Our Amazing Vacation - North Rim Grand Canyon

In trying to decide whether to go to the North Rim or the South Rim of Grand Canyon, two things became the deciding factors: 1 - North Rim is three hours from St. George and South Rim is five.  2 - Grand Canyon has 5 million visitors annually and South Rim gets 80% of them.  Easiest Decision EVER!!  The North Rim is fantastic and I highly recommend it.  The temperature was in the 70's, the hikes were awesome, the crowds were small, and the views were amazing.  True, we weren't able to go out on the skywalk and stand on glass a mile above the Colorado River, but I wouldn't have done that anyway.  :)

Right after the entrance of the park we came across a "beefalo" herd in a meadow.  Chad and I couldn't, at first, figure out why the buffalo didn't look quite right but later read in the Park newspaper that the animals are a cross between cows and buffalo.  They look like buffalo, only smaller.

Our first stop was our campsite.  We wanted to make sure that the tent was all set up and everything taken care of because the last thing you want to do when you are tired from hiking is set up a tent.  We were able to reserve the last spot (site #55) at the North Rim Campground before our vacation started and we set up the tent in the shade of the trees.

It came together really well, but I did have to climb under because we missed a particularly prickly pine cone.

Next came the hiking.  After doing some research prior to our trip, we had settled on the Transept Trail, which follows the canyon rim, and  Bright Angel Point Trail for Monday, and the Cape Royal Trail for Tuesday.  Chad and I had decided that there was no way in the world that we were going to a mile deep canyon without harnesses for Grant and Joseph.  We found cute dog backpack/harness contraptions where the tail was the "leash" and it was seriously the best $30 spent for the vacation.  We had wonderful peace of mind and all the comments were got from people were positive.

I suppose taking a picture while pretending to fall into the canyon is a visitor must, especially for 10 year old boys.  

One of the overlooks along the Transept Trail.

Joseph pooped out and got to ride on Daddy the Pack Mule.  

Water and snack break at Transept Trail viewpoint.  We left the rim for a bit and hiked through a beautiful forest of Ponderosa Pine, Quaking Aspen and Douglas Fir.  As the trail lifted out of the forest we found ourselves at this inspirational view point.

View from along the Transept Trail.

Grant found a rock that looked like a couch on the Bright Angel Point Trail so all the kids HAD to sit on it.

Merritt contemplates the view from Bright Angel Point...

 while Joseph sleeps through it.

Family photo on the Bright Angel Point Trail rocks.  We traded picture taking favors with people up and down the trails.

A ha...a glimpse of the bottom!  The blue of the Colorado River can be seen in the distance.  The Cape Royal Trail is the only area on the North Rim where you can view the river.  Merritt was very excited to finally see it. 

 Angel's Window at the Cape Royal Trail.  We actually walked over it to get to the observation point at the end of the rock.  Chad and I both loved how all the names of formations at Grand Canyon were named after angels rather than devils, (i.e. Devil's Tower, Slide, Gate, etc.).  Seeing the wonders of nature definitely makes me think of a loving, considerate and creative Father in Heaven, not His opposite.

One final scenic shot on our drive down from the Cape Royal trail head.  We all loved Grand Canyon!