Rainbow
Rim Trail
Grand Canyon, Arizona
June 4, 2011
Tahoe is still under snow and I needed some long, high
altitude, XC riding, with great scenery. So I headed south to the Rainbow Rim
Trail on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I learned of this trail from
MTBBill, who has two ride reports, photos, and a great video. The trail is
about 18 miles long, between 7,500 – 7,800 feet elevation, and it runs mostly
through nice aspen/pine forests. At five points it comes out above the rim of
the Grand Canyon, offering up spectacular views. I had done about half the trail
a few years ago and I remember great scenery, but working pretty hard. Since it
is a very long drive I decided to try doing the entire trail as an out and back
from Parissawampitts Point to Timp Point, for 36 miles.
It’s quite a long and tedious drive from Kanab, where I stayed, and I knew I’d
be on the road long before any place opened for breakfast. I had packed a
breakfast, but I left it back in California. So I ate two Clif bars, which I
really don’t care for. The trail is a long way from nowhere, it was cool and
windy, and when I saw that great hole in the ground I became a bit nervous about
riding 36 miles solo. The ride starts at 7,600 ft. and the altitude hit me
pretty hard. It took a good half hour to get used to it. At about nine miles I
ran into a small tour group camp, and that made me feel much safer. Eventually I
ran into the group at about 14 miles, because there was a sign stating the rest
of the trail was closed for a controlled burn. I’d come a long way so I rode on
for about another three miles until a physical barrier and sign blocked the
trail. So I ended up doing about 33.5 miles.
I’m obviously in much better shape this time. Except for the altitude the riding
was fairly easy. Loose rocks on some of the downhills were about my only
concern. However, on the return, after 30+ miles, some of them were especially
difficult climbing. On the way back I happened upon a couple at a view point and
I got them to take a few photos of me. Below are few photos, many more are
posted
on my Smugmug site. Click on "map
this" to see the photos on a map.
Driving directions from Jacob Lake: Take Hwy 67 about 25 miles south of Jacob
Lake to
the North Rim Store.
Turn right 0.8 miles south of the store on Forest Service Rd. (FSR) 22. In two
miles turn left on to FSR 270. In one mile turn right on FSR 222. In five miles
turn right on FSR 206. In 1.5 miles turn left on FSR 214 and follow it for just
under eight miles until you hit the parking area for Parissawampitts Point.
A passerby took this.
