June 2019 – The Grand Canyon is a huge, winding crater that wanders across the northen part of Arizona for about 275 miles. However, Grand Canyon National Park’s North and South Rims take up just a few miles on either side of the Colorado River in the middle of it all. For anyone up for a little adventure, there are lots of other places along its length outside the National Park where you can peer over the edge in awe.
Outside of Grand Canyon National Park there are many absolutely stunning overlooks.
This past week we took our Polaris RZR on a back country tour through the woods and the aspen trees of Kaibab National Forest to check out one of the many overlooks that are outside Grand Canyon National Park: Saddle Mountain Overlook.
Our RZR ride took us through ponderosa pine forests and aspen groves.
The two track road was fun to ride on, but the best part came at the end when we got to the overlook at Saddle Mountain. Wow!
Saddle Mountain Overlook
What a wonderful view this was after riding through the woods for a few hours.
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We walked along the edge and admired the amazing views. Every time I see the Grand Canyon, I marvel that a narrow ribbon of river along with some wind and rain could have carved all these extraordinary patterns in the cliffs!
Beautiful patterns carved by the Colorado River over the course of millions of years
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Saddle Mountain Overlook offers a different view of the Grand Canyon!
We had jumped out of the RZR as soon as we saw the views, and savored every one. After we’d gotten our fill of the beauty, we decided to continue down the two track road a little further to see where it led.
Buddy ran out front for a while and then stopped to watch Mark drive the RZR down the trail.
“Want a ride?” “Sure!”
What a wonderful surprise it was to arrive at another overlook.
A little further down the trail we found another stunning view.
We made our way through the brush for a closer look.
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There was a narrow trail that led down a hill and then climbed up another, and Buddy and I just had to find out where it went. Mark stayed behind and watched us make our way out to the end of a stone peninsula. It didn’t seem so scary to us out there — there was plenty of room!
Mark hung back to take pics while Buddy and I ventured out on a rock outcropping
I have to admit, though, that when I crept towards the very end to get a photo, Buddy wisely stayed seated behind me. I scooched out in a sitting position!
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The American West is full of places that have experienced huge land upheavals. The Kaibab Plateau, which surrounds the Grand Canyon, is part of the larger Colorado Plateau, and in some places it is easy to see exactly how huge expanses of land were thrust upwards, sometimes at an angle.
“The earth moved under my feet.”
The Vermillion Cliffs are in the distance. Three “prescribed burns” of about five square miles each were burning on both the North and South Rims, making the air hazy.
In the distance we saw the Colorado River winding towards us. It’s amazing how the land at the top is flat and featureless for miles and then a deep trench cuts across it, dug out by the river over many millennia.
Lined by steep cliffs, the Colorado River disappears into the distance.
The Colorado River lies at the bottom of those steep canyon walls.
We hopped back in the RZR and were soon back in the woods. The trees were really green and the cool shade felt so good. What a fun little excursion that was!
Mark and Buddy took a break in the cool shade.
What a contrast to the sun baked and wind whipped red rocks of the Grand Canyon!
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More info about this area:
- Location of Saddle Mountain Overlook
- Grand Canyon National Park Official Website (both North and South Rims)
- Grand Canyon North Rim Official Info
- Grand Canyon National Park Map for the North Rim
- North Rim Area Campground Options
Other blog posts from northern Arizona’s pine forests:
- 20 Years Later! Hassayampa Inn and The Dells
- Grand Canyon – A Winter Wonderland with Snow!
- Grand Canyon History: A Navajo & a Mule Link Us to the Past
- Grand Canyon South Rim RV Tips + Lesser Known Overlooks!
- Grand Canyon South Rim RV Trip – Views, Views, VIEWS!!
- Grand Canyon’s North Rim – Breathtaking Bright Angel Point!
- Grand Canyon’s North Rim – Its Better Half?
- Grand Canyon’s North Rim – Magnificent & Intimate by Day or Night!
- Granite Dells at Watson Lake near Prescott AZ – SPECTACULAR!
- Lynx Lake, Arizona – Great RV Camping Near Prescott!
- Parowan UT, Las Vegas NV, Williams AZ & Sycamore Canyon AZ – Wow!
- Petrified Forest NP and Mogollon Rim – Cool pines & hot rocks in AZ!
- Point Sublime – A Wild Ride to a Stunning Overlook in Grand Canyon!
- RV Camping in the Arizona Woods – Coconino National Forest
- Seligman, Arizona – Birthplace of Route 66!
- Sunset Crater, AZ – Looks Like it Exploded Yesterday!
- Timp Point – A Private View of Grand Canyon’s Majesty
- What is happening to our Public Lands?
- Williams, Arizona – Home of the Grand Canyon Railway!
- Willow Lake (& more) around the Granite Dells in Prescott AZ
- Wupatki Nat’l Monument – Ancient Indian Ruins & Great Camping in AZ!
Links to all our travel stories from Arizona
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Beautiful photographs and instructive article. We stayed on the North Rim in a free camp area. The area is beautiful and uncrowded. Everything looks so green!!!
So true, Liz. There was a lot of rain this year and everything is very green everywhere. And the views are just stunning as they always are…!
Very nice! How tough would it be to use this two track road with your truck? Looks very tight if you came across someone driving back from the overlook. Approximately how many miles is it from the main road?
We wouldn’t take our truck on that road because it’s quite bumpy and extremely narrow in places. If two cars met I’m not sure what they’d do besides back up until one found a wider spot to pull over. It was about 12 miles.
Awesome!! But Em, don’t go out on the ledge. 🙂
🙂
Hi you three!!
We love that area and atv up there about this time of year..its even too hot in the flag area to camp..if you happen to come across a mens wedding ring I lost up there last year…
LOL!!!! If we find it, Stephen, we’ll send it back to you and with any luck your wife will never know you lost it. We’ve had some hot days even up here at 9,000 feet and sweated it out. But we’ve also woken up to 33 degrees outside and run the heater for a while. It’s all good. Have fun with your ATV!!!!
Emily,
What beautiful scenery. Amazing beauty. BTW, who is that strange looking fellow next to Buddy? 🙂
Bob
Very funny. That is my handsome husband, Bob (as IF you didn’t know!!). Ya gotta get out here and see these views for yourself!! 🙂
Wow, Mark and Emily, never saw this view of the Canyon. Beautiful for sure.
It is indeed, Pete!!
I always enjoy your adventures and pictures! What a spectacular wonder of the world! Rich and I hope to get back to the north rim again soon! Safe travels!
I hope you take your new and super cool trailer back there soon, Mary. It’s such a beautiful place and so serene and quiet!
Those magnificent photos don’t need captions – the majestic beauty speaks for itself.
It is truly stunning. The immensity amazes us every time we see it!
I love the pictures of your dog. A great companion.
Thank you, Margo! We love Buddy to pieces and we can’t help taking endless photos of him. We call him “The most photographed dog.” Thanks for reading and appreciating!
My sons and I were just there a week ago. Looks like not much has changed! Even our pictures are the same! 😉 😀
Very funny! Well, I wouldn’t expect too much to change in two weeks. Happy travels to you and your sons!