Wayfinders Adventure Co.
Grand Canyon North Rim Loop
Our recommended route for an incredible jaw-dropping hole in the ground. And the Grand Canyon is pretty nice too (whaaat, more than one hole on this trip???)
How did we get here?
So it's 2013. I'm 23 years old and I have never been to the Grand Canyon. I wanted to fix that. I had plenty of time that summer and I didn't just want to go there and back. It's about an 8 hour drive direct from Los Angeles and you pass through the following towns: Barstow, Needles, Kingman. Not exactly scenic AND it's the summer...this is a hot hot time to be driving through the desert. Me and my significant other wanted a little more out of the trip, so we set up a fun loop to see the Grand Canyon and then some. After a little research, I learned that there are, in fact, two main parts of the Grand Canyon (from a heavy traffic tourist perspective)...South Rim, where most people go. And the North Rim. Duh...a canyon has two sides to it. Not sure why this blew my mind, but perhaps I attribut it to the fact that I was 23. It is estimated that about 90% of GC visitors head to the South Rim and I am very much one to avoid crowds. North Rim* it is! I also liked the idea that it's higher elevation (so cooler temps), more woodsy/pine trees.
After looking at the roads, it appears the path to the North Rim passes through Sin City itself! Las Vegas here we come. A great place to stop and break up the drive, wouldn't you say? Our next stop was Jacob Lake Campground which is just outside the border of Grand Canyon NP and there were plenty of campsites available, even in the height of summer travel season. After setting up camp and a lovely night's sleep, at long last we headed into the Park:
It's truly a sight to be seen. You just will have a hard time understanding how it's possible this giant hole in the ground was carved by nature. I once heard a funny anectdote though that someone left a yelp review for the GC and they said "1 star. It's just a hole in the ground and it doesn't change no matter how long you look at it." Clearly someone who looks at life glass half-empty. There are tons of hiking trails that run along the cliffs but there's one that descends down into the canyon, the North Kaibab Trail. As you descend, you are passing through millions of years of history and there are SO many amazing layers of rock to look at, including parts where the water from rains left some beautiful artwork by mother nature:
There is so much to enjoy if you know where to go and where to look. Once our time was up in the Grand Canyon, we headed south. By going around the eastern side of the Grand Canyon, you're able to make your way towards Sedona and Phoenix. But our destination was a little-known gem called Slide Rock State Park. I found it just doing some internet sleuthing and it seemed a great place to stop if we wanted to do a loop that took us back to LA via Phoenix. And I also happened to notice on the map, we'd be pretty close to something that has fascinated me for a long long time: Meteor Crater in Winslow, AZ. It is just a perfect little hole in the ground, exactly as you'd imagine a meteor crater would look like. To see it in person, you must know a couple things. The area is privately owned and they built the site so that the only way to see it is to pay to enter the museum. I can't remember what we paid back then but as of August 2025, the cost is $29 per adult and $20 per kid (6-13 years old). Is it worth it? Everyone is going to feel differently. At the time I remember being a little salty, thinking we could just drive up and look and "now I have to pay what?!?." But it's still something very cool to see and buying a ticket helps support the preservation and keeps the museum running...I guess...If you like space rocks or you have a kid that loves space, it's most likely worth it. I did get a cool pic!
Onward to Slide Rock! It's a natural rock formation that was smoothed out by Oak Creek. And the rocks there are natural slides. Pretty darn fun! But make sure you watch your step and be super careful!!! I saw a lot of people slip and fall and it ain't fun hitting your head on these rocks. But if you tread lightly you'll be just fine and have tons of fun.
FYI on two things: Parking at Slide Rock SP is old school...cash in an envelope. You'll encounter these places sometimes where it's an honors system on the parking fee. Which is why you should always have cash with you when out in the wilderness. You never know! As for accommodations, we stayed at Pine Flat Campground just up the road. Lovely little spot surrounded by towering pine trees. But in case you want something a little nicer, the charming town of Sedona is just 20 minutes down the road.
From this area, it's another 2 hours to Phoenix and then from Phoenix 5 hours to LA. So you could do it in a one-day push or stop if you'd like to break it up. That's the beauty of road trips. You've got so many options!!
*As of this writing, the Dragon Bravo Fire has completely devastated the North Rim area including the visitor center and all surrounding structures. It might be a long time before the North Rim is open again but we sure do believe that one day it will open for all to enjoy once more and we are grateful to the firefighters, first responders, construction workers and National Park rangers/staff that will work tirelessly to rebuild this beautiful area.