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

[TenOC]

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.

[avoidcrowds]

TenOC, you may be correct. Didn't realize there was a trailhead in the area.

But, if you go up the road a little more, to 36.428084° -112.085587°, there is a spur off to the west. I rolled-back the imagery to an earlier date, and you can see other campers there.

While not on the rim, it is walking distance.

[TenOC]

avoidcrowds wrote:
Ralph, there is a pull-through site at N36.417102° W112.091377°. Kinda-sorta looks like the road should be good to there,

On Google Map this looks like it may the the trailhead. I understand no RV camping within 1/4 of a trailhead.

Looks like lots of room to turn around or park and unhitch to check out other sites.

[avoidcrowds]

Ralph, there is a pull-through site at N36.417102° W112.091377°. Kinda-sorta looks like the road should be good to there, if the snow has been gone long enough to dry out. Not toofar off 67, it appears.

Good luck! If I had noticed the rim was that close two years ago, I would have camped on that side, instead of off 22. I thought it was higher hills, but just noticed it is the canyon. Oh, well, live and learn!

[Ramblin__Ralph]

profdant139 wrote:
Ralph, it looks like we visited your East Rim boondocking site on our mountain bikes!

Dan, yep it's a small world. I'm familiar with your posts and am not surprised you've been in that area. 🙂

Pedal on,

[TenOC]

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

[2gypsies1]

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

[profdant139]

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.

[Ramblin__Ralph]

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!

[Off_Pavement]

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!

[agesilaus]

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?

[enblethen]

Some of the area was closed off after big fires.
That is not really east rim, is it?

[crosscheck]

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

[TenOC]

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.

[enblethen]

That would be AZ 67!
There are many forest service roads, but no established campgrounds that I am aware of.