It was time to leave Zion, as we had to reach North Rim by 4pm.
For those who haven't met me
After Zion, the road winds down to a very green plateau before it starts winding up again.
The vast plateau
2 extreme modes of exploring the Canyon
The best bet..kidding
North Rim is less popular with tourists than the South Rim and hence less crowded. It is also easier to find parking spaces and you can really enjoy the prestine nature here.
The customary shot
We made up some of the lost time at Zion and reach the North Rim Visitor Center by 4;30pm. Picked up a map from there and started exploring the surroundings. The North Rim has some beautiful cottages where one can spend the night.
The North Rim cottages
As I walk past the cottages and head towards Bright Angel point (one of the view points), I was simply awe-struck with the enormity of the Canyon. I was standing there, speechless and humbled by the creativity of Mother Nature. I was staring at one of the most magnificent sights on Earth. I had read about it in books and seen in movies, but never realized about the scale it might be.
I regain my senses and take a few pics. No pic can capture the true scale, due to its sheer scale. After spending around 45mins, we head towards another viewpoint, called the Point Imperial viewpoint. It’s a scenic drive to the viewpoint through forests and winding roads. Point Imperial, the highest point on the North Rim at 8,803 feet, overlooks the Painted Desert and the eastern end of Grand Canyon. Here the canyon transforms as the narrow walls of Marble Canyon, visible only as a winding gash, open dramatically to become “grand.” Layers of red and black rocks, not visible at Bright Angel Point, add contrast and color.
Thats Painted Desert in the distance
When we reach there, it was virtually empty, with a couple of cars scattered around the parking lot.
The lonely Mustang
It was getting cloudy and the air was getting cooler. We could clearly see the Painted Desert and the Marble Canyon from here. It was already 5:45pm. We took a few snaps and decided to wait for the sunset. The thick cloud cover was playing spoilsport but also added a dramatic touch to the whole setting.
Still to come, more pics of the North Rim. Stay Tuned.