The Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway follows Arizona State Route 67 from Jacob Lake to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is the only road to the rim, and it crosses a high forested plateau of ponderosa pine, spruce, and aspen.
The road began as a dirt track as early as 1927. Arizona paved it in the late 1930s, and it became a National Scenic Byway in 1998. The North Rim sits at about 8,200 feet and gets a fraction of the South Rim’s visitors.
Snow closes the road each winter. That keeps the season short and the road quiet, with a stretch of meadow along the top of the plateau and a long run of pines before the park.
Route Details: Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway
Mile markers below are my estimates of distance from Jacob Lake.
Jacob Lake (0 miles)
Jacob Lake is named for Jacob Hamblin, a Mormon pioneer, and has the oldest existing ranger station in the country. Jacob Lake Inn has motel rooms, cabins, a restaurant, and a store. The Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center is at the south end of the inn’s parking lot.
Burned forest (5-20 miles)
South of Jacob Lake, the highway passes miles of standing burned trees. A large wildfire burned nearly 60,000 acres between Jacob Lake and DeMotte Park, and the stretch now has regrowing aspen alongside the gray trunks.
Kaibab Lodge (25 miles)
Kaibab Lodge is about 18 miles north of the North Rim and dates to about the same time as the road, around 1926. It is the only lodging between Jacob Lake and the park.
DeMotte Park (26-30 miles)
DeMotte Park is a long meadow along the top of the plateau. Mule deer, Kaibab squirrels, and Merriam’s turkeys are common sights, and watch for deer on the road at dusk.
Park entrance (30 miles)
Grand Canyon National Park starts 30 miles from Jacob Lake, where the Kaibab National Forest ends. The entrance fee applies here. The road then descends through aspen-lined ravines toward the rim.
Side drives and trailheads
Forest roads lead to Parissawampitts Point, North Timp Point, and Timp Point on the west rim. Check conditions at the North Rim Visitor Center, since the roads are not always passable. The Kaibab Plateau Trail runs 7.5 miles each way and links to the Arizona Trail.
North Rim and Bright Angel Point (43.4 miles)
The parkway ends at the North Rim visitor area, with Grand Canyon Lodge and Bright Angel Point. The Widforss Trail (10 miles round trip) and Uncle Jim Trail (5 miles round trip) start nearby. The North Rim Campground is in the same area.
Use the trip planner to build a day-by-day itinerary based on your available time and starting point.
