Beautiful pasture next to the campground

Aspens on the North Rim Drive

Wed, 7/1/09

Mather NF Campground, Grand Canyon, South Rim, to Jacob Lake and the North Rim: Left this morning around 10:00. I decided to drive the first leg. Drove back to Desert View and got our last glimpses of the canyon on the east rim road before exiting the park. Drove down off the Coconino Plateau passing the awesome but scary Little Colorado River Gorge. Stopped in Cameron to switch drivers and get something to drink. Now heading up to the North Rim and the temperature is 100. Back through the painted desert, but on Rt. 89 instead of Rt. 160. Much prettier. Crossed the Colorado River on the Navajo Bridge at historic Lee’s Ferry. This is where the river expeditions put in. It’s at river mile 0. The old bridge is still there and you can walk out on it. The river was a beautiful blue-green with steep cliffs on both sides—named Marble Canyon by Powell. Climbing steadily up until we’re on this vast plateau with vermillion cliffs on our right. Eventually left the plateau and climbed into some higher hills forested with old growth pines, junipers and cedars. Finally reached the town of Jacob Lake, well it’s not really a town—just an inn, some cabins, a gas station, and a café. Our campground is only a mile from the inn. It’s a pretty place nestled in a pine forest. We have full hook-ups, but no TV, no Internet, and even the radio in the RV gets no signal. I can only get radio stations on my Super Radio. So glad I bought it. After getting set up we went over to the inn and had an early dinner. A cute little place. Established in the 1920s I believe. Low 70s up here (8000 feet).