I read the reviews at Campendium and have looked at Google Map.Does anyone have more information on camping in a 30 foot 5er on the East rim. We will be in the area May 1st and the NP north rim campground will not be open.Any GPS locations of a good site for my 5er. I do not want to get on a "dead end" road with no place to turn around.I plan to stop at Jacob Lake (if they are open) and also ask for information.

Here is map of Desert View. It has been improved since we were there. Desert View

enblethen wrote:Here is map of Desert View. It has been improved since we were there. Desert ViewI think (?) Desert View is on the East side of the South Rim. I am talking about the North Rim.

There is a USFS office in Jacob Lake, that's where you want to check.

You are not going to find much east of Jacob Lake.

The Campendium reviews of FR611 seem mixed, but seem to lean towards bad road in, and if you go far enough, eventually a difficult/impossible turn around, but there were one or two that said it could be done. However, they weren't all large vehicles or actually pulling something from the sounds of it. A 32' motorhome and 2 Airstream trailers made it in, and I assume, out.It looks like, once you're past the 2 access points to "Dog Canyon Apron" (zoom in on google maps to find it), it's a one way road, from google maps. If it were me, and if you didn't find a spot you liked on the way in, I'd drop the trailer near there, and scout it to the end with the truck, before continuing towards what looks like a dead end. Sounds like once you settle in, it's a great place to stay.

North Rim (actual East Rim) Grand canyon FR-611

enblethen
Nomad
Feb 02, 2018
That would be AZ 67!
There are many forest service roads, but no established campgrounds that I am aware of.
TenOC
Nomad
Feb 02, 2018
enblethen wrote:
That would be AZ 67!
There are many forest service roads, but no established campgrounds that I am aware of.

Yes AZ not UT. I think it is NFS dispersed camping. That is Boondocking.
crosscheck
Explorer II
Feb 02, 2018
Just a heads up, we camped on the rim May 7th for 6 days a few years back and the weather, because of the altitude, can be cool to bloody cold and windy with rain/sleet/snow.

Might be nicer to get a good boondocking spot in the trees and explore the different lookout points of the canyon with your TV.

Dave
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 02, 2018
Some of the area was closed off after big fires.
That is not really east rim, is it?
agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 02, 2018
crosscheck wrote:
Just a heads up, we camped on the rim May 7th for 6 days a few years back and the weather, because of the altitude, can be cool to bloody cold and windy with rain/sleet/snow.

Might be nicer to get a good boondocking spot in the trees and explore the different lookout points of the canyon with your TV.

Dave

There are trees in that area?
Off_Pavement
Explorer II
Feb 02, 2018
Hard to tell when the seasonal closure of Highway 67 will be lifted. You can check its current status at... http://www.az511.gov/traffic/

McDermott USFS campground doesn't open 'till May 14. You are likely going to find snow up high on the rim. FR 611 heads east from 67 about a mile south of the gas station/convenience store and there are a few campsites that would be suitable for a 30ft 5er, but I'd be very cautious and go in with my tow vehicle first to be sure the road is not snowbound, too muddy, and the campsites already full (I doubt it that time of year if you can get there.

If you take FR 22 to the west, using Google Earth and maps, you should be able to find a nice spot on the rim. I've driven around there several times and some of the nice spots are right on the rim, but you don't see the view from the road.

Good Luck!
Ramblin__Ralph
Explorer
Feb 02, 2018
I had a fantastic boondocking spot off of FR611 in Sep 2013 in my truck camper. Too long ago to remember road conditions to get there, but I'm 2WD and not very adventurous. It's at 8800 ft, so weather could be a problem. A map is here. Photo of view below:

Check out my blog for that year in mid Sept, and you'll see a couple of other boondocking spots off AZ67 along with pictures. It's here.

Great area for boondocking. Have fun!
profdant139
Explorer II
Feb 02, 2018
Ralph, it looks like we visited your East Rim boondocking site on our mountain bikes! This was taken in the late afternoon on a cold and windy day in May of 2008 -- our campsite was right nearby, but not right on the edge:

Click For Full-Size Image.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Feb 02, 2018
For those getting confused as to where the OP wants to go: It's Arizona Hwy 67 a paved road to the North Rim of Grand Canyon Nat'l Park. Just north of the park gate is DeMotte national forest campground. At that point, to either side of Hwy 67 are F.R.22 to the west and F.R. 611 to the east. The OP is asking about F.R. 611 off Hwy 67. (I think the subject of this post is misleading - East Rim. He's driving the North Rim area).

Here's a YOUTUBE of driving that road. OP: You will notice there are not many campsites along the road. There are more opportunities on F.R. 22. At that time of year I'd also recommend scouting out the roads in your vehicle before taking the RV. You may still encounter snow or mud conditions - although Arizona has had a very mild gorgeous winter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWrdPUrGKdY
TenOC
Nomad
Feb 02, 2018
2gypsies wrote:
For those getting confused as to where the OP wants to go: (I think the subject of this post is misleading - East Rim. He's driving the North Rim area).

Yes, I would normally call it the North Rim. The reason I wrote "East Rim" is because that is what Campendium called it in their review. See the link to Campendium