Arizona scenic drive: Jacob Lake to the North Rim
State Route 67, the dead-end highway that leads from Jacob Lake to the North Rim of Grand Canyon, has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most scenic stretches of road in Arizona.
The 45-mile drive takes you past spacious, tree-lined meadows on the nearly uninhabited Kaibab Plateau. The cool, high-country drive is a fine outing all summer and is breathtaking in the fall, when golden aspen leaves shimmer in the breeze.
Jacob Lake, which stands nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, averages about 30 degrees cooler than the Valley. Need any other reason for a road trip?
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Things to note along the way:
Fire damage. In 2006, the Warm Fire scorched nearly 50,000 acres north of Grand Canyon. As you drive along SR 67 toward the North Rim, you'll start seeing scattered signs of the fire just a mile or two south of Jacob Lake. In some places, the area resembles a moonscape, with black and broken stumps. Before long, though, you're beyond the damaged portion and back into the area's characteristic mix of dense forests and open meadows.
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Campgrounds. Jacob Lake Campground is adjacent to Jacob Lake Inn, at the intersection of SR 67 and U.S. 89A. There are 51 sites with tables and grills. Drinking water and toilets are available, but there are no RV hookups. Sites cost $18 per night ($9 for a second vehicle). The campground accepts reservations. Or, try DeMotte Campground, about 25 miles south of Jacob Lake, for the same price. There are 38 sites with tables and grills. Toilets and drinking water are available, but there are no RV hookups. Half of the campsites are available by reservation; the other half are first come, first served. If you prefer dispersed camping, you may camp for free in the Kaibab National Forest (outside Grand Canyon National Park, of course).
Details: 928-643-7395, www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab.
Kaibab Camper Village, 1 mile southwest of Jacob Lake Inn, has dry as well as full-hookup sites, laundry, showers and other services. Sites cost $18-$36; a small cabin costs $85 per night. Reservations are accepted.
Details: 928-643-7804, www.kaibabcampervillage.com.
Wildlife. Living on the Kaibab Plateau are a large variety of creatures, including bison, mule deer, elk, antelopes, bears, mountain lions, turkeys and the black-bodied, white-tailed Kaibab squirrel, which lives nowhere else. Boost your chances of spotting animals by pulling off on a side road and sitting quietly for a while.
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Total miles: The heart of this trip is the 45-mile stretch of Arizona 67 from Jacob Lake to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. From central Phoenix, take Interstate 17 north to Flagstaff, then I-40 through the city to U.S. 89, where you go about 110 miles north toward Page. At Bitter Springs, bear left on U.S. 89A and go 55 miles to Jacob Lake. The round trip is about 700 miles. Summer and early fall are the best times to go. Arizona 67 is closed from mid-November to mid-May.
Don't miss: Jacob Lake Inn offers cabins and motel rooms, $100-$144 per night. You'll also find a restaurant, gas station, small grocery store, gift shop and dining room at the rustic lodge, which opened in 1923. Whether you stay or not, stop by the bakery, which sells pies, cakes, brownies and a palate-pleasing assortment of cookies, including German chocolate and lemon-zucchini.
Details: 928-643-7232, www.jacoblake.com.