The river split this plateau in two: the Kaibab on the North Rim and the Coconino on the South Rim. Because the original plateau sloped from north to south, the Kaibab Plateau is roughly a 1,000 feet higher than the Coconino Plateau. At over 8,000 feet, it's high enough to boast alpine meadows and spruce-fir forest similar to parts of Alaska and to receive 200 or more inches of snow in a winter-enough to convince the National Park Service to close this area from mid-October through mid-May.

Even when open, the North Rim remains fairly quiet, receiving roughly one-fourth the visitors the South Rim does. These visitors find the unadorned yet lovely Grand Canyon Lodge, a sprinkling of cabins, a small visitor center, a gift shop, a ponderosa pine-shaded campground, and a general store, among other buildings. They take scenic drives on the Cape Royal Road, which travels to the tip of a peninsula in Grand Canyon. During the 23-mile trip from Grand Canyon Lodge to Cape Royal, they stop for short rim hikes, Anasazi archeological sites, and canyon overlooks. Numerous rim trails pass through cool forest.

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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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