Hi, I’ll be hiking from Flagstaff to Utah this spring. What is the “best” time to do it? I understand the water at North Rim is turned on May 1. Should I work around this date or is water not an issue there?
bowlegs
Flagstaff to Utah
system
#2
The North Rim of Grand Canyon does not open to the public until May 15; the road is closed by a gate just south of Jacob Lake. There is no set date to turn on the water along the North Kaibab Trail as it depends on the weather. Some years it may be on by May 1. They try to have it on before May 15 as so many people attempt the Rim to Rim as soon as the road to the North Rim opens. You can get water from the tap at the Administration Building as there will be people working there before May 1. It is about a 15 minute walk from the trailhead on the Bridle Path, but in the opposite direction that the AZ Trail goes when it reaches the rim. There will be no services on the North Rim until May 15 - no restaurant, mail service, camp store. You would have to get to Jacob Lake for any resupply or food service.
Turtle Walking
system
#3
When I hiked through at the end of April the North Rim was under snow, had to hike the road for a while because of the snow, so there was plenty of water from the melt. There were a few ponds too along the way, if it is the same, water won’t be a prob, after Jacob’s lake there was no water. I carried the last 30ish miles worth. Fun!
She-ra
system
#4
We went through at the end of March and water was a problem after we started our climb up to the North Rim, snow wasn’t really melting much yet and ponds were frozen or snow covered (we did find some but carried lots when we did). We did however have some water in a random cow tank on the 30 mile stretch (still started with the full load like She-ra did, ugh!). I’d say end of April sounds better.
Apple Pie
system
#5
Steve, wait at least until the North Rim highway opens on May 15th. North of GCNP, you are above 8000 feet. It snowed on me there in early May of 2007. Plenty of water from GCNP to the tap water at Jacob Lake. Starting segment 43, just north of the Winter Road TH, there is a fenced trickle tank built by the state wildlife dept. It is not on the trail.
heyyou