Page 71 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

GR AND C AN Y ON  69

California Condors
The California Condor is America’s largest bird, with a wingspan
of over 9 ft (2.7 m). The species was almost extinct in the 1980s,
when the last 22 condors were captured for breeding
in captivity. In 1996 the first captive­bred birds
were released in Northern Arizona. Today,
over 80 condors fly the skies over Northern
Arizona. They are frequent visitors to
the South Rim, though visitors should
not approach or feed them.

A pair of California condors

is blocked by snow for most The Bright Angel Trail
of the winter. The North Rim is This is the most popular of
Desert View’s stone Watchtower on Desert twice as far from the river as the all Grand Canyon hiking trails.
View Drive South Rim, and the canyon The Bright Angel trailhead is
really stretches out from the at Grand Canyon Village on
Point from where it is possible overlooks giving a sense of its the South Rim. The trail begins
to see Phantom Ranch (see p236). 10­mile (16­km) width. There near the Kolb Studio at the
This is the only roofed accommo­ are about 30 miles (48 km) of western end of Grand Canyon
dation available on the canyon scenic roads along the North Village. It then switches
floor, across the Colorado River. Rim as well as hiking trails to dramatically down the side of
The longer Desert View Drive high viewpoints or down to the the canyon for 9 miles (14 km).
winds for 12 miles (20 km) to canyon floor (particularly the The trail crosses the river over
Grandview Point, where the North Kaibab Trail that links to a suspension bridge, ending
Spaniards may have had their the South Rim’s Bright Angel Trail.) a little further on at Phantom
first glimpse of the canyon in The picturesque Cape Royal Ranch. There are two resthouses
1540. Ten miles (16 km) farther Drive starts north of Grand and a fully equipped
on lie the pueblo remains of Canyon Lodge and campground along the
Tusayan Ruin, where there is travels 23 miles (37 way. Do not attempt
a small museum featuring km) to Cape Royal on to walk all the way
exhibits on Ancestral Puebloan the Walhalla Plateau. to the river and back
life. After a few miles, the road From here, several in one day. Many
leads to Desert View where the famous buttes and walk from the South
Watchtower was Colter’s most peaks can be seen, Mule deer on the canyon’s Rim to one of the
fanciful creation, its upper including Wotans North Rim rest stops and then
floor decorated with early Throne and Vishnu return up to the rim.
20th­century Hopi murals. Temple. There are also several Temperatures at the bottom
short, easy walking trails around of the canyon can reach 110°F
The North Rim Cape Royal, both along the (43°C) or higher during the
Standing at about 8,000 ft top. A 3­mile (5­km) detour summer. It is essential for day
(2,400 m), the North Rim is leads to Point Imperial, the hikers to carry a quart (just
higher, cooler, and greener highest point on the canyon over a liter) of water per person
than the South Rim, with dense rim, while along the way the per hour for summer hiking,
forests of ponderosa pine, aspen, Vista Encantada has delightful as well as plenty of salty
and Douglas fir. Visitors are likely views and picnic tables over­ snacks. Carrying a first­aid
to spot wildlife on the North looking the gorge. kit is also recommended.
Rim. Mule deer, Kaibab squirrel,
and wild turkey are among the
most common sights. The North
Rim is reached via Highway 67,
off Highway 89A, ending at
Grand Canyon Lodge (see
pp236 and 248) where there are
visitor services, a campground,
gas station, restaurant, and a
general store. Nearby, the North
Rim Visitor Center offers maps of
the area. Facilities on the North
Rim are closed mid­October–
mid­May, while the road access Visitors at the trailhead of the Bright Angel Trail

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