Description
Section-ride the entirety of the North Rim Capes of the Canyon over time or explore the region. These routes are designed for riders who:
- (a) Don't have enough time/money for the full routes in one continuous trip but instead want to section-ride the Passages over time.
- (b) Are new to bikepacking and feel more comfortable taking on shorter Passages of the routes.
- (c) Want to explore the Grand Canyon region on day rides.
- (d) Have narrow weather windows outside of the optimal seasons for riding the whole routes.
***NOTE: Passages are being updated. When a route is not finalized, it will say "ROUGH DRAFT" in the RWGPS map name, and it will not be fully detailed below. Finalized routes are fully featured below.
North Rim Passages List
- Passage 1: Vermillion Cliffs
- Passage 2: House Rock Valley (Short Version)
- Passage 2: House Rock Valley (Full Version)
- Passage 3: Buckskin Mountains
- Passage 4: Gunsight
- Passage 5: Big Springs
- Passage 6: Jumpup
- Passage 7: Sowats and Thunder River
- Passage 8: Crazy Jug
- Passage 9: Rainbow Rim
- Passage 10: Dry Park
- Passage 11: Fire and Swamp
- Passage 12: Point Sublime
- Passage 13: Cape Royal
- Passage 14: Saddle Mountain
- Passage 15: Demotte and Dog
- Passage 16: Tater Ridge (Short Version)
- Passage 16: Tater Ridge (Full Version)
- Passage 17: Buck Farm
- Passage 18: Bedrock
Passage 17: Buck Farm
Passage 17: Buck Farm provides bikepackers a slow ascent up from the grassy platform of House Rock Valley to a pinyon-juniper forest at the base of Saddle Mountain. Riders pass by Nankoweap Trailhead (arguably the hardest trail in Grand Canyon National Park) along a lollipop loop that passes by some solid water sources before hitting rim-side camping at Cape 28 Buck Farm Viewpoint.
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Passage 18: Bedrock
Passage 18: Bedrock is a 45 mile loop and out back to two capes along Marble Canyon at Cape 29 Bedrock Point and Cape 30 Twentyseven Mile Rapids Overlook. Bikepackers head across the grassy expanses of House Rock Valley, catch some good water at Buffalo Tank, and then can camp rim-side at several locations. There are short spurts of fine-grained sand in places, so larger tires might be appreciated. Beyond that, the roads are in great condition and quickly carry riders below the flanks of the North Rim.
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*Based on Bikepacking Roots Route Rating Scale