Day 22 - (08/31) Jacob Lake, AZ

We started the day with a 45 mile drive to the North Rim Grand Canyon Lodge and Visitor Center. It was a beautiful drive through pine forests and past sprawling meadows. We saw a buffalo herd on the way.

The lodge’s lounge and dining room offer spectacular views of the canyon. There are overlooks right off the lodge terrace.

View from the lodge terrace ... Dick is the yellow speck

We took the Bright Angel Point Trail. The path was narrow; the dropoff views were literally breathtaking.

Then we drove to Vista Encantada, Wahalla, Angels Window and Cape Royal overlooks. The route included close-up views of the damage caused by the August 2009 Aspen Fire. The fire was started by lightning on July 28th and has been allowed to burn out naturally. It’s still active in parts of the Wahalla Plateau, which accounts for the haze you see in some pictures.

Angels Window Overlook

An attempt to share depth of the views

Damage from Aug 2009 Aspen Fire

We ended the viewing day with a drive to Point Imperial. This is the highest point on either rim (8,803 ft). It has spectacular views of Mt. Hayden and Marble Canyon.

Views from Point Imperial

Did you know?
The Kaibab squirrel is also known as the “Silver Ghost of the North Rim”. It has a gray body with a large white tail. It only lives on the North Rim and nowhere else in the world, because the Kaibab Plateau offers an island of forest surrounded by desert. We don’t understand the logic, but it’s what they say.

Gas update:
This is the highest we’ve seen on the trip - $3.039/gal for unleaded regular at Jacob Lake, AZ.