North Rim of the Grand Canon

We've  had 3 nights in a campground at Jacob Lake which is about 45 miles from the North Rim Lodge of the Grand Canyon. We drove up to the North Rim yesterday for a lovely albeit wet day. 

We managed a hike before the rain started, and then sat in the beautiful lodge, and on the veranda when there was a pause in the rain, watching the clouds over the canyon. We also had dinner in the very fine dining room with a window table and a splendid view. This side of the canyon is not nearly as heavily impacted by tourism as the South Rim. So it is much more reminiscent of the casual elegance of days gone by. 

Gary had Buffalo steak for dinner. It was very good, he said. We didn't know that there is a small Bison herd in the Park, which we passed as we were driving in. 

Coming back from the park after dinner last night, at dusk, we passed through a very open area, about 10 miles of meadow. There were hundreds of deer there. Everywhere you looked. We followed 8 motorcycles as we drove through the waning light. The front rider was keeping good watch for animals on the road. We had the same experience on the South Rim except it was elk we had to watch for. Very happy to be following those motorcycles. 

Today we decided to drive back down the Kaibab Plateau (from 8000 ft at Jacob Lake to 3000 ft) to the Colorado River at Marble Canyon. A bridge was built there in 1929, considered an engineering marvel in its day, called Navajo Bridge. This bridge replaced an archaic ferry that was the only way across the river previously - Lees Ferry. 

Today the old bridge remains a National Historic Landmark, adjacent to the new bridge, which was built to resemble the old one. We walked across the old bridge and took a photo of the Colorado River below, which at this point has left the Glen Canyon Dam, and is winding its way to the Grand Canyon. 

Old bridge on the right

This spot is arguably the start of the Grand Canyon. 

Then we drove over to the Lees Ferry site, had lunch by the river, and walked around the historic remains of the buildings which housed the Mormon family who operated the ferry. 

The final item for the day was a drive over to the historic Jacob Lake Ranger Station which has been charmingly preserved. It was built in 1910 and must have been really isolated.