The isolated North Rim will remain a great destination for private automobiles. It's a long go, but with country like this, getting there is half the fun. The North Rim is a thousand feet higher and much moister. Warm air carrying moisture rises from the canyon floor. When it reaches the cooler air above the high North Rim, it dumps its load of precipitation. An average of 28 inches of rain per year fall here. And, oh yeah, 140 inches of snow. Because of all the white stuff, the North Rim is closed for most of the period between October and May. But when you can get through, the pristine landscape and isolation is worth it. There are four main overlooks in the North Rim developed area: Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Bright Angel Point and Point Sublime. If you really want to get away from it all, venture over to the tiny outpost of Tuweep, reachable by dirt road. Tuweep is little more than a trailhead, but it makes for a great driving adventure.

The Colorado River, which is responsible for the existence of Grand Canyon, lies at the bottom of the canyon, 5000 feet below the rim. Because of the enormous depth of Grand Canyon, the river is visible only from certain viewpoints. It is possible to drive to the Colorado River at Lees Ferry (near Marble Canyon, Arizona) — a 2 1/2 hour drive (one way) from the South Rim. Lees Ferry marks the official beginning of Grand Canyon, and the canyon is only a few hundred feet deep at this point.

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Grand Canyon Vacations Raft the Mighty Colorado - The pinnacle of river trips: You can't beat it for hard-driving whitewater and stunning scenery Hiking Canyon Trails - The most intimate experience you can have with the canyon is on the trail. Horseback Riding - High on a sure-footed steed, you'll have the best views of anybody

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