Rainbow Rim Bike 2020
In July 2020, Greg Scarich, Louisa Bonnie, and I needed to get away from Covid 19. We picked a place to go with few people. Kaibab National Forest on the north rim of the Grand Canyon has some great Mountain Biking and has few visitors.
We spent 7 days there, biking for 6 and hiking for one. We had 3 different primitive car camps, two of which had views of the Grand Canyon a few feet away. The Arizona Trail, which runs from Mexico to the Utah border, passed right by our first camp. The first day of single track there was spectacular. Nearby, it is also possible to camp at Marble Viewpoint for free, not far from the Grand Canyon National Park North entrance.
The Rainbow Rim has world class single track. We biked all the trails there in 2 days. We camped at Locust Point and did out and back rides in both directions. From Timp Point, you can look deep into the Grand Canyon and see Surprise Valley and Thunder River. Those features are a prime hiking destination for float trips through the Grand Canyon. What is nice about the Rainbow Rim is that it is on National Forest land so you can comp for free right next to the rim with no entrance fees. The Lookout Canyon ride was mostly on a fire road but was an interesting excursion. Finally, we followed a fire road from Jumpup Divide to Jumpup Point. The riding was quite ordinary but the views of the Kanab Creek drainage are amazing. I looked down on 3 different backpack trip that I have done in this area.
REFERENCES
Kaibab National Forest map
Biking and hiking handouts from the park or see the park website.
Biking the Grand Canyon Area, by Andrea Lankford, 2003 - lots of hiking ideas
Biking the Arizona Trail, Andrea Lankford, 2002 - complete guide to biking the Arizona Trail.
ITINERARY
DAY - DATE - SLEEP - ACTIVITY
1 - 7/16 - East Rim Camp - Drive from Redondo Beach (11 hr)
2 - 7/17 - East Rim Camp - AZ Trail 40 + Marble Viewpoint (29 miles)
2 - 7/18 - East Rim Camp - AZ trail south to North Kaibab TH (32 miles)
4 - 7/19 - Locust Pt Camp - Imperial Point Hike in GCNP (5 miles)
5 - 7/20 - Locust Pt Camp - Rainbow Rim South Loop (23 miles)
6 - 7/21 - Locust Pt Camp - Rainbow Rim North (19 miles)
7 - 7/22 - 22/447 Camp - Lookout Canyon + Pratt Canyon (23 miles)
8 - 7/23 - 22/447 Camp - Jumpup Point (18 miles)
9 - 7/24 - Home - Drive home
Read MoreWe spent 7 days there, biking for 6 and hiking for one. We had 3 different primitive car camps, two of which had views of the Grand Canyon a few feet away. The Arizona Trail, which runs from Mexico to the Utah border, passed right by our first camp. The first day of single track there was spectacular. Nearby, it is also possible to camp at Marble Viewpoint for free, not far from the Grand Canyon National Park North entrance.
The Rainbow Rim has world class single track. We biked all the trails there in 2 days. We camped at Locust Point and did out and back rides in both directions. From Timp Point, you can look deep into the Grand Canyon and see Surprise Valley and Thunder River. Those features are a prime hiking destination for float trips through the Grand Canyon. What is nice about the Rainbow Rim is that it is on National Forest land so you can comp for free right next to the rim with no entrance fees. The Lookout Canyon ride was mostly on a fire road but was an interesting excursion. Finally, we followed a fire road from Jumpup Divide to Jumpup Point. The riding was quite ordinary but the views of the Kanab Creek drainage are amazing. I looked down on 3 different backpack trip that I have done in this area.
REFERENCES
Kaibab National Forest map
Biking and hiking handouts from the park or see the park website.
Biking the Grand Canyon Area, by Andrea Lankford, 2003 - lots of hiking ideas
Biking the Arizona Trail, Andrea Lankford, 2002 - complete guide to biking the Arizona Trail.
ITINERARY
DAY - DATE - SLEEP - ACTIVITY
1 - 7/16 - East Rim Camp - Drive from Redondo Beach (11 hr)
2 - 7/17 - East Rim Camp - AZ Trail 40 + Marble Viewpoint (29 miles)
2 - 7/18 - East Rim Camp - AZ trail south to North Kaibab TH (32 miles)
4 - 7/19 - Locust Pt Camp - Imperial Point Hike in GCNP (5 miles)
5 - 7/20 - Locust Pt Camp - Rainbow Rim South Loop (23 miles)
6 - 7/21 - Locust Pt Camp - Rainbow Rim North (19 miles)
7 - 7/22 - 22/447 Camp - Lookout Canyon + Pratt Canyon (23 miles)
8 - 7/23 - 22/447 Camp - Jumpup Point (18 miles)
9 - 7/24 - Home - Drive home
