North vs South Rim Grand Canyon?

[patperry2766]

Starting to plan for the summer and possibly considering the G.C. for about a week. Will be traveling in pop up with 2 adults & 2 kids( 15 & 7 Y.O.) plus my sister and her pack will be tent camping.

I have looked at North Rim & Mather CG's and like the fact that both have bathroom & shower facilities...but basically it boils down to where will be get the "best" experience? Mather CG has significantly more sites, but does that detract from the grandeur in any way or would be better served to stay at the North Rim for a less touristy experience?

Which side, N or S offers the better access to the G.C. is so far as trail & hiking, etc, weather, scenery, photo opportunities, wide open spaces withing the campgrounds, etc??

[Twain]

Early March is normally 23 low and 52 for a high. I've seen people tent in those temps, but my family wouldn't.

I would say south rim for the first time and for the kids.

[Red_Eagle]

Always like Busskipper's advice. Have to say that the south rim may have more "viewpoints" but also VERY crowded. Enjoyed the north rim more for the camping experience. The views from the Lodge are great, as are the views from Cape Royal and Point Imperial. I always enjoy the experience more when there are less crowds. Have a great trip.

[bailer6334]

North Rim is 1000ft higher than South Rim and opens May 15th this year according to their web site. South Rim is open year around.

North Rim is all dry camping, but is less crowded than South Rim.

Grand Canyon just received 18" of new snow yesterday.

[patperry2766]

What is the weather like in early part of March, and is there enough things open to make the trip worthwhile? Can't seem to get alot of traction from the family for going this summer, but maybe a Spring Break trip?

[huachuca]

2gypsies wrote:

huachuca wrote:
We used Lee's Ferry CG (Glen Canyon NRA) as a base and explored the area quite a bit in 2015. There are virtually unlimited boondocking opportunities in Kaibab NF off 89A up to Jacob Lake and many more on the surrounding BLM lands.

We'll be heading back that way in May of this year and plan on taking advantage of those then. Another camping spot we found of interest wasLone Rock

Lee's Ferry and Lone Rock are waaaaaay too far to explore the North Rim! There are so many very nice close spots. Why drive far distances?

Didn't mean to suggest OP should stay at either one; only that we'd found, but not camped at, some nice boondocking sites near the North Rim in Kaibab NF while we were at Lee's Ferry and that we thought Lone Rock and the surrounding area was of interest. Sorry for any confusion.

As to driving 'far' distances when we camp, I'll plead guilty. We were at Lee's Ferry for nearly two weeks on the trip I referenced and would often travel a hundred miles or more to hike a particular trail or drive a back road that we'd heard or read about. For us, that seems more practical than breaking camp and setting up again.

[2gypsies1]

huachuca wrote:
We used Lee's Ferry CG (Glen Canyon NRA) as a base and explored the area quite a bit in 2015. There are virtually unlimited boondocking opportunities in Kaibab NF off 89A up to Jacob Lake and many more on the surrounding BLM lands.

We'll be heading back that way in May of this year and plan on taking advantage of those then. Another camping spot we found of interest wasLone Rock

Lee's Ferry and Lone Rock are waaaaaay too far to explore the North Rim! There are so many very nice close spots. Why drive far distances?

[huachuca]

We used Lee's Ferry CG (Glen Canyon NRA) as a base and explored the area quite a bit in 2015. There are virtually unlimited boondocking opportunities in Kaibab NF off 89A up to Jacob Lake and many more on the surrounding BLM lands.

We'll be heading back that way in May of this year and plan on taking advantage of those then. Another camping spot we found of interest wasLone Rock

[crosscheck]

profdant139 wrote:
Dave, I have heard that the boondocking near Tusayan is pretty good except for the helicopter noise -- did you find that to be true?

We have not camped close to Tusayan. Hermits and Boucher have lots of heli noise but Bright Angel, South Kaibab and other coridor trails I don't remember there being a problem. Check the flight restricted zones on the NP web site.

They don't fly in the evening and we hike all day so we do not sit around in the day and observe aircraft. (There are Twin Otters beside choppers.)

Dave

[profdant139]

Dave, I have heard that the boondocking near Tusayan is pretty good except for the helicopter noise -- did you find that to be true?

[crosscheck]

bpounds wrote:

crosscheck wrote:
Yes there is.



10 minutes from the south rim gate.

Good to know. Would like to know where that is, because I much prefer staying out of the park. Looks like a nice wooded area.

OMG!! So sorry but I got the pictures mixed up on my computer. The one that said it was 10 minutes from the South Gate is actually in the YUKON. Great boon docking if you want me to give you the co-ordinates? It's only a 6 day drive from the South Rim.

I can't tell you where that spot is because then it wouldn't be fun for you to find the spots for yourself. All of the spots we boondock around the South Rim, are all in the Kaibab National Forest so use Google Earth and find all of the forestry roads around the South Rim and mark them on a map or smart phone. If you are in the area, drop your rig off at the visiters centre and take your truck along one of these roads until you find a spot that will accommodate your rig, drop off some chairs, load up rig and Bob's Your Uncle.

Dave

[2gypsies1]

DeMotte national forest campground is, indeed, very nice. Just beyond the campground is a forest road on the right. Follow it back (very good stable road) 1/4 mi or so and you'll start to see awesome boondocking spots. There's also a forest road on the left side of the highway but we don't feel the boondocking spots are as nice. The national park's North Rim campground is also very nice - right on the Rim and an easy stroll to the store, restaurant and nice little trail along the Rim.

[bpounds]

crosscheck wrote:
Yes there is.



10 minutes from the south rim gate.

Good to know. Would like to know where that is, because I much prefer staying out of the park. Looks like a nice wooded area.

[crosscheck]

bpounds wrote:
Plenty of boondocking opportunities on the north side. Nothing like this on the south side.

This was just a few minutes from the park gate.

Yes there is.



10 minutes from the south rim gate.

I can't give an opinion on the North Rim as we haven't actually been into the park but have camped along the North Rim when we biked the Rainbow Rim trail. This spring (after May 16th), we plan to hike some of the main North Rim corridor trails down to the river.

Dave

[campersuzid]

Hands down - the North Rim is way better but I'd stay at DeMotte Park CG (Kaibab NF). Adjacent mountain meadow is good for wildlife viewing. Also stop at Visitor Center in Jacob Lake for trail info. And than there are the viewpoints - Dog Point, Marble Canyon, and more that are convenient to DeMott Park.