Grand Canyon North Rim

[Daypack]

Going to the Grand Canyon for an extended trip. I will be at the north rim and was wondering if anyone has any information on off road bike trails, forest service roads ect. Any recommendations would be great, only been to the north rim once many years ago. 59 years old in good condition, all day rides or an overnight are good or just one to get away from the traffic.  Thank you.  

[ScottM]

The "Kaibab Monstercross" is what you're looking for, or some variation thereof.

See: http://www.bikepacking.net/routes/kaibab-monstercross/

AZT and Rainbow Rim.

I'm hoping to get out there in early May to ride a Monstercross.  I've been on the AZT, but never the Rainbow Rim.

Unfortunately I think the store on the highway will be closed prior to May 15 (when the highway opens).  But that means less traffic and people, I suppose.

[SlowRide]

I rode down the highway to Jacob Lake on April 19th finishing up the AZTR and the General Store and the Kaibab Lodge were both still boarded up and not opening until May 15th. Jacob Lake Inn had the nearest services(restaurant/general store/motel/gas station) at ~42 miles down the highway from the North Kaibab trailhead. It's still cool and quite soggy on the north rim with snow still around in the forest. The highway is quite desolate since it's gated closed at Jacob Lake. Cheers and have fun out there!

[AZTtripper]

Assuming your going in after May 15 once the road opens. It's 30 miles of dirt mostly flat out to any of the 5 points along the Rainbow Rim. I've been out there a couple of times. Back in 99 we saw other groups but only from a distance, one guy did pull into our campsite at Timp Point "coming or going" he asked just rolling in my reply. "Man this place is getting crowded" then he drives off, last person we talked to for the next 4 days on the rim. Went back in like 05 or 6 and there were guided parties and people asked to move into our campsite at one point. The trail itself is super scenic non tech with very little climbing great riding from a scenic sense not much to offer as a MTB trail specifically. Even tho it was built for bikes the idea was a super scenic not challenging or even super fun just easy riding and nice views. I like to camp at a spot just before Locust Point, right in the middle for two 18 mile out and backs and even tho your not at the point it has the best views.

On the other side of the highway the AZT from East Rim view south to the Park is good trail more physical then Rainbow but with some sweet meadow riding as well. Out and back or use forest roads to make a loop. AZT inside the Park is legal above the rim but it's mostly old utility cuts and not that great.

hope that helps
Tim

[schillingsworth]

Here's a couple of ride reports, both very similar except one was a 2 day affair and the other lengthened to 3 days and a spur out to Point Sublime.

3 day: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2014/09/sublime-kaibab.html
2 day: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2013/05/kaibab-mx.html

For something a little different up on the Kaibab, you could do a 2 day figure 8 loop from Stateline campground (AZ/UT border) using Jacob Lake as a resupply point. I'd probably change my route a bit, skipping the Navajo Trail (1000' foot HAB in 1 mile) in favor of climbing Winter rd. (dirt forest rd.) Here's some beta on that one: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2013/10/kaibabn-for-singletrack.html
AZT passages 42 & 43 get overlooked a lot, if you have the time, check it out.

Scott, I can't believe you haven't been to the Rainbow Rim trail. How did that (not) happen?!?