July 2019 – We’ve been exploring back roads leading to the lesser known edges of the Grand Canyon for the past few weeks, and we’ve seen some fabulous views at Saddle Mountain and Point Sublime. But those overlooks require a long drive in a 4×4 high clearance vehicle to reach. This week we discovered an overlook called Timp Point that offers some gorgeous private views that can be reached — with a bit of patience — in a passenger car or truck.
Timp Point Overlook at Grand Canyon Arizona
We took our Polaris RZR 900 side-by-side on a fun 50 mile round trip romp on a well maintained dirt road out to Timp Point, and we just loved the views we found at the end of the road.
Our little RZR took us through the beautiful ponderosa pine forest to a glorious Grand Canyon overlook
For anyone venturing on this road with a car or truck, sticking to the main roads is a good idea. They may be a washboarded and dusty, but if you go slowly they’re passable. However, since we have a zippy little buggy that can take on just about any kind of crazy terrain, we decided to skip a few miles of the graded road and take a cool shortcut on a pretty two track road.
“C’mon guys. Let’s go!”
We’d driven a few miles on that two track road with our pup, Buddy, running ahead of us when suddenly Buddy screached to a halt and looked back at us with a huge question mark on his face. Mark put on the brakes too when we saw a huge ponderosa pine tree had falled right across the road, blocking our way completely.
Oops — there’s a tree blocking our way!
We got out of the RZR to see if we could find our way around it, but the woods were extremely thick with all kinds of evergreens and aspen in addition to ponderosa pines. There was no way to get around this blockage. So, we did a U-turn and made our way back to the main road.
It was impossible to get around this tree.
It’s about a 25 mile drive from the paved highway, AZ-67, out to the overlook, and no matter what kind of vehicle you’re in, a comfortable average speed is less than 20 mph. But when we finally reached the overlook the views were spectacular.
It was a long dusty ride to get to the edge, but what a rewarding view greeted us!
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There was a small hiking trail that went out to the rim and followed the contour of the land for a while, giving us beautiful views of the Grand Canyon. We were surprised that at this part of the Grand Canyon, which lies northwest of the North Rim Visitors Center, many of the hillsides in front of us were covered in lush green vegetation.
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A blanket of vivid green
Limestone pinnacles far below
The views were not unobstructed, however. We had to peer over bushes and between tree branches to take in the stunning landscapes. Unlike other parts of the Grand Canyon, especially within the National Park where the viewpoints are on huge treeless rock outcroppings, the tiny trail hugged a slope and it was a bit treacherous in some places to find solid footing where we could comfortably savor the views.
Mark makes his way towards the view
We had to scramble and balance precariously to get our photos…
…but once we steadied ourselves, the views were spectacular.
The Rainbow Rim Trail is a hiking and mountain biking trail that goes from Timp Point north to several other viewpoints. Each viewpoint is reachable by a motorized trail as well, but each fork leading out to a viewpoint is several miles long, making it the kind of area that is fun to explore at leisure over the course of a few days. Trying to drive to all the viewpoints in one day would constitute a lot of slow bumpy driving on dirt roads for just a little overlook-gazing.
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Likewise, a map of the Rainbow Rim Trail showed that it wandered away from the rim into the woods and then wandered out to a viewpoint in a zig-zag manner, flirting with the views of the Grand Canyon in between long treks through the woods.
Greenery and red rocks
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Timp Point has two overlooks that are only 6 miles apart, so we decided to visit both. At North Timp Point yellow wildflowers were in vibrant bloom everywhere.
Beautiful wildflowers were in bloom at North Timp Point
The little hiking path was lined with flowers
The wonderfully fragrant Cliff Rose was in bloom too, and even Buddy was impressed by its incredibly sweet smell.
Buddy checked out the sweet fragrance of a cliff rose flower
We slowly strolled along a narrow hiking trail around North Timp Point, taking in the beautiful views. Fewer trees and bushes had grown up along this trail, so the views were a little easier to see, and they were magnificent.
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Intriguing patterns in the distant landscape
After enjoying a PB&J lunch break with a view, we hopped back in the RZR and made our way back through the woods. Once we got the RZR loaded back on its little caboose trailer behind our truck, we stopped at the North Rim Country Store to refill its gas tank.
This little country store is all there is for gas and groceries on the 45 mile long Highway 67 that goes between Jacob Lake and the North Rim. They carry all the essentials and have even more on their shelves than can be found at Jacob Lake. However, like the highway to the North Rim itself, it is seasonal and is open only between mid-October and mid-May.
North Rim Country Store offers a whiff of civilization in a vast wonderland of nature
Way back when we first started traveling full-time and visited the North Rim, we met the couple who had just purchased this country store, and we were delighted this year to discover that their son and daughter-in-law have opened a coffee kiosk right on the property.
How awesome it was after an early morning RZR adventure in the wilds of the Kaibab Plateau to be able to sip a luxe hazlenut latte with a heart drawn in the steamed milk on top! We might have been dusty and dirty, but this little bit of yumminess was a nice taste of modern luxury!
Need a fluffy coffee before or after your adventure? The new Meadow’s Edge coffee kiosk has one for you!
If you have the time after visiting the more easily accessed and mind blowing overlooks at the end of the paved roads inside Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim, and you don’t mind a long slow and occasionally bumpy drive down a dusty dirt road, Timp Point makes for a fun day trip.
As rugged dirt roads go, the one to Timp Point isn’t too bad for a passenger car or truck.
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More info about this area:
Other blog posts from our trips to the Grand Canyon:
- Grand Canyon South Rim RV Tips + Lesser Known Overlooks!
- Grand Canyon History: A Navajo & A Mule Link Us to the Past
- Grand Canyon South Rim RV Trip – Views, Views, VIEWS!!
- Williams, Arizona – Home of the Grand Canyon Railway!
- Point Sublime – A Wild Ride to a Stunning Overlook in Grand Canyon!
- Saddle Mountain Overlook – A Different View of the Grand Canyon!
- Grand Canyon’s North Rim – Breathtaking Bright Angel Point!
- Grand Canyon – A Winter Wonderland with Snow!
- Grand Canyon’s North Rim – Magnificent & Intimate by Day or Night!
- Grand Canyon’s North Rim – Its Better Half?
Other blog posts from our trips to Canyon Country:
- Bighorn Canyon – A River Runs Through It in Montana!
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO – Steep and Deep!
- Bryce Canyon – Hiking The Rim & Navajo Loop + A Tourist Time-lapse!
- Bryce Canyon – Rainbow Point – Bristlecone Pines and Sweeping Vistas
- Bryce Canyon in Winter – Snow and Lace on the Red Rock Spires!
- Bryce Canyon National Park – Fairyland Trail – A Beautiful Hike!
- Canyon Country Highlights – Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend & More!
- Canyon de Chelly – Breathtaking Views Under Vibrant Skies
- Canyonlands National Park UT – Island in the Sky (and Night Skies!)
- Canyonlands National Park Utah – Hiking in the Needles District!
- Dolly Steamboat – Gliding Through the Arizona Desert on Canyon Lake
- Flaming Gorge Utah – Fiery canyons, a cool river, and nearly tame bighorn sheep
- From Salt to Snow in Nevada – Bonneville to Lamoille Canyon
- Grand Canyon – A Winter Wonderland with Snow!
- Hell’s Canyon – A Gorgeous Gorge!
- Kanab – Hub for the National Parks + Gorgeous Canyons Nearby!
- Lees Ferry & Marble Canyon AZ + Pretty Paria River Hike
- Navajo Bridge, Arizona — A Scenic Roadside Attraction in Red Rock Country
- Paria Rimrocks “Toadstools” Hike to A Hidden Canyon!
- Point Sublime – A Wild Ride to a Stunning Overlook in Grand Canyon!
- Red Canyon Utah and the Bryce Canyon Bike Trail!
- Utah Scenic Byway 24 RV Trip – Capitol Reef National Park
- Wire Pass Trail – Slot Canyon Hiking!
- Zion National Park “West” RV Trip – Gorgeous Kolob Canyons!
- Zion National Park RV Trip – One AWESOME Canyon!
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Awesome drive. Leave it to you Em to find a latte in the middle of nowhere! LOL
Very funny!! I can sniff out a latte anywhere!!!
Such splendid photography !!!!! Surely the benefits of the photo workshops you have taken….and Bravo, Buddy….trail scout !!!!!
Buddy is a great little Trail Scout — I think we’ll give him that nickname!! The Grand Canyon is so photogenic we have a ball snapping pics, and definitely the workshops have improved our skills!!
We have recently moved to Prescott and bought our little RZR buggy so we were happy to see your most recent post. That is for sure a day trip in the very near future. The Grand Cyn is pretty much my most favorite place pn earth. I have hiked rim to rim, floated with the family down the mighty Colorado, and camped many times there, but seeing new spots in the magnificent Grand Canyon in our little buggy will be a blast. Thank you again for your wonderful blog, we really look forward to each post. And Jeff I totally agree, it is the Sears Christmas Catalog.
Thank you, Pat! It makes me feel so good to know that you look forward to our posts. I always worry about whether I’ve published something that will be enjoyed, so hearing your kind words is really meaningful. Lucky you to have floated down the Colorado. That is something we would love to do. We’ve seen folks on the water’s edge getting ready to cast off on their trip, and we’ve talked with lots of people who have done it. What a cool trip!!! You will love exploring the Kaibab woods in your RZR. Happy trails!
Emily,
Quite amazing to see how nature has carved so much beauty over the centuries. As I told Mark, I would have loved to see how the colors in these ridges appeared on a cloudy day. No doubt they would have really popped.
Bob
Probably so, Bob. I suspect the best time to catch the Grand Canyon is dawn and dusk, and staying very close to the rim would make that possible. The North Rim has a fabulous campground right at the rim, and from some sites you can walk right to the edge and peer over, but unfortunately our rig is too big to fit!
We have been fortunate enough that our adventures have taken us to some beautiful places in many parts of the world. Although Rhonda has been to the Grand Canyon as a teenager, I have only seen it through the limited viewpoint of an airplane seat from 35,000 feet. I am saving this jewel until it can be given it’s due. For me, it’s like a kid waiting for Christmas and “Roads Less Traveled” is the Sears Christmas catalog. Christmas is drawing close now, but I expect the pages of the “Wish Book” to be pretty tattered by the time I get to open the present! Thanks again for an excellent adventure! By the way, we already have a Honda Pioneer so we will be able to access these stunning views if we can figure out how we will be getting it there!
The Sears Christmas Catalog — I LOVE that!! Thanks, Jeff!! The Grand Canyon is a truly great Christmas present, and you’ll have such fun exploring it. There lots of ways to enjoy it, by land, air and by water, and your Honda Pioneer will give you access to many special spots where you’ll feel like you are the only people on the planet at that moment. I’m so glad your chance to get away is getting closer. In the meantime, it tickles me that we can give you a catalog of ideas to choose from for your future travels!