North Rim - Capes of the Canyon

1. Route Stats

Location	Length	Elevation Gain	Days to Ride	Physical Difficulty*	Technical Difficulty*	Number of Capes
Grand Canyon - North Rim, Arizona, USA	638.9 Miles	43,737 ft.	10-17 Days	7/10	6/10	31

*Based on Bikepacking Roots Route Rating Scale (More info found under "Route Difficulty, Surface Conditions, and Direction to Ride")

Recommended Tire Size: 2.5"-2.8"; Minimum Tire Size: 2.3"

2. North Rim Capes Overview

The Capes of the Canyon on the North Rim takes riders from the desert base of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument at 3100 feet to the subalpine meadows and sprawling aspen forests of the Kaibab Plateau at 9200 feet. In-between, it weaves a circumference dirt tour of North Rim viewpoints along the edge of the Grand Canyon. Capes include Navajo Bridge, Badger Creek Rapids, Gunsight, Jumpup, Sowats, Thunder River, Crazy Jug, Monument, Parissawampitts, Fence, Locust, Timp, North Timp, Fire, Swamp, Point Sublime, Bright Angel, Point Imperial, Vista Encantada, Roosevelt, Walhalla, Angel's Window, Cape Royal, Nankoweap/Saddle Mountain, Marble Viewpoint, East Rim, Dog, Buck Farm, Bedrock, Twentyseven Mile Rapids, and down in the Canyon at Lees Ferry. The route starts at Lees Ferry where riders can touch the Colorado River to begin and later finish their rides. Look forward to multiple views of the esplanade along the Kanab Creek Wilderness, the possibility of sleeping in old Forest Service cabins at Jumpup and Big Springs, riding across the arid plateau of House Rock Valley, peering over the bench of Marble Canyon, and seeing high-altitude meadows cupped by conifers.

The goal of the route is to hit every bike-legal track that takes a rider to views of the Grand Canyon along the North Rim, Kaibab Plateau, and Marble Canyon. It provides an additional tour of the Colorado Plateau by way of an extensive network of forest service roads that wind through ponderosas, spruce, firs, aspen, sage, tablelands, and plateaus in and near the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument and the Kaibab National Forest. This route offers remote high-country riding down seldom-visited roads, a chance to bike singletrack along the Grand Canyon at Rainbow Rim, multiple opportunities for dispersed camping at the rim edge, sections of the Arizona Trail, and, for those who store their bike on top, the chance to hike down into the inner gorge at notable trailheads within Grand Canyon National Park.

3. Map and GPX

Surface Color Guide

Purple = Improved Dirt Surface (2WD, Wider, Smoother, Better Maintained, Intact, Graded, etc.)
Red = Rugged Dirt Surface (4WD, Doubletrack, Rough, Less Maintained, etc.)
Brown = Primitive Dirt Surface (Particularly Rocky, Rutted, and Eroded)
Black = Singletrack
Yellow = Sand (Intermittent with Hard Pack; Mild/Medium Depth)
Blue = Vehicle Pavement
Green = Paved Bike Path

Route Guide Sections

Route Stats
Route Overview
Map and GPX
Alerts and Closures
Route Design Philosophy and Vision
Route Description
Route Difficulty, Surface Conditions, and Direction to Ride
When to Ride (Temperature + Climate)
North Rim vs. South Rim Capes
Capes Connectors
Ecoregions and Landscape
Where Bikes Are Allowed and Not Allowed
Native Nations and This Land
Leave No Trace and Bikepacking Ethics for the Colorado Plateau
Water Sources
Camping
Food and Resupplying
Sample Route Itinerary
Fees and Permits
Getting to the Start
Parking
Additional Important Information
Other Rides in the Area
Acknowledgments
Social Media and Route Updates

4. Alerts and Closures

The Southwest is a dynamic region. The Capes of the Canyon is subject to wildfires, flash floods, extreme heat, blizzards, monsoon storms, and death mud. Grand Canyon National Park, Kaibab National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management are the main land management agencies who may issues closures for access. BEFORE you ride, make sure you check EACH of the links below to see if important alerts or closures will affect your riding of the established routes. Be prepared to use maps to find alternates should a sudden change in route conditions occur.

Good physical maps for the region can be accessed or purchased below:

5. Route Design Philosophy and Vision

This route was not designed to be a straight point-to-point endeavor. Instead, it weaves, spiderwebs, and wraps around the famously sought and the little seen aspects of the Grand Canyon rim region. When I ride, I ride for topophilia - a love of place. I ride to know an area's biodiversity, to breathe its odors, to see its beautiful niches, and to appreciate its detail. This route represents that approach.

A "cape" in geography refers to a high point of land that extends into a river, lake, or ocean. As unusual a comparison as it may seem, I often feel the Grand Canyon is analogized best as where ocean meets land: the rims swell as elevated crests before plunging into a volume of space a mile deep. The canyon is a sank range, an inverse mountain. When you ride to the capes on this route, you'll stand on juts of land protruding into geological space. The primary goal of the Capes of the Canyon is to take riders to notable rim overlooks of the inner Grand Canyon gorge. Your goal as the rider is to hit each one and soak them in. Sure, you can cut off time and distance by eliminating some of the spokes on the circumference of this ride, but know that you'll be missing some singularly interesting landscapes, ecosystems, history, culture, and views.

Ride the spokes.

6. Route Description

Start your ride at the low point of the route at Lees Ferry located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park. Leave your vehicle in the long-term parking noted on the map. Begin by walking down the boat beach to the Colorado River. This is the only place on the route, at 3100 feet, where your bicycle can be ridden to the river below the rim. Look at the stratified rock faces around you and begin to ride up and through the tumbling stone landscapes of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument.  At the top, turn left on 89A briefly to arrive at your first cape: Navajo Bridge. Walk out on the bridge to stand over the Colorado River snaking its way through Marble Canyon below you. On the other side of the bridge is the Navajo Nation. Look under the bridge and along the surrounding rock faces for the largest bird in North America (and one of the most endangered), the California Condor. Reintroduction efforts in the area have been successful and the large carrion-eaters roost and frequent the shear rock faces of Marble Canyon and Vermillion Cliffs.

Once on paved 89A, head right and continue around the cliff faces. You'll swing a left out on dirt out to Badger Creek Rapids Overlook for Cape #2 in the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument. Head back and keep to the shoulder of the paved highway. Make sure to wear bright colors, a mirror, and using flashing lights. Traffic is typically low on Highway 89A but highway speeds are fast, and there is little actual shoulder to ride on. At the end of the Cliffs, take a right on unpaved House Rock Valley Road to cross back into Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. As the valley closes up, you'll arrive at a Condor Viewing Site managed by The Peregrine Fund. Stop and look through the binoculars at the whitewash along the cliffs where endangered California Condors are released each September and where many come to permanently roost. Continue to steadily climb until the Paria Plateau evens out with you to your east. Intricate, colorful, and gorgeous rock formations will begin to pour out of the sand in large swirling pyramids and butte chunks such as Coyote Buttes and The Wave (both require permits to view). At Stateline Campground you can grab a campsite, see the northern terminus of the Arizona Trail, and then cross into Utah. Continue on as the wall of vibrant orange, reds, ochres, and purples to your right become the southern boundaries of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and its famous Cockscomb.

At Buckskin Gulch Trailhead, you'll swing left and climb up an old dirt road into the Buckskin Mountains before turning south and reentering Arizona. Continue south cycling on top of the mountains/plateaus until you reach Winter Road and swing west. The desertscape here can be quite exposed so make sure you fill up at all Wildlife Tanks you come across. The juniper, sage, and grasslands will begin to slop you down towards Highway 89A where you join it shortly to arrive at Fredonia, AZ. Fredonia offers some convenience store resupplies, water, and lodging. Swing south on FR 22 just outside town to begin a long climb back up towards the Kaibab Plateau that cuts across BLM land. Make sure to turn around frequently to catch awesome panoramas of the Grand Staircase along with the mountain formations of Bryce Canyon and Zion in the northern distance. The road here is paved but little used so expect only a small amount of vehicular traffic.

A new cape awaits for riders as you peel off into the desert of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument on a dirt road down to Gunsight Point. The route parallels the eastern edge of Kanab Creek and provides a viewpoint straight down the Kanab Creek Wilderness. After retracing, you jump back on pavement to enter the Kaibab National Forest. You will come to an intersection with dirt FR 461. Turn left for a ride up Warm Springs Road to Jacob Lake for access to lodging, camping, a general store, and a restaurant. Grab some famous cookies from Jacob Lake Inn and check out the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center as well as Kaibab Squirrel Area.

Head south on FR 282 past Jacob Lake proper through thickening ponderosa and grassy meadows. You'll hit an old burn scar now dense with young aspen before heading back into mature pine forest and descending Castle Canyon to FR 22. Heading north on this well-maintained gravel road brings you to the most reliable water source on the Kaibab Plateau: Big Springs. Big Springs is a gushing high-quality water source that careens down the side of a cliff near a USFS service site and cabins. When the USFS cabins are open for rental, plan to get reservations ahead of time and stay for a day to enjoy the showers, water, and common rec center/kitchen. If you're just passing through, fill up water from a spigot found outside the fence of the USFS site before continuing on.

Continue a gradual descent on FR 22, eventually swinging a west on a decline out to juniper-pinyon plateaus along a sliver of road winding between the Kanab Creek Wilderness with the plunge of Jumpup Canyon to your left. After hitting Jumpup Point, retrace your route back to a turn at the Jumpup Divide that descends to Jumpup Cabin (USFS rental by reservation only). Get ready for a big climb up Pine Hollow to FR 427 where a turn south takes bikepackers towards the mouth of Big Sowats Canyon. At an intersection with FR 233, turn right for a one-way trip out to Sowats Point along Kwagnut Hollow for a view of the sprawling esplanade shelf. Several Wildlife Tanks can be found in the area for a water fill-up. Retrace your route and then head south out to Thunder River Trailhead at Indian Hollow with views of Deer Creek Canyon opening up in front of you. Retrace, head south, and reach Crazy Jug Point and Monument Point - the former is an epic place to dispersed camp along the rim of the Grand Canyon with southerly views of the Tapeats Amphitheater.

Swing into the Kaibab National Forest before winding back out to the the only mountain bike singletrack along the edge-proper of the Grand Canyon: Rainbow Rim. Jump onto its northern terminus at Parissawampitts Point and start a repeated meander inland along side-canyons that turn and veer back out to points, capes, and stunning views of the heart of Grand Canyon National Park. After the southern terminus at Timp Point, head inland from the rim edge towards the interior of the Kaibab Plateau. Climb elevation riding up FR 206 through Quaking Aspen Canyon (grab some water at Quaking Aspen Spring) that joins FR 226 south of Dry Park. Enjoy the high elevation meadows of Dry Park before turning on FR 206 once more and heading southward up a big climb.

Out of the meadows and into the forest, the climb takes you to the highest elevations on the route at 9200 feet. Ponderosas quickly fall away to spruce, aspen, and firs as you ride high on ridges overlooking the subalpine meadows of Demotte Park. Take a side road down to the food resupply at North Rim Country Store, DeMotte Campground, and Kaibab Lodge. The campground is set back in the aspen and has running water. Kaibab Lodge has cabins, rooms, and meals in their restaurant. North Rim Country Store has the camping food essentials and a coffee/food truck. Now resupplied, ride along the massive meadows that fill with mule deer and bison. Climb up a ridge and start a subalpine ride through unbelievable groves of aspen that turn ember and yellow come autumn.

You'll head downhill and out towards Fire Point and your first entrance into Grand Canyon National Park. Make sure to secure a backcountry permit if you want to camp here with an overlook of Saddle Canyon. Retrace your route east, head south, and enter the full boundary of GCNP. All dispersed camping beyond this point is prohibited so make sure you have an idea of when you'll hit campgrounds and secure reservations beforehand. Next up is Swamp Point where the North Bass Trailhead is located along with views of Muav Canyon. Retrace and head south to Kanabownits Spring and Kanabownits Lookout Tower; the old fire tower is on the list of registered historical places and worth the small uphill. The spring might take some effort to find for a water resupply.

Heading south, the route curves along the Walla Valley and Kanabownits Canyon before a turnoff for Point Sublime. Head towards this cape as the landscape descends gently to ponderosas before being spit out onto a peninsula land jutting into the heart of the Grand Canyon. Seek a backcountry permit from GCNP beforehand and spend a night camping under incredible dark skies along the edge of the canyon at Point Sublime. Retrace your route and begin a rutted, rocky, rotten, eroded and hike-a-bike section eastwards towards the Widforss Trailhead. You'll cross The Basin midway where subalpine meadows spread their latitude while ringed by spruce and aspen. Keep an eye open for bison and give them plenty of space if they are on the road. Join the AZT at Widforss TH and take it to the North Kaibab Trailhead where a reliable water faucet is turned on by the NPS from May 15 - October 15. From here, a short ride on the North Rim Greenway brings you into the North Rim Campground and North Rim Village.

The North Rim Campground has hiker/biker sites that you can camp in for $6 a night with water spigots. The North Rim General Store, located in the campground, has a full resupply available. When you ride down to the North Rim Lodge in the village, there are a few restaurants, more water spigots, and lodging. Park your bike and hike out to Bright Angel Point with full views of the South Rim, then retrace your way up the North Rim Greenway to the North Kaibab TH where you will keep to the road and turn east on Cape Royal. As a forewarning, the paved road up to Cape Royal has no shoulder, has many blind curves, and can be heavy with traffic. If you choose to ride up this portion of the route, you'll first hit Point Imperial - the highest viewpoint in Grand Canyon National Park at 8803 feet. Retrace the route and head out to Cape Royal to get a view Angels Arch and a hike on top of it. Retrace the route and head back towards Widforss TH.

Jump on the AZT at Widforss TH and ride singletrack through young aspen stands all the way to the boundary of Grand Canyon National Park. Stay on the AZT, cross over into the Kaibab National Forest, and take a side ride up to the historic North Rim Lookout Tower were Edward Abbey spent some time as a ranger. The AZT will intersect with the smooth and beautiful dirt road of FR 610. Staying on here carries you out to Nankoweap Trailhead and a view of Saddle Mountain Wilderness plunging into the Grand Canyon. Retrace the route and swing a side-turn north towards Marble Viewpoint and some of the best dispersed camping on the route if you camp out on the bald at the terminus. Views of the East Rim, Saddle Mountain, Grand Canyon, Little Colorado River Gorge, Grand Staircase Escalante, Navajo Mountain, and the approaching Vermillion Cliffs will all spread before you.

Retrace the route and jump back on the AZT which churns and weaves through high subalpine meadows and deep spruce thickets up, down, and across the Kaibab Plateau. Arrive at the East Rim Viewpoint and opposing views of Marble Viewpoint. Ride on FR 611 towards DeMotte where a side-trip provides an opportunity for one last resupply before descending off the Kaibab Plateau. The last cape on top of the Kaibab will be seen at Dog Point out along a smooth dirt FR 610. After, you'll join a section of AZT singletrack that heads north through meadow valleys with dirt roads coursing through the high elevation before approaching a massive drop-off down to House Rock Valley located in the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument. This is FR 213 and it can be eroded, rocky, and decayed. Now out of the subalpine and into the desert, you'll ride out to remote Buck Farm Viewpoint and Twentyseven Mile Rapids Overlook for stellar viewpoints into Marble Canyon. Retrace and cross House Rock Valley back to your original intersection on Highway 89A. Enjoy watching the profile of the deeply sanguine and multicolored rock face of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument ever-growing before you.

Ride pavement northeast along the perimeter of the Vermillion Cliffs. You'll hit Cliff Dwellers Lodge with its motel and restaurant. Ride on and miles later you'll hit Vermillion Cliffs with its tavern, gas station, and motel. As you cycle on, you'll finally come to Marble Canyon and its gas station, convenience store, motel, and post office. Head north and begin a descent back to your vehicle and a return to the low point of the route at Lees Ferry. Enter Glen Canyon National Recreation Area as you snake through sandstone and desert varnish down to the foot of the Colorado River. Walk out and touch the Colorado River once more; watch the rafters put in for their river expeditions. You have risen from river to rim and back to river again.

7. Route Difficulty, Surface Conditions, and Direction to Ride

Route Difficulty

Physical Difficulty = 7/10
Technical Difficulty = 6/10

The technical difficulty of the route is due to the abundant spread of surfaces that range from pavement, to smooth dirt, to ultra-chunky doubletrack. There are most certainly stretches where several miles will be rugged and rocky. There are also miles of gorgeous wide dirt roads coursing through the woods or across plateaus. More on notable rocky sections can be found under "Surface Conditions" below.

The physical difficulty is mostly due to the climbing. Make no doubt, this route is hilly and often steep. The North Rim Capes travels across the mountainous folds of the Kaibab Plateau; the route ascends to 9200 feet from the Colorado River at 3100 feet. Although most of the roads are gradual, there are long climbs at times. And most salient, almost every cape has to be reached by traveling one-way down a dirt road that invariably descends several hundred to a thousand+ feet. This means that you must immediately turn around and climb back up to rejoin the route's loop. You will think about this each time you head to a cape. But take succor in knowing that those views of the Grand Canyon are well worth it.

Noteworthy Climbs

Climbing up into the Buckskin Mountains from House Rock Valley Road
Ascent up to Jacob Lake
Climbing up from Jumpup Cabin to FR 427
Heading up to Demotte from the end of Rainbow Rim through Dry Park

In addition to these long, often unrelenting climbs, riders should expect rolling terrain that frequently ascends and descends ridges and canyons across the Kaibab Plateau. Again, be ready to climb.

Finally, there are conditions difficulties on this route. These include climate, temperature, environment, elevation, water, and resupplies.

Temperatures on the route widely swing between well over 100 degrees at Lees Ferry to well below freezing at the Kaibab Plateau high point. This means a narrow, ideal window of early Summer and ripe Fall for riding comfortably. You can try riding into the Summer, Spring, or late Fall, but you will find either extreme heat, several feet of snow, or lots of mud.
There is little shade and lots of exposure around the Vermillion Cliffs and Marble Platform. Trees are rare - it is a desertscape.
The Canyon Rim edge is much hotter than further away due to convection currents. Be aware of that in the hotter months when riding to each cape.
The high elevation gain and high altitude (9,000+ feet) will challenge riders not acclimatized.
Peanut butter mud is a very real possibility if it rains on the dirt roads.
The scarce nature of water and infrequent food resupplies requires riders to carry several days of resources at a time. Always bring more water than you need should a spring or wildlife tank be dry. A stretch of 179 miles exists between food resupplies at Jacob Lake and Demotte.

The difficulty ratings are based on Bikepacking Roots Route Rating Scale found below:

Physical Difficulty	Technical Difficulty
7-8 – Very rugged terrain with abundant climbing, some of which is very steep and unrideable	5-6 – Continuous sections of track may be rocky, loose, and steep; (e.g., 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain) suitable for intermediate mountain bikers

Surface Conditions

The North Rim Capes travels down a trove of Forest Service roads and old doubletrack. Some of the Forest Service roads are regularly maintained, wide, lightly graveled, and sometimes hero dirt. The spurs off of these carry riders down smooth, to chunky, to somewhat decayed doubletrack - especially out to the most remote capes of the route where vehicles infrequently travel. The dirt roads in Grand Canyon National Park are especially poorly maintained. I've been told the USFS puts spending priority on their unpaved roads while the NPS has their unpaved roads on the bottom of the spending list. Overall, there can be extended sections of washboard, ruts, and chunk with ample babyheads. Some of the viewpoints that the North Rim Capes utilizes are very remote and are often littered with tree blowdowns come early summer. The deadfall will get removed, but anyone traveling in the early season may have to go around/over trees until agencies clear them up.

If any rain/snow is forecast, most of the unpaved route will become peanut butter/death mud and impassable in places. Leave No Trace and avoid riding at these times until the route dries out. In addition, flash flooding from precipitation is a real possibility in the lower portions of the route around the Marble Platform and House Rock Valley - stay safe and stay out of washes or low areas at those times.

Noteworthy Primitive, Rocky Surfaces

The climb up into the Buckskin Mountains from House Rock Valley Road
Some of the ride to Jumpup Point
The last part of the road out to Sowats Point past the parking area for Jumpup-Nail Trail
Some portions of the Rainbow Rim, especially near Parissawampitts Point
FR 206 down to Quaking Aspen Spring
The road out to Swamp Point (especially after monsoons)
The entire road between Point Sublime and the Widforss Trailhead. This can be quite aweful with washouts, erosion, steep babyhead sections, hike-a-bikes, and chunk.
The descent off the Kaibab Plateau on FR 213 to the Marble Platform can be eroded and steep
There is a good sandy stretch (ie. fine-grained sinking stuff) when riders return to Highway 89A from the Marble Platform

Noteworthy Vehicular Pavement

Around the south face of the Vermillion Cliffs/Lees Ferry area: Has little shoulder and high speeds on the road, but traffic is typically light. There are good lines-of-sights for both cyclists and drivers.
Leaving Fredonia southwards to the Kaibab Plateau: Has very little traffic. There are good lines-of-sights for both cyclists and drivers.
The ride out to Cape Royal and Point Imperial in Grand Canyon National Park: Is windy, twisty, and has poor lines-of-sight on the curves. Plus, it is heavily vehicled in GCNP. If you choose to ride this portion make sure to ride defensively and wear bright colors. As a heads up, GCNP does not recommend bicyclists on this stretch of road (but it is legal to ride and definitely is ridden).

Direction to Ride

The route is intended to be ridden in a counterclockwise direction. The reasons for this include:

There is an anticipatory build of capes as riders begin with the Kanab Creek Wilderness side-canyon views before working their way to the full sweep of Grand Canyon's heart. Especially for those who have never seen the Grand Canyon before, the momentum of increasing view-grandiosity will be awesome.
An opportunity to acclimatize to elevation by riding up from the desert to the subalpine.
The thrill of beginning and ending at the Colorado River.
Avoiding having to ride/push up gnarly forest service road FS 213 from House Rock Valley (you will descend it instead).

8. When to Ride (Temperature + Climate)

When to Ride	Time of Year	Average Highs	Average Lows	Precipitation	Snow
Best Time	Early Summer (Mid May - June)	High Elevation (North Rim): 63 - 74 F Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 88 - 100 F	High Elevation (North Rim): 35 - 42 F Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 57 - 67 F	High Elevation (North Rim): 0.40 - 0.62" Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 0.12 - 0.38"	High Elevation (North Rim): 0.0 - 2.0" Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 0.0"
Best Time	Fall (September - Mid October)	High Elevation (North Rim): 56 - 67 F Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 77 - 91 F	High Elevation (North Rim): 32 - 41 F Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 49 - 61 F	High Elevation (North Rim): 1.82" Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 0.80 - 0.98"	High Elevation (North Rim): 0.0 - 4.0" Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 0.0"
Less Recommended	Summer/Monsoon Season (July - August)	High Elevation (North Rim): 74 - 77 F Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 100 - 104 F	High Elevation (North Rim): 47 - 49 F Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 70 - 73 F	High Elevation (North Rim): 1.92 - 2.81" Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 0.87 - 1.10" F	High Elevation (North Rim): 0.0" Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 0.0"
NOT Recommended	Winter and Spring (Late October - Early May)	High Elevation (North Rim): 38 - 52 F Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 49 - 77 F	High Elevation (North Rim): 17 - 28 F Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 28 - 48 F	High Elevation (North Rim): 1.65 - 3.82" Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 0.36 - 0.61"	High Elevation (North Rim): 12 - 30" Low Elevation (Lees Ferry): 0.0 - 2.1"

All the data above are presented as ranges of monthly averages.
***Visit these links to view further climate information:

***Seasonal Road Closure Information for Grand Canyon National Park

Time of Year	Description of Conditions
Early Summer (Mid May - June)	Paved Highway 67 to the North Rim opens for the season May 15. Services generally open on the North Rim May 15. Large and lingering snow drifts possible in May. Long days, vibrant grass, bright green new growth, and the driest months of the entire year. High elevations forests will have tons of freshwater, standing ephemeral lakes, and snow melt creeks providing lots of water refill opportunities. Low elevation deserts mean foresummer with high temps and incredibly dry conditions. Early Summer means balancing snow in the high country with heat in the lowlands.
Fall (September - Mid October)	The desert will be hot, exposed, and possibly very dry depending on the monsoon in September. Water sources are likely to be drier (or dried up completely!) than in the Early Summer. Services at the North Rim close beginning Oct. 15. Expect dwindling supplies at the North Rim General Store the last few weeks prior to Oct. 15 as they attempt to sell off inventory for the winter. High elevation forests will be green and lush with late summer flower blooms at the beginning of September and filled with the orange embers of stunning aspen leaves in October. Monsoon thunderstorms are typically expected through the end of September. They keep the temps nice, however, portions of the route around House Rock Valley and the Marble Platform can flash flood, becoming dangerous or impassible. The soil here will absolutely become death mud. Fall means being bookended by high temps at the beginning of the autumn and the threat of snow at the close of the season.
Summer/Monsoon Season (July - August)	Conditions are great on the high elevation Kaibab Plateau. Aspens are in full-leaf, but water sources begin drying up. Challenging or dangerous heat in the lower desert portions. During monsoon season, portions of the route around House Rock Valley and the Marble Platform can flash flood, becoming dangerous or impassible. The soil here will absolutely become death mud and should be avoided.
Winter and Spring (Late October - Early May)	Paved Highway 67 to the North Rim is seasonally closed between December 1 and May 15. Early winter storms can close the highway even sooner in the fall. North Rim facilities, lodges, and operations close seasonally between October 15 and May 15. The North Rim receives an average of 142" of snow. Massive snowstorms and blizzards. Multiple feet of snowpack. Extreme winter conditions. Most paved/unpaved roads close on the Kaibab Plateau. The desert will be cold, but portions of the lower elevations may be rideable (depending on the amount of snowfall and rain for mud) if the forecast is dry and the atmosphere stable.

9. North Rim vs. South Rim Capes

The Grand Canyon bisects the portion of the Colorado Plateau found in Northern Arizona into two distinct halves. The South and North Rims offer riders different views, perspectives, elevations, temperatures, climate, vegetation, and remoteness. Thus, the COTC exists as two circuits.

North Rim Capes

South Rim Capes

The North Rim Capes of the COTC is the less accessible and more remote ride. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is a nearly 4 hour drive from Flagstaff, AZ and receives only a fraction of the visitors that the popular South Rim receives. The route often travels down rarely driven or ridden roads into lesser-seen parts of the Kaibab Plateau. Riders should be prepared to self-rescue and be self-sufficient on this route as hitching a ride may be unlikely if a problem arises. Truly reliable water resupplies are few with longer distances between sources. Food resupplies are even fewer. Bikepackers should expect to carry several days worth of food and at least 24 hours worth of water for several stretches. The landscape makes dramatic swings between high elevation subalpine and lower elevation exposed desert - make sure to acclimatize. The North Rim's winter weather is more extreme, making the riding season much narrower than the South Rim Capes. The landscape juxtaposes thick aspen groves and spruce with raw rocklands seeded with sparse grass and sage. This route is longer with far more elevation gain.

Range of Days to Ride: 10 - 17 days

Across the Grand Canyon, the South Rim Capes of the COTC is the more accessible of the two. Only located a 1.5 hour drive from Flagstaff, Arizona, the South Rim encompasses the Coconino Plateau and the more developed Grand Canyon Village area. Riders entering Grand Canyon National Park will find longer paved stretches along the rim as well as more vehicles and people. This isn't to say the route is frontcountry - for more than 75% of the route takes in dirt forest roads and little traveled doubletrack that the majority of visitors to the South Rim simply don't visit. The route provides more opportunities for resupplies and water. The landscape is lower in elevation allowing the route to be ridden for a greater portion of the year. The landscape can be generalized as arid-uplands and desert, with dominant vegetation being the juniper and the pinyon pine. This route is shorter and there is less overall elevation gain.

Range of Days to Ride: 4 - 6 days

10. Capes Connectors

The Capes Connectors provide options to connect the North and South Rim Capes of the Canyon in three ways.

Inner Canyon Connector
Paved Connector
Western Wildlands Dirt Connector

Further information on each of the Capes Connectors can be found at this webpage:

Capes Connectors - Connecting the Capes of the Canyon

11. Ecoregions and Landscape

The Grand Canyon is located on the Colorado Plateau. The vast changes in elevation, roiling geology, and local microclimates lead to a rich offering of ecoregions. Landscapes in the region span from low desert and riparian strips along the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon to subalpine mixed conifer forests and meadows at the highest points along the Kaibab Plateau of the North Rim. The North and South Rims vary considerably in elevation, precipitation, and temperature, providing cyclists very different experiences between the two circuits.

Marble Platform

Locations on Route: Lees Ferry, the whole of House Rock Valley, Navajo Bridge
Description: Desert scrub and desert grasslands stretching across the limestone plateau of House Rock Valley.

Escarpments

Locations on Route: Vermillion Cliffs
Description: Cliff-benches that descend dramatically in red shades from high conifer desert forests to to semi-desert shrublands at the bottom.

Grand Canyon

Locations on Route: Jumpup Point, Badger Creek Rapids Overlook, Twentyseven Mile Rapids Overlook, Bedrock Point, Buck Farm Viewpoint
Description: Dramatic relief of exposed rock and geology that can vertically extend from 2000 - 8000 feet. The upper elevations of the route will pass by sagelands, pinyon-juniper forests, yuccas, and needlegrass. The listed route viewpoints happen to be in this ecoregion as it laps above the edges of the rim.

Arizona Strip Plateaus

Locations on Route: Buckskin Mountains, House Rock Valley Road, Jumpup Loop, Sowats Point
Description: Woodlands and shrublands that receive little summer moisture. Lots of junipers, sagebrush, grasses, and snakeweed.

Semi-Arid Benchlands and Canyonlands

Locations on Route: House Rock Valley Road, Gunsight Point
Description: Narrow canyons snake through mesas with loads of exposed bedrock. There are lots of sand, grasses, and sage.

Cold Desert Sagebrush-Grasslands

Locations on Route: Fredonia
Description: Rolling plateaus and valleys that are relatively low in relief compared to other areas of the route. Large amounts of sage and gramma grasses grow in arid soils.

Montane Conifer Forests

Locations on Route: Jacob Lake, Big Springs, Rainbow Rim, Fire Point, Point Sublime, Kanabownits, North Rim Village, Bright Angel Point, Point Imperial, Vista Encantada, Angel's Window, Cape Royal, Nakoweap/Saddle Mountain, Dog Point
Description: Trees include ponderosa pines, Gambel's oak, firs, and blue spruce. Fescue grasses grow well in the abundant moisture of the summer rains. Both the soil and air are cooler in the high elevations.

Northern Woodlands and Sagebrush

Locations on Route: Thunder River, Monument Point, Crazy Jug, Swamp Point, Descent off Kaibab Plateau
Description: Found in a ring around the lower elevations of the Kaibab Plateau. Expect juniper-pinyon forests intermixed with an abundance of sage. Most precipitation occurs during the colder seasons.

Arizona/New Mexico Subalpine Forests

Locations on Route: The climb from Rainbow Rim through Dry Park up towards Demotte, AZT Singletrack, Marble Viewpoint, East Rim Viewpoint
Description: Generally occurs around 9000 feet or higher on the route. Main species include Engelmann spruce, blue spruce, white firs, and aspen. The soil often freezes in this ecoregion.

Montane and Subalpine Grasslands

Locations on Route: Demotte
Description: Large, flat, poorly draining soils lead to large subalpine grasslands around 9000 feet that are ringed by the subalpine forest. Soils freeze here. Mixed sedge species can be expected.

Inner Canyon
For riders looking to stash their bikes on top and hike over the rims into the inner gorge of the Grand Canyon, a unique ecoregion awaits. The inner canyon of the Grand Canyon is its own unique ecoregion composed of limestone, granite, shale, sandstone, and metamorphic rock. Starting from the rim edge and descending, pinyon, juniper, and firs will straggle and then fade as sage, Mormon tea, and rabbitbrush cling to the exposed rock. In many ways, descending to the Colorado River is descending ecologically from Canada to Mexico. Temperatures at the bottom differ from the top by nearly 20 degrees F. The Colorado River flows at elevation 2000 ft. and is frequently lined with rich riparian corridors. Hikers can expect to see cottonwoods, willows, mesquite, and tamarisk along the waterfront and especially lining side tributaries. In warmer months, these plants stand out as incredible neon green oases promising shade among the cooking red and ochre rock.

Know your physical limits. It is a 5000-6000 foot vertical climb from the river to the rim. During summer, temperatures at the bottom of the Canyon can be nearly 120 degrees F. DO NOT attempt to do a rim to river hike when temperatures are elevated for your safety and the safety of first responders. Cool temperatures on the rim don't make cool temperatures in the canyon.

Further Ecoregion Information:

12. Where Bikes Are Allowed and Not Allowed

North Rim Capes Specific Bike Access

When traveling out to Jumpup and Sowats Point, make sure to stay on established roads/the route and not to stray into the Kanab Creek Wilderness which will come right up to the road in places. Bikes are not allowed in Wilderness Areas.
No riding singletrack or trails above the rim in Grand Canyon National Park except for the Arizona Trail. You are allowed to cycle on any established dirt roads.
FR 220 that descends off the Kaibab Plateau down to the Marble Platform/House Rock Valley is the border of the Saddle Mountain Wilderness. Make sure to stay on the road or camp north and east of it to keep your bike out of a designated Wilderness.

General Access
Bikes are STRICTLY forbidden below the rim in the inner gorge of the Grand Canyon. DO NOT RIDE YOUR BIKE DOWN INTO THE CANYON - you will get fined, it is illegal, and you will hurt the perception and opportunities of other bikepackers on this route. There are certain trails on top that are also off-limits to bikes; this route expressly avoids them. No cross-country travel in Grand Canyon National Park; practicing Leave No Trace means staying on established trails, roads, and paths.

Finally, respect tribal land and do not ride without permission in either the lands of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians just outside of Fredonia or the Navajo Nation (Diné) just across the Colorado River at Marble Canyon. This route stays explicitly within land domains where riding is public and legal. Although it may approach boundaries with the surrounding tribal nations, you should never ride onto the reservations without securing tribal government permission. Doing so otherwise is disrespectful and unlawful. I must note that although this route stays on "public lands," the formation of Grand Canyon National Park involved the forced removal of tribes such as the Havasupai, and they have endured legal battles to keep their vastly smaller chunk of land out of their historical precedent. Know the land you are riding on is traditionally theirs, know their current reservation boundaries are smaller than where they historically inhabited, and know where you are riding to keep yourself both legal and respectful.

Beyond that, almost all paved and unpaved roads on top of the rim are free and fair for riding a bike on. The Arizona Trail passages up on the rim of the Grand Canyon also allow bikes to be ridden. There are TONS of dirt roads, double track, and more that this route doesn't even begin to touch, all available for bike travel.

13. Native Nations and This Land

The land around and including the Grand Canyon is the current and traditional home to eleven federally recognized tribes (as well as other non-federally recognized tribes) including the:

Havasupai Tribe
Hopi Tribe
Hualapai Tribe
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians
Las Vegas Band of Paiute Indians
Moapa Band of Paiute Indians
Diné (Navajo Nation)
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe
The Pueblo of Zuni
Yavapai-Apache Nation

Native people are absolutely still here in the area, and have been here for thousands of years. The Grand Canyon is both an actual and spiritual home.  To many Tribes, the Canyon is a Living Landscape. When you as a rider are bikepacking through this area, make sure to treat the Living Landscape as as you would a literal home: Recreate with Respect. Act with care.

The Grand Canyon is a Cultural Landscape; It is not a theme park.

The founding of the National Park involved the forced removal of indigenous groups, especially the Havasupai. The Havasupai's traditional land included not only the namesake canyon they still live in today, but many of the Grand Canyon's riparian gardens and campgrounds, including Ha'a Gyoh (Havasupai Gardens) and Mather Campground. The Park spent many years shuffling Havasupai families around, taking advantage of labor, restricting their land use, and forcing them outside the new federal boundaries.

Grand Canyon National Park has spent the last few years moving in the direction of rebuilding relations with associated tribes of the area. Recently, the Park has worked to turn Desert View into the Desert View Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site.  The work to move towards rebuilding relations is going to take work by the Park. Words of intention show a desire to move the needle; more authentic action will need to be done. Further information on the tribes of the Grand Canyon area and the history of Native/park relations can be found below:

In August 2023, President Joe Biden created the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni (Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon) National Monument. This effort was led by a coalition of Tribes in the area with an eye towards protecting their Ancestral Homelands, preventing uranium mining from impacting the watershed, and safeguarding the cultural and ecological aspects of the region. Nearly 1 million acres in size, and spanning land on both the North and South Rims, the National Monument now encompasses the entire Kaibab National Forest in the Tusayan District, parts of the North Kaibab District, and BLM lands around the House Rock Valley area. The Capes of the Canyon travels extensively through these ancestral lands. Keep the successful efforts of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition in mind, as well as the intent of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, as you bikepack the route. Further information on the Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon NM is found below:

14. Leave No Trace and Bikepacking Ethics for the Colorado Plateau

Bikepackers, like all backcountry users, leave an impact on the land, vegetation, and wildlife of the places they travel through. Leave No Trace outlines specific actions that bikepackers can take to minimize their impact on the land. Below are some considerations I would urge bikepackers on the COTC to take that are specific to this area.

Ride on Dry and Compact Roads/Trails
The soil of the Colorado Plateau has a high clay and silt content with some serious caliche. Rain and snowmelt will turn the ground to peanut butter mud, or even horrendous death mud. It will clog up your tires and derailleurs. Even worse, it tears up the roads and trails as you leave long ruts and holes in the ground behind you. If there is rain in the forecast, don't ride the route. Wait for it to dry. This could take hours, days, or weeks depending on the time of year.

Avoid or Simply Don't Use Campfires
Climate change has been exasperating the aridity of the Southwest. Soils are drier, snowpack is lessening, air humidity is decreasing, and trees are dying from drought-associated stress. In foresummer (May/June) and windy days, conditions can be ripe for increasingly destructive wildfires. Northern Arizona has been stripped of many an acre by headline-grabbing infernos. Enough negative consequences of human-caused wildfires from campfires has led me to almost entirely abandon the practice in the backcountry. I cook stoveless, I pack layers for the cold, and I bring food to build my metabolic heat when I know the temperature will drop. I urge other bikepackers to consider doing the same on this route. If you do want to cook with heat, avoid alcohol/cat stoves and use fuel-controlled stoves like Jetboils and Whisperlites.

Look but Don't Disturb or Photo-Geotag Cultural and Archeological Items
There are parts of this route that may pass by unmarked sensitive cultural/historical/archeological sites or items. If you see or stumble on something, look at it, enjoy it, and learn more about the item when back in the frontcountry.  Leave it exactly where it is and do not collect it. DO NOT post locations, geotag photos, or post the items on social media.  This is at the request of both the Native Tribes of the area, Grand Canyon National Park, and Kaibab National Forest.

Avoid touching these items as well. Remember that this place is a Living Landscape to many Native groups - this means all items contain a life force and are alive in some way that creates a balance of nature. Take on an approach that treats all things (animate, inanimate, natural, cultural, etc.) as deserving the respect, dignity, and privacy that we would want/expect for ourselves by others. Looking through this different "cultural lens" takes some work.  Taking these actions are an opportunity to demonstrate respect and awareness of Indigenous perspectives of the world.

Camp at Least 0.25 Miles from Water Sources
Plan to camp 0.25 miles or further from all water sources on this route, especially the Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife tanks. More information on water sources can be found below.

***Leave No Trace is much bigger than just these four - I wanted to mention these four specifically for the COTC because of their local importance. Both Bikepacking Roots and Bikepacking.com have excellent resources on Leave No Trace for backcountry cyclists. These include:

Plan Ahead + Prepare
Travel + Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Bikepacking Roots has the Love Where Your Ride Campaign where they partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to make bikepacking specific principles. Visit the site to see a breakdown of each principle listed above.

Backpacking.com has the Leave No Trace for Bikepackers: Ride. Camp. Respect principles where they outline many of the same items listed above but also include Know the Land and Represent the Community (both excellent inclusions). Visit their website to read more.

15. Water Sources

Water is scarce along this route. The Kaibab National Forest is considered the driest national forest in the United States. Although the North Rim is higher than the South Rim and consequently receives an average of 25.8 inches of moisture a year, most quickly percolates through the porous rock of Kaibab Limestone that makes up the upper layers of this area. Within the canyon, water exits through numerous springs, but up on top, it's a relatively dry area. Springs may require you to stash your bike on the rim to hike down and retrieve water. The tablelands and canyonlands around the Vermillion Cliffs, House Rock Valley, and Buckskin Mountain are true desertscapes with little reliable surface runoff or pools. Plan to carry several liters of water, sometimes enough to last at least 24 hours and more than you think you'll need should you arrive at a source and find it dry.

Definite water can be found at Lees Ferry Campground, Fredonia, Jacob Lake, Big Springs, Demotte, and the North Rim Village area in GCNP. Beyond that, water is mostly found in dirt cattle tanks, metal cattle tanks, springs, and Arizona Game and Fish Water Catchments. The AZGFD Water Catchments help provide water to wildlife in the ever-drying environment of the southwest under climate change. There is no camping within 0.25 miles of AZGFD Wildlife Tanks (or other water sources).  This route requires riders to dry camp. Be prepared to load up at water sources so that you can camp far away from them.

Consider making a donation to help the AZGFD keep these wildlife tanks stocked at AZWildlifeHero.com. You can also donate to Wildlife Water Works which is a nonprofit whose mission is to, "Replenish, Refurbish & Create Arizona Game Water Catchments."  Donations to Wildlife Water Works can be made here.  I suggest a minimum donation of $25 because it's hard work by volunteers to keep these water sources maintained and filled.

***Water sources on the Colorado Plateau, as with the rest of the Southwest, are often ephemeral or unreliable. To help give riders a sense of water availability, I've rated sources using the scale below.

Water Reliability Scale:
1 = unreliable; 2 = seasonal;
3 = mostly reliable; 4 = definite source

16. Camping

There is no dispersed camping within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park. However, there is an established camping site at the North Rim Campground. The North Rim Campground near the village has a fantastic hiker/biker site for walk-ups arriving by foot or bicycle. The hiker/biker site is shared with other cyclists and backpackers and costs $6 per night per person. The North Rim Campground is conveniently located next to the the North Rim General Store and is only a short ride away from the lodging, restaurants, and Post Office (M-F, May 15 - October 15, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm) in the village. Lees Ferry Campground is located within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and also requires camping in the established campground. This campground is first come, first served.

If you want to stay at the primitive campsites along the rim within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park at Fire Point, Swamp Point, or Point Sublime, you will need to reserve backcountry permits through the GCNP Backcountry Information Center ahead of time. There are limited sites at each location.

Outside of GCNP in the the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument, Kaibab National Forest, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, and House Rock Valley, excellent and numerous dispersed camping abounds. The North Rim is truly one of the most remarkable places to disperse camp right up against the edge of the Canyon at so many locations for those making the remote trek out. Just make sure to pay attention to boundary lines between Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest.

17. Food and Resupplying

There are several food resupplies on this route. However, they are greatly spaced. The distance between Jacob Lake and Demotte alone is 179 route miles. The remote nature of this route means riders need to carefully plan how much food to carry and to expect several days between resupplies.

Miles 6.4-18.8 - Marble Canyon: Chevron Gas Station, Marble Canyon Lodge; a few miles later are Lee's Ferry Lodge and Cliff Dweller's Lodge. Hit all these locations again at the end starting at Mile 624.4
Mile 106.8 - Fredonia, AZ: Chevron Gas Station, Family Dollar
Mile 171.0 - Jacob Lake, AZ: Jacob Lake Inn + Restaurant; I encourage this optional side-ride.
Mile 349.8 - Demotte: North Rim Country Store with coffee stand, Kaibab Lodge with its restaurant (North Rim Country Store is open May 15 - Oct. 15)
Mile 425.5 - North Rim Village: North Rim General Store, North Rim Lodge, Deli in the Pines (All are open May 15 - Oct. 15. Expect dwindling supplies at the North Rim General Store the last few weeks prior to Oct. 15 as they attempt to sell off inventory for the winter)
Mile 522.9- Demotte: North Rim Country Store with coffee stand, Kaibab Lodge with its restaurant
Mile 624.4-633.0 - Marble Canyon: Cliff Dwellers Lodge; a few miles later is Lee's Ferry Lodge and after that comes Marble Canyon Lodge and a Chevron Gas Station

18. Sample Route Itinerary

This is a suggested itinerary. Use it as a rough guide for your own planning purposes. Feel free to use it, adapt it, or don't use it all and make your own plans. Plan your trip on this route based on your own strengths, comfortabilities, experiences, wants, and needs.

Day	Mileage	Elevation Gain	Route Description
1	~51 Miles	3580 ft.	Description: Start early to beat the intense heat at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Start by dipping your wheels in the Colorado River at the official start of the route. Now, ride from Lees Ferry to Cape 1 at Navajo Bridge and Cape 2 at Badger Creek Rapids Overlook. Ride along the shoulder of HWY 89A until you take a right on dirt House Rock Valley Road. Water: The last reliable water is at Cliffdwellers. Grab enough for the next 24 hours. Resupply: Bring most of the food you'll need the next 2 days already. You can supplement by stopping at Marble Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs, and Cliffdwellers for convenience store snacks. Camping: Camp for free at the Stateline Campground directly on-route at the border between Arizona and Utah on House Rock Valley Road.
2	~56 Miles	3120 ft.	Description: Rise early to beat the heat once more. Continue riding up House Rock Valley Road by Wire Pass, into Utah and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Climb up into the Buckskin Mountains and take dirt roads to the small town of Fredonia, AZ. Water: You'll pass by some Wildlife Tanks about 30 miles into today. In a small area, there is a good cluster of them. Resupply: Family Dollar or Chevron Gas Station in Fredonia. Camping: Camp in Fredonia either at the Country Rose RV Park and Campground or stay in the Grand Canyon Motel.
3	~64.5 Miles	4925 ft.	Description: Wake up early to beat the heat. Leave Fredonia heading south on paved FR 22. Turn right onto dirt BLM 164 to Cape 3 at Gunsight Point. Return, hit pavement, and continue south before a large dirt climb up to Jacob Lake and into the pines. Water: Water Tank out at Gunsight Point (about 30 miles into the day) and Jacob Lake. Resupply: Jacob Lake Inn has a restaurant and small convenience store. Camping: Camp near Jacob Lake at either the USFS Jacob Lake Campground, Kaibab Camper Village, dispersed camp in the woods, or stay at the Jacob Lake Inn.
4	~24.5 Miles	1300 ft.	Description: Take an easy day after yesterday's big ride. Eat a big breakfast at Jacob Lake and then head out into the pines. Make sure to take lots of supplies with you as it's 179 miles to Demotte (a 3- 5 day ride). Ride through the pines and young aspen growing up in a past burn scar. Descend Castle Canyon and jump on FR 22 to ride down to Big Springs. Water: Big Springs (There's no water until the end of today, so carry all you need from Jacob Lake) Resupply: None Camping: Reserve a cabin at Big Springs ahead of time. Or dispersed camp at the mount of Castle Canyon nearby.
5	~50 Miles	3600 ft.	Description: Head out from Big Springs for a very remote, exposed, and hot ride out to Cape 4 at Jumpup Point. This will be hot, so get going early. The goal is get back up into the pines for shade and cooler temps to camp for tonight. Stop at Hull Cabin if you have a reservation, or keep going to dispersed camp near FR 427. Water: There are a bunch of Wildlife Tanks today. Make sure to grab a bunch of water from one of the last ones you pass so that you can dry camp tonight. Resupply: None Camping: Dispersed camp at a great spot in the woods a mile before the intersection of FR 427 and FR 234.
6	~44 Miles	3660 ft.	Description: Today will again involve rides down to lower, hotter, exposed overlooks. Get going early to beat the heat. Continue down FR 427 and turn right on FR 233 doubletrack to Cape 5 at Sowats Point. Retrace and continue on to another spur out to Cape 6 at Thunder River. Return and continue on past an old cabin to Cape 7 at Crazy Jug Vista and your camp for this evening. Water: You'll hit several Wildlife Tanks today. The best is at the beginning of the ride out to Sowats Point. Grab that water on the way back out from riding to the point. Aim to get a LOT from this one or the next less reliable one over on the way back from Thunder River. Either way, these are the last surely reliable sources until Demotte. Plan to carry enough to get through today and the next day just in case Parissawampitts and Quaking Aspen Springs are dry. Resupply: None Camping: Dispersed camp right at the Grand Canyon edge at Crazy Jug Vista.
7	~33 Miles	3070 ft.	Description: Start the morning with your gear packed and leave it at the intersection to Crazy Jug. Ride down to Cape 8 at Monument Point and short hike on the Bill Hall Trail. Head back, pick up your gear, and join some old roads that can get chunky as you head to the start of the North Rim's famous singletrack: Rainbow Rim. This will be an 18 mile singletrack ride that can be both chunky and smooth as it careens through aspens, pines, and out to the rim. With a fully loaded bikepacking rig, this could take all day. You'll hit up Cape 9 Parissawampitts Point, Cape 10 Fence Point, Cape 11 Locust Point, Cape 12 North Timp Point, and Cape 13 Timp Point. Camp at the end of Rainbow Rim at Timp Point if you still have enough water to get through the next morning to Demotte. If not, and your water is low and the springs are dry, push on for a bigger day to Demotte. Water: Parissawampitts Spring is the only the option for water. It's 2 miles and 250 feet of loss/gain off-route. It's a seasonal spring and only good after a solid winter and wet monsoon summer. Otherwise, it could be dry. Again, rely on that water filled from yesterday. Resupply: None Camping: Spend tonight dispersed camp right at the Grand Canyon edge at Timp Point. Push on to Demotte if you have the energy or if you don't have the water.
8	~27 Miles	2408 ft.	Description: Start a large climb towards Demotte Campground. The roads will be pretty nice today and wide, so enjoy those. Start with a descent to Quaking Aspen Canyon and its spring. ride through thick groves of the trees before weaving up and through the meadows of Dry Park and approaching the high point of the route at 9200 feet. Descend down an awesome dirt road through thick groves to the subalpine meadows of Demotte. Water: Quaking Aspen Spring is the only option today between Rainbow Rim and Demotte. It's a seasonal spring and only good after a solid winter and wet monsoon summer. Otherwise, it could be dry. Again, rely on that water filled from the other day. The Demotte Campground has water spigots and the North Rim Country Store also has water. Resupply: North Rim Country Store at Demotte Camping: Demotte Campground, the Kaibab Lodge, or dispersed camping in the woods nearby.
-----	Optional: 0 Day	-----	Description: Take an optional 0 day in Demotte. Rest your legs, grab a shower if you're staying at the lodge, eat lots of food, enjoy the area, and resupply before heading to Grand Canyon National Park.
9	~58.5 Miles	3850 ft.	Description: Leave Demotte by climbing to the Kaibab Plateau high point at 9200 ft. Start a descent down remote smooth doubletrack to Cape 14 at Fire Point in Grand Canyon National Park. Backtrack and reenter the Park once more on your way out on chunky doubletrack to Cape 15 Swamp Point. Retrace and start your way down little-maintained roads past Kanabownits Lookout Tower to spectacular Cape 16 at Point Sublime. Water: The only water sources between Demotte and the North Kaibab Trailhead are Tipover and Kanabownits Springs. Kanabownits is typically dry and unreliable. Tipover is very difficult to find including a bushwhack. It only puts out a steady trickle of water at most, and that's after a good winter and wet summer. Otherwise, expect it to be dry. As a result, expect to carry at least 2 days' worth of water. It's 76 miles and 6000 feet of gain between Demotte and the North Kaibab Trailhead. My suggestion is to carry a ton out of Demotte and stash it in the woods at the split to Fire Point. On the way back, grab it. Then, ride towards Swamp Point and stash it in the woods again at the split. Pick it up on the way back and carry it the rest of the way. This will make your ride lighter and easier given the large amount you'll need to carry. Resupply: None. Camping: Ideally, you'll get a permit for Point Sublime. To do so, reserve this ahead of time with the Grand Canyon Backcountry Information Office. If no spots are available for Point Sublime, try Swamp Point or Fire Point (or dispersed camp right before Fire Point at a great spot in the National Forest). If those are unavailable, dispersed camp in the woods right before the boundary between the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park. You can also ask the rangers on the phone/email if it's possible to get a dispersed camping permit for along Point Sublime Trail (road).
10	~20 Miles	2400 ft.	Description: Today's ride is along the dirt road between Point Sublime and the Widforss Trailhead. It is rutted, little-maintained, incredibly steep in intervals, and very rocky. Expect slow-going. The views of aspens and the Canyon edge will make up for it. Plus, there is a big ride across the Basin - a massive meadow lined with spruce where bison frequent. Hit up the North Kaibab Trailhead for water, then take the Bridle Trail to the North Rim Village. Make the short short hike out to Cape 17 at Bright Angel Point. Aim to do this at sunset for an incredible evening. Water: Aim to get to the North Kaibab Trailhead where a definite faucet (before it's turned off mid-October) gives water. Water will also be found in the North Rim Village. Resupply: North Rim General Store Camping: Hiker/Biker site at the North Rim Campground
11	~50 Miles	4020 ft.	Description: Leave a bunch of gear at your Hiker/Biker site in the North Rim Campground to make your rig lighter for today as you'll be doing an out-and-back to your campsite. Today is all on pavement. And this narrow, windy road can be BUSY with vehicles - only do it if you're comfortable, and make sure to wear bright colors and flashing rear lights. Ride out to the highest viewpoint in Grand Canyon National Park at Cape 18 Point Imperial. Stop along the road at Cape 19 Vista Encantada. Then, ride to the end of the road where you'll park your bike and walk out to Cape 20 Angel's Window and Cape 21 Cape Royal. Then, bike back to the North Rim Village. Water: The North Kaibab Trailhead has a definite faucet (before it's turned off mid-October). Water will also be found in the North Rim Village. Since today's ride is an out-and-back, carry all the water you'll need for today. Resupply: North Rim General Store Camping: Hiker/Biker site at the North Rim Campground
-----	Optional: 0 Day	-----	Description: Take an optional 0 day at the hiker/biker site in the North Rim Campground. Rest your legs, grab a shower, do some laundry, eat lots of food, enjoy the area, and enjoy sitting in the chairs out back of the North Rim Lodge overlooking the Grand Canyon. If your legs feel up to it, hike to the North Kaibab Trailhead and take a day hike down the North Kaibab Trail - bring water, snacks, and know your limits (down is optional, up is mandatory!).
12	~49.5 Miles	3830 ft.	Description: Take the Bridle Trail out of the North Rim Village back towards the AZT. Today is a bunch of AZT singletrack up along ridges and across vast subalpine meadows - so today may take extra time. Once you finish singletrack, join the nice dirt surfaces of FR 610 out to Cape 22 Nankoweap/Saddle Mountain. Retrace your route and head out to Cape 23 Marble Viewpoint. Retrace your route to join more AZT singletrack to head north across more subalpine meadows to Cape 24 East Rim Viewpoint before jumping on forest service roads to head to Demotte. Water: Great water at the Marble Sinkhole by Marble Viewpoint and several Wildlife Tanks by the East Rim Viewpoint. The Demotte Campground has water spigots and the North Rim Country Store also has water. Resupply: North Rim Country Store at Demotte Camping: Demotte Campground, the Kaibab Lodge, or dispersed camping in the woods nearby.
13	~43.5 Miles	2250 ft.	Description: Leave Demotte with a climb up well-maintained dirt Dog Saddle Road. Head out to Cape 25 Dog Point. Turn around, retrace, and join some AZT singletrack to head across large subalpine meadows before a gradual climb to the lip of the Kaibab Plateau's edge. I'd spend some waiting here until nearly evening. This is due to the hot conditions below in House Rock Valley. Time your descent so that you can ride without the Sun's blaze and high digit temps. Then, descend rough FR 220 along the edge of the Saddle Mountain Wilderness and enter the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument. Head out on nice dirt roads to Cape 26 Buck Farm Viewpoint for a chance to camp along the Canyon's rim one last time. Water: Carry all the water you'll need today as well as through tomorrow morning from Demotte. You will unlikely hitting any sources. Resupply: None Camping: Dispersed camp at Buck Farm Viewpoint
14	~58.5 Miles	1830 ft.	Description: Wake early to beat the heat on a long, exposed stretch of desertscape across House Rock Valley. Make your way towards Kane Ranch, then turn east. The dirt roads are beautiful and take you to Cape 27 Bedrock Point and Cape 28 Twentyseven Mile Rapids Overlook. The doubletrack alternates between rough and smooth across the desert grasslands. You'll hit some fine sand that will slow you down as you ascend to Highway 89A. Join the paved highway shoulder and start around the Vermillion Cliffs one last time towards Cliffdwellers. If you want to finish today, you totally can and just bike to the end. I like to stay one more night in the area for a last day's morning ride down to Lees Ferry. Water: There are good Wildlife Tanks by Buck Farm and on the way to Bedrock Point. You can also get some cold drinks and water from Cliffdwellers. Resupply: Cliffdwellers Camping: Reserve a room at Cliffdwellers Lodge. Or dispersed camp on BLM land down public dirt roads nearby.
15	~15 Miles	300 ft.	Description: Grab your bike and get going early to beat the heat once more. Head along the highway shoulder until you descend once more down to Lees Ferry and the heart of the Grand Canyon. Finish your ride at Cape 29 by dipping your rear wheels in the Colorado River at the bottom. Finish! Water: Cliffdwellers, Vermilion Cliffs, Marble Canyon, Lees Ferry Resupply: Cliffdwellers, Vermilion Cliffs, Marble Canyon - all these places have convenience stores and/or restaurants Camping: Finish! Stay at Lees Ferry Campground or grab a lodge room here.

19. Fees and Permits

Grand Canyon National Park requires a fee for entry. No cash, credit/debit only. ($35 for a vehicle; $20 for a bicycle).
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area requires a fee to get to Lees Ferry. It is an automated fee machine . No cash, credit/debit only. ($30.00 for a vehicle; $15 for a bicycle).
Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument, Kaibab National Forest, and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument have no fees.
A Recreational Land Use Permit is required for any travel or camping on Arizona State Lands. Apply for and pay for one before you head out on the route. Carry it with you.

20. Getting to the Start

There are three main ways to the get to the start of the Capes of the Canyon.

Drive to the start (a personal car or rental).
Fly into Flagstaff, AZ and bike here.
Straight-up bike to the start from wherever.

You can rent a car easily in Flagstaff, Phoenix, or Las Vegas - these are the three main cities people fly into for visiting the Grand Canyon.

For those interested in flying to Flagstaff and then biking to the start, there are a few options. You can either fly with your bike and ride it right from the airport, or you can ship it to one of the many bike shops in Flagstaff (my favorites are Flagstaff Bike Revolution and Absolute Bikes).

There are five main options for biking from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon.

Flag to Capes Connector (dirt roads and multi-use paths - goes to the South Rim)
Capes Connectors (dirt, paved, or hiking - go from the South Rim to the North Rim)
The Arizona Trail (singletrack)
The Western Wildlands Route (singletrack and dirt roads)
Grand Canyon Connector (paved)

I've designed the Flag to Capes Connector as a fast, gravel and dirt forest-road based approach. The Flag to Capes Connector provides a direct route for bikepackers looking to arrive at the South Rim of the Capes of Canyon by plane and bike from Flagstaff, AZ instead of by car. From there, you'll need to use the Capes Connectors to get to the North Rim. More information on the Flag to Capes Connector can found under the Ride with GPS link and GPX below.

21. Parking

Park your vehicle in the paved long-term parking at Lees Ferry. There is signage at the area, and there is a POI for it on the RWGPS map. Parking is for 30 days max. Although the Parking Limit says 14 days, I've been told it's treated loosely because this is also where rafters leave their vehicles for a 30 day Colorado River trip. Make sure to leave your Park Pass/Permit visible on your dashboard.

In the occasional event that the parking lot is filled up, reach out to some of the lodges nearby (Marble Canyon, Lee's Ferry, Cliff Dwellers). No promises, but I've found that if you patronage the business by staying the night, they'll be more willing to work with you (especially if you offer to pay to safely leave your car).

22. Additional Important Information

Hunting Season: Starts in September and goes through December. The Kaibab National Forest on the North Rim is considered one of the best mule deer hunting areas in the United States. Hunting season is a big deal here and the forest will be filled with hunters looking for deer and bison. Expect to see more trucks, backcountry campers, ATVs, and individuals on foot. WEAR ORANGE and make yourself visible as you ride. Be smart and be seen during hunting season. Wildlife Tanks may have more hunters scoping them out.
Dark Skies: Grand Canyon National Park is an International Dark Sky Park. This means that you can expect to have anywhere between Bortle Class 1 - 3 night skies overhead (even better night viewing during a new moon). The Bortle Class Scale is used to rate night skies on their clarity and lack of light pollution. A Bortle Class 1 is the darkest possible and there are several locations along these routes where, should you camp, you will have this level of darkness. Here, night skies will be virtually unimpeded by artificial light. You can use the following sites to explore more:
- Light Pollution Map
- Information on Night Skies at the Grand Canyon
Fences: There may be "cowboy fences" on this route which consist of barbed wire wrapped around vertical wooden branches that are strung across roads. They can be opened by removing a loop of wire on one side. Most importantly, leave fences as you found them; re-close them if they were closed.
Black Bears: There are black bears which means you need to properly store your food at night using a bear-aware method.
Hantavirus and Plague: Bubonic plague and hantavirus are frequent enough amongst the rodent population that you should avoid their saliva, feces, urine, and direct bodily contact. Be careful when entering old cabins and caves where droppings are plentiful and ventilation is limited. These are prime areas for possible contraction of these diseases.
Bugs: Mosquitoes and biting flies can be abundant on this route in the forest valleys and drainages where moisture and standing water collect. This will be especially true in the summer and early fall, especially if precipitation has been plentiful.

23. Other Rides in the Area

There are several other routes located in the area for those interested in checking them out:

24. Acknowledgements

I'd like to thank Janna, Kate, and Dan for their time riding, scouting, and helping me network within Grand Canyon National Park. For sharing beta from his own scouting trips and discussing water sources in the area, I'd like to thank Kurt Refsnider. I'd like to thank Matthew Jenkins for sharing an alternative option on the Marble Platform and Emily Hansen for information on Dog Point. I'd like to give a huge shoutout to Rebekka Anderson of Erosion Studio for her fantastic artwork creating the route logo. For his thoughts and guidance on Indigenous perspectives of the Living Landscape, I'd like to thank Jack Pongyesva of the Intertribal Centennial Conversations Group and Grand Canyon Trust. Finally, I'd like to thank Bikepacking Roots for showcasing the Capes of the Canyon under their Community Routes Project (CRoP).

25. Social Media and Route Updates

Route Updates:

Instagram: --> Route updates/changes
Facebook --> Community discussion + Route updates/changes

Rider Feedback: Use the Comment box below or email me to give a trip report, list any concerns, or provide an update on the route. Make sure to give:

Date
Location and Mile
Feedback/Trip Report Details

Any disrespectful or unnecessarily critical responses will be deleted - My call. Keep it civil, constructive, and informative.

View this profile on Instagram

Capes of the Canyon Bikepacking Routes (@capesofthecanyon) • Instagram photos and videos

​North Rim Capes

​1. Route Stats

2. North Rim Capes Overview

3. Map and GPX

Route Guide Sections

4. Alerts and Closures

5. Route Design Philosophy and Vision

6. Route Description

7. Route Difficulty, Surface Conditions, and Direction to Ride

8. When to Ride (Temperature + Climate)​

9. North Rim vs. South Rim Capes

North Rim Capes

South Rim Capes

10. Capes Connectors

11. Ecoregions and Landscape

12. Where Bikes Are Allowed and Not Allowed

13. Native Nations and This Land

14. ​​Leave No Trace and Bikepacking Ethics for the Colorado Plateau

15. Water Sources

16. Camping

17. Food and Resupplying

18. Sample Route Itinerary

19. Fees and Permits

20. Getting to the Start

21. Parking

22. Additional Important Information

23. Other Rides in the Area

24. Acknowledgements

25. Social Media and Route Updates​

Search for Articles or Blog Posts

North Rim Capes

1. Route Stats

8. When to Ride (Temperature + Climate)

14. Leave No Trace and Bikepacking Ethics for the Colorado Plateau

25. Social Media and Route Updates