Day Six – Grand Canyon - The Rainbow Rim Trail – Part One
The Rainbow Rim Trail is the only singletrack along the entire rim of the Grand
Canyon that is open to mountain biking. The trail located along the North Rim on
the Kaibab Plateau and is 18 miles long. Getting to the trailhead is
quite an experience on it's own as once you turn off the pavement there are
another 30
miles on dirt forest roads that roll through groves of aspens, tall pines and
beautiful green meadows.
While you can certainly do this trail in one day we
opted to split it up into two days as it is a part ride, part gawk fest. The Rainbow Rim trail goes out to five points jutting
out into the Grand Canyon and then follows mild drainage contours around to the
next point. The general rule is you ride up and away from the canyon then down
and towards the canyon then cruise along the rim for a ways before heading
turning away from canyon again. This trail was made with mountain bikes in mind
so you will find great sight lines, exceptional flow, and expansive views of the
Grand Canyon which make this one of the one most unique trails in
the country.
Our plan for the first day of riding was to go from Parissawampitts Point, to
Fence Point and onward to Locust Point where we would turn around and go
back. We did not make much headway in the first half hour as we stopped so
often to taken in the impressive scenic feast before us.
Near Parissawampitts Point
Not that much further up the trail
After our initial, scenic shellshock we got just a little desensitized (or is
the right term Scenery Snob) and were able to stay on the bike for more than 60
seconds. I could hear myself a couple of times thinking (in a very snooty
aristocratic accent), "Oh, I only rate this view a 9.97 and that is simply not
worth me stopping this bike for."
We did not spend all of your time on the rim. Being a SoCal bum, I do
not get to see aspens too often so riding through these majestic trees is always
a treat. I think this section is between Fence and Locust Points.
There are plenty of rides out in the West where you need to be concerned about
getting from Point A to B. This is not one of them. Kicking back on
the rim is part of this ride, Enjoy It!
We stopped at Locust Point and took in some snacks as well as some conversation before heading back the way we came. I thought on the way back there would be a bit of the "been there done that" feel to the trail, but it was absolutely not the case. Both the Grand Canyon and the Rainbow Rim trail surprised us on many occasions during the return to Parissawampitts Point as scenery was like a continuously turning kaleidoscope of impressive views. The Rainbow Rim Trail is by far the most non-out-and-back feeling out-and-back trail I have ever done.
This is truly an awe inspiring place and even after leisurely riding and plenty of soaking in the scenery we still lingered at Parissawampitts Point for quite a while before heading back.
We saw plenty of critters both along the trail over the course of the day and
the even more along the dirt roads through the forest on our way out. I
missed some shots of wild turkey, plenty of deer, and a porcupine, but I did
manage to snap a few useable shots along the way.