Mountain Biking the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Five day mountain bike ride trip on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.  

This past December in the middle of winter I signed up for a mountain bike adventure. I was dreaming of dry heat and expansive views; completely opposite conditions of where I was at that moment.  Winter was quickly over, spring flew by and next thing I knew I was packing for a mountain bike trip in the southwest.  The plan was to drive to St George where the trip started and finished. Early Saturday morning, fully caffeinated, we loaded the truck up with bikes, camping gear and hit the road.  This was a going to be a reasonable road trip, the group I was traveling with decided to break the drive to St George up into two days.

We stopped for the night in Twin Falls Idaho.  After dinner we worked off our steak dinner by walking across the Perrine Bridge, turns out this is one of the few bridges in the US that allows base jumping.  We were lucky enough to witness a base jumper jump.   

Sunday early evening we arrived in St George and it was hot hot hot; the air felt like a hair dryer blowing on high heat on us.  Luckily, our bike rides would be at greater altitudes between 7,500 and 8,900 feet with expected temperatures in the 70 and 80's.  

Day 1:  We met up with our guides and group.  The van was loaded up and we drove to the Kaibab National Forest for a quick shakedown ride to lunch followed by a fun singletrack through aspen and ponerosas pine groves on the Arizona Trail with views of the east rim.  The ride ended at our camp site with expansive views from the north rim of the canyon.  We settled in our camp up for the next two nights.

Day 2:  Woke to a beautiful sunrise soon after the guide yells out COFFEE; very nice start to the day.  We rode about 25 mile out and back on the Arizona trail; lots of short climbs and descents and rode in and out of meadows.  Back at camp we relaxed with happy hour and yummy appetizers, chatted with the other guest.  There were 7 of us; two retired guys from Montana that had a long history of biking, a woman doctor from Alaska and us; my friend from HR, her sister and step dad.  

Day 3:  Transition day.  Pack up camp.  Drove to the Grand Canyon National Park for a hike and visit to the impressive Grand Canyon Lodge located on the edge of the extensive north rim of the canyon.  After exploring the Lodge and trails we headed towards the new camp site with a dirt road ride. The camp site  was on the Rainbow Rim Trail with expansive views of the canyon.

Day 4: The Rainbow Rim Trail was designed for mountain bikers and the inclines and descents are not more than 9% grade.  For me, riding on the this trail was rock star cross country mountain bike riding.  The trail closely follows the rim at some points the trail is right on the rim with indescribable amazing views.  After breakfast and packing a lunch we did an out and back ride to the north with lunch at the turn around point.  Back at the camp site we hiked around, test rode other peoples bike and the guides gave a mt bike skills clinic. After dinner we played a competitive game of traveling boccie ball.

  

Day 5: Final day.  Early morning sunrise walk to admire the light changing on the canyon walls, coffee, breakfast and then camp pack up; good living!  Last day of riding we rode the Rainbow Rim Trail to the southern end; great cross country riding with stunning views of the canyon. 



Two day drive back to HR, happy, fun trip and not ready to be home yet.  I am inspired to go back to Grand Canyon for more exploration; I see a Rim to Rim hike in my near future.  

More information: Western Spirit
Grand Canyon