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North Rim trip planning

crosscheck
Explorer
Explorer
We are planning to be at the North Rim(Grand Canyon) somewhere between May10-20th for a week depending on the weather. We are dragging a TT which is set up for boondocking. The idea is to drop the TT somewhere south of Jacob Lake and the park gate off of #67 for boondocking and use the truck to shuttle between trail heads. Could also stay at forestry/park campgrounds if there is availability.

Some of the things we would like to do are:

1)Ride the Rainbow Rim mtb trail

2) Hike the Bill Hall trail

3) Hike the North Kaibab trail

4) Hike the North Bass trail

Any favorite boondocking / campground ideas in the general area?

Any favourite hiking/biking ideas in this area?

Thanks

Dave
2016 F350 Diesel 4X4 CC SRW SB,
2016 Creekside 23RKS, 490W solar, 2000W Xantrex Freedom 2012 inverter, 4 6V GC-2 (450AH)
2006 F350 CC 4X4 sold
2011 Outfitter 9.5' sold
Some Of Our Fun:http://daveincoldstream.blogspot.ca/
16 REPLIES 16

profdant139
Explorer II
Explorer II
avan, the North Rim was our first boondock, too! DW was very skeptical -- "no campground??" But she was immediately hooked by the silence and the emptiness -- just the sound of the wind in the pines.

That was ten years ago, and we now do much more boondocking than campgrounding or RV-parking. (Those are two new verbs -- there is no noun that cannot be verbed.)
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and text
About our trailer
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single list."

afidel
Explorer II
Explorer II
DeMotte is a very nice campground, things are spaced out and the spots are not that hard to get in and out of. The drive into the park is easy and even at the peak of tourist season there's little traffic (an advantage of the North Rim getting <10% of the traffic of the South Rim).
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avan
Explorer
Explorer
Other than an overnight rest while on the road, that was my very first multi nite/day boondocking experience and I've been RVing since the early 70s and spent nearly 15 yrs full timing. It was great fun and that site was absolutely super. I think I had 3 vehicles pass by the site in the week I stayed and one was the ranger stopping to be sure this neophyte was OK (they knew I was nervous about the whole thing). I used their map to investigate probably 100 trails - if I remember right, there are more than 1000 id'd on the map. If I hadn't 'marked' the campsite location on my GPS, my RV would probably still be listed as "lost".:)
www.putt10.net

crosscheck
Explorer
Explorer
avan,

For sure we will stop off at the Jacob Lake rangers station and get the info on roads and boondocking that you have suggested. Looks like a very nice secluded camping spot that is in your photos. Thanks.

Dave
2016 F350 Diesel 4X4 CC SRW SB,
2016 Creekside 23RKS, 490W solar, 2000W Xantrex Freedom 2012 inverter, 4 6V GC-2 (450AH)
2006 F350 CC 4X4 sold
2011 Outfitter 9.5' sold
Some Of Our Fun:http://daveincoldstream.blogspot.ca/

avan
Explorer
Explorer
Stop at the ranger station at Jacobs Lake. They have maps showing all the "roads", trails, snowmobile trails etc. Talk with the rangers and they will point out on the map areas which have decent boondocking spots and they will tell you what they know, from their driving the area, about which spots already have some camper(s) and which don't. This google earth shot and my pics are of one they recommended for me and there was no one else around for miles.
www.putt10.net

crosscheck
Explorer
Explorer
4runnerguy wrote:
It sounds like you've already ridden the Rainbow Rim trail so you're aware of the boondocking locations along the various roads leading to the different trailheads.

One other MTB trail we rode there was a portion of the Arizona Trail just north of the GCNP boundary (no trail riding in the park!). The turnoff for FSR 611 (the access road) is right across the highway from FSR 22 where one turns to go out to Rainbow Rim. We were camped at DeMotte CG and rode right from the CG. After riding up FSR 611 for about 1.3 miles, we turned right on FSR 610 and followed it for just over five miles. The start to the trail is a subtle singletrack in a meadow about 0.2 miles past the trailhead parking. IIRC there is a big water tank nearby.



We rode from there past his markers M1 through M11. We then turned SW on FSR 213 where we turned south and headed back to the highway and then south back to the CG. Altogether it was nearly 26 miles and we took just over 4 hours to do it. Much of the singletrack goes through meadows and forests. Between points M5 and M7 there are nice views down into North Canyon and beyond.

We passed a few cars on the dirt roads, but saw no one on the singletrack. There were some short pushes up steeper gravel sections, but all-in-all, it was a nice ride. Allison gave it ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ in her camp diary! We rode this in 2016.


4runnerguy,

The Arizona Trail sounds like a nice pleasant ride through the pines. Rode the AT on the south rim making a big all day loop from our boondocking spot near the Grandview TH a few years back. Very mellow ride.

Appreciate your Moab writeup in a previous thread. Tons of good info. We share in common a lot of long 4-5 hour MTB loops especially off #313 that you have written about.

Might see you in Moab in May if you are there.

Dave
2016 F350 Diesel 4X4 CC SRW SB,
2016 Creekside 23RKS, 490W solar, 2000W Xantrex Freedom 2012 inverter, 4 6V GC-2 (450AH)
2006 F350 CC 4X4 sold
2011 Outfitter 9.5' sold
Some Of Our Fun:http://daveincoldstream.blogspot.ca/

4runnerguy
Explorer
Explorer
It sounds like you've already ridden the Rainbow Rim trail so you're aware of the boondocking locations along the various roads leading to the different trailheads.

One other MTB trail we rode there was a portion of the Arizona Trail just north of the GCNP boundary (no trail riding in the park!). The turnoff for FSR 611 (the access road) is right across the highway from FSR 22 where one turns to go out to Rainbow Rim. We were camped at DeMotte CG and rode right from the CG. After riding up FSR 611 for about 1.3 miles, we turned right on FSR 610 and followed it for just over five miles. The start to the trail is a subtle singletrack in a meadow about 0.2 miles past the trailhead parking. IIRC there is a big water tank nearby.



We rode from there past his markers M1 through M11. We then turned SW on FSR 213 where we turned south and headed back to the highway and then south back to the CG. Altogether it was nearly 26 miles and we took just over 4 hours to do it. Much of the singletrack goes through meadows and forests. Between points M5 and M7 there are nice views down into North Canyon and beyond.

We passed a few cars on the dirt roads, but saw no one on the singletrack. There were some short pushes up steeper gravel sections, but all-in-all, it was a nice ride. Allison gave it ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ in her camp diary! We rode this in 2016.
Ken & Allison
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2007 Fleetwood Arcadia, Honda EU2000i
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(You get the idea!)

profdant139
Explorer II
Explorer II
Dave, if you flip the axles, beef up the suspension, get bigger tires, and take it slow and easy, you can get your TT into some pretty remote places. Not as good as a TC, but still a lot of fun.

Plus, then you drop the TT at "base camp" and you can take the truck each day to different trailheads that might have been inaccessible with the TC -- narrow, rutted, rocky roads with poor overhead clearance. Even more fun!
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and text
About our trailer
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single list."

crosscheck
Explorer
Explorer
MDKMDK,
Thanks for the boondocking links.

profdant139,

Joined the "drag n drop" crowd Oct. 2016. We are now the mothership for our 2 sons and their families when camping together. Don't venure as far out in the sticks with this rig as we used to but it is nice to throw the 2 MTB and 2 touring bikes in and shuttle to rough trailheads without beating up the "Waldorf on Wheels".

Camped out at Locust point last time when we were at the North Rim peddling the Rainbow Rim. Nice spot. Will check out your blog for more info. Still get to use the mountain tent for backpacking and cycle touring to keep the luxuries in perspective. Thanks.

Dave
2016 F350 Diesel 4X4 CC SRW SB,
2016 Creekside 23RKS, 490W solar, 2000W Xantrex Freedom 2012 inverter, 4 6V GC-2 (450AH)
2006 F350 CC 4X4 sold
2011 Outfitter 9.5' sold
Some Of Our Fun:http://daveincoldstream.blogspot.ca/

TenOC
Nomad
Nomad
Gonzo42 wrote:
I'm planning something similar. I'm including Navajo Bridge and Monument Valley, then the East Gate of GC for the Watchtower, then on home.


Be sure to see the Condors at the Navajo Bridge.


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profdant139
Explorer II
Explorer II
Dave --

We camped at Locust Point -- terrific place. Here is our blog link:

Rainbow Rim

Good luck keeping up with Pat on that MTB trail!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Dan

PS -- did you say you were in a TT?? What's up with that?
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and text
About our trailer
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single list."

Gonzo42
Explorer
Explorer
I'm planning something similar. I'm including Navajo Bridge and Monument Valley, then the East Gate of GC for the Watchtower, then on home.
MOTHER SHIP Winnebago View 24H (2007 Dodge Sprinter 3500 Chassis, 2008 Body)3.0 L M-B Diesel V6 bought used with 24K miles. Toad: ROCKY the Flying Squirrel.

jplante4
Explorer II
Explorer II
Moved from General RVing
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MDKMDK
Explorer
Explorer
Might want to check the Campendium website and freecampsites.net for additional places to boon dock, if preferred.
Mike. Comments are anecdotal or personal opinions, and worth what you paid for them.
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