. On the North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park has partnered with the Kaibab National Forest to create the Rainbow Rim mountain bike trail, an 18-mile singletrack that connects five points: Paissawampitts, Fence, Locust, Timp and North Timp. It’s a fun singletrack ride through aspens and ponderosa pines with extraordinary views of the canyon. There are a few short, steep climbs but it is a pretty moderate ride really.
Brief breakdown of the 5 day tour:
Day 1-2: Meet in St. George. Shuttle to Kaibab Lodge then ride singletrack to alpine East Rim camp for two nights. Ride to Monument Point, short hike into the Grand Canyon on backcountry hiking trail.
Day 3-4: Ride across Kaibab Plateau to beautiful backcountry camp on the Rim for two nights. Ride the Rainbow Rim singletrack.
Day 5: Descend to Indian Hollow on the west side of the Plateau to spectacular vista. Shuttle back to St. George.
Brief breakdown of the 4 day tour:
Day 1-2: Meet in St. George. Shuttle to Kaibab Lodge then ride singletrack to alpine East Rim camp for one night. Ride across plateau to North Timp Point overlooking Steamboat Mountain. Optional hike in afternoon.
Day 3-4: Ride the Rainbow Rim singletrack. Finish the tour down to Indian Hollow. Shuttle back to St. George.
These tours are at a technical level of 1-2, doable by all mountain bikers and the perfect trip to take the whole family! If you think you think all sides of the Grand Canyon are the same, we suggest you check out either one of these tours. And remember: with Escape Adventures, all you have to do is ride your bike, we will take care of everything else!
Since 1992, we at Escape Adventures have been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Each successive season, our passion for adventure grows through memorable moments with our guests. Fresh air, faith, fitness and friends are the building blocks for our ventures, the treasured experiences that keep us moving forward. For those of you who have trekked and traveled with us over the past quarter century, Heather and I express our sincerest gratitude. The memories are priceless.
