Tour the North Rim Road
Tour the North Rim Road
The North Rim Road is the quiet side of Black Canyon - a gravel road off the east end of Crawford State Park that strings together 6 overlooks where the canyon walls drop almost vertical. It is a drive, not an expedition, so most people can handle it, and the payoff is some of the most impressive views in the park without South Rim traffic. Plan on 2-3 hours if you actually stop and look. The road closes to vehicles in winter and early spring, so this is a summer and fall play.
The canyon walls on the North Rim are almost vertical, offering some of the most impressive views in the park - and you'll share them with far fewer people.
Quick facts
- Duration
- 2-3 hours for a leisurely tour with overlook stops
- Group style
- Self-guided - your vehicle, your group. This rim sees far fewer people than the south side.
- Difficulty
- Easy driving, but unpaved road and exposed, unpaved overlooks
- Meeting point
- North Rim Road, reached by taking a gravel road from the east end of Crawford State…
✓ Book this if…
- You want the park's most dramatic near-vertical canyon views without South Rim crowds and you don't mind a gravel road.
- People who want the canyon without the crowds - photographers, road-trippers, and anyone allergic to busy overlook parking lots.
× Skip it if…
- You're visiting in winter or early spring (road closed to vehicles), or you need paved, accessible overlooks.
- The North Rim is closed to vehicles in the winter and early spring. Check road status before making the drive out from Crawford.
Before you book
Is the North Rim worth the extra driving compared to the South Rim?
If you have the time, yes. The canyon walls on the North Rim are almost vertical, and NPS itself calls the views some of the most impressive in the park. You trade convenience for drama and solitude.
Can my regular car handle the road?
The road is unpaved gravel, reached from the east end of Crawford State Park. In dry summer conditions a standard vehicle driven sensibly is typically fine - just go slow and check current conditions before you commit.
Do I need a reservation or permit to drive it?
No. No reservation is required and there is no fee for the drive itself - just the park entrance fee ($30 per private vehicle, good for 7 days).
Is this safe with young kids?
The driving part, yes. The overlooks are the risk: unpaved, exposed, with near-vertical drops. Keep kids close at the viewpoints and it's a fine family outing.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, with rules. Leashed pets (6-foot max) may be walked to the overlooks along the North Rim Road and on the Chasm View Nature Trail - but not on other trails or into the inner canyon. Never leave a pet in the car; interiors heat up fast.
How much time should I actually budget?
NPS says allow 2-3 hours for a leisurely tour including the overlook stops. If you tend to linger at viewpoints or want photos at 6 overlooks, take the full 3.
