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Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293603]

Sat, 09 January 2016 10:47

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Kathy and I are planning a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for her birthday in July. Reservations for the campground need to be made six months (to the day) before scheduled arrival, so we are trying to do our planning now.

Does anyone have any experience with the campground up there? If so, can you recommend a particular space? We will be towing our Chevy Tracker, so we'll need a place to park that as well as our 26' GMC. We will also want (at least) morning sun for our solar to charge the house batteries, as there are no electric hookups. Any other information or advice would be appreciated as well.

Thanks,

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

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Re: [GMCnet] Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293615 is a reply to message #293603]

Sat, 09 January 2016 12:19

bdub

Messages: 1578
Registered: February 2004
Location: Central Texas

Karma: 5

Senior Member

No experience yet, but I'm exploring the area on Google Maps. Looks like a
good spot at:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/36%C2%B012'26.7%22N+112%C2%B003'38.3%22W/@
36.2073486,-112.0607036,95m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0
or
https://www.google.com/maps/place/36%C2%B012'19.1%22N+112%C2%B003'23.6%22W/@
36.2052346,-112.0565481,96m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Wow! Looks like very snaky territory! Looks like lots of fun.

bdub

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist On Behalf Of Carl Stouffer
Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 10:47 AM

Kathy and I are planning a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for her
birthday in July. Reservations for the campground need to be made six
months (to the day) before scheduled arrival, so we are trying to do our
planning now.

Does anyone have any experience with the campground up there? If so, can
you recommend a particular space? We will be towing our Chevy Tracker, so
we'll need a place to park that as well as our 26' GMC. We will also want
(at least) morning sun for our solar to charge the house batteries, as there
are no electric hookups. Any other information or advice would be
appreciated as well.

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bdub
'76 Palm Beach/Central Texas
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Re: [GMCnet] Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293625 is a reply to message #293615]

Sat, 09 January 2016 14:05

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Thanks Billy. Yeah, it's back in the woods for sure. Pretty round about trip to get there from here too.

Anybody else ever set eyes on this place?

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293631 is a reply to message #293603]

Sat, 09 January 2016 15:58

Adrien G.

Messages: 474
Registered: May 2008
Location: Burns Flat, OK 73624

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Carl S. wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 10:47

Kathy and I are planning a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for her birthday in July. Reservations for the campground need to be made six months (to the day) before scheduled arrival, so we are trying to do our planning now.

Does anyone have any experience with the campground up there? If so, can you recommend a particular space? We will be towing our Chevy Tracker, so we'll need a place to park that as well as our 26' GMC. We will also want (at least) morning sun for our solar to charge the house batteries, as there are no electric hookups. Any other information or advice would be appreciated as well.

Thanks,

Carl,

Been there twice, but didn't camp at the rim area. I did camp at Jacob Lake which is where the drive starts to the rim (about 44 miles),
There are also cabins available at the rim area. There about 6 to 10 miles of heavy climb (6/8 %) from the East and West side just before JL.

At JL there's ranger info, restaurant/gift shop, gas station and camp ground across the road (Hwy 89A).

Because of the altitude (9000 +), flatlanders like me can't move very much without been very tired, so take your time walking around, put on sun blocker,
and keep hydrated, careful at edges (it's a long ways down), entrance fee stand is about 1/2 mile to rim. Last there Aug 2015.
IIR the pass is good for 7 days.

The drive is interesting from the East side more so then the West.

Adrien & Jenny Genesoto 75 Glenbrook (26-3) Mods LS3.70 FD / Reaction Sys / 80mm Front&Intermidiate / Hydroboost / 16" Tires / Frame Rebuild / Interior Rebuild Yuba City,Ca. Text 530-nine-3-three-3-nine-nine-6

[Updated on: Sat, 09 January 2016 16:01]

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293633 is a reply to message #293631]

Sat, 09 January 2016 16:38

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Adrien G. wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 14:58

Carl S. wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 10:47
Kathy and I are planning a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for her birthday in July. Reservations for the campground need to be made six months (to the day) before scheduled arrival, so we are trying to do our planning now.

Does anyone have any experience with the campground up there? If so, can you recommend a particular space? We will be towing our Chevy Tracker, so we'll need a place to park that as well as our 26' GMC. We will also want (at least) morning sun for our solar to charge the house batteries, as there are no electric hookups. Any other information or advice would be appreciated as well.

Thanks,

Carl,

Been there twice, but didn't camp at the rim area. I did camp at Jacob Lake which is where the drive starts to the rim (about 44 miles),
There are also cabins available at the rim area. There about 6 to 10 miles of heavy climb (6/8 %) from the East and West side just before JL.

At JL there's ranger info, restaurant/gift shop, gas station and camp ground across the road (Hwy 89A).

Because of the altitude (9000 +), flatlanders like me can't move very much without been very tired, so take your time walking around, put on sun blocker,
and keep hydrated, careful at edges (it's a long ways down), entrance fee stand is about 1/2 mile to rim. Last there Aug 2015.
IIR the pass is good for 7 days.

The drive is interesting from the East side more so then the West.

Thanks Adrian,

We have been to Jacob Lake as well. We stayed there for a night on our way to Zion & Bryce in Utah several years ago (car trip). Got there before the road to the North Rim opened (May 15).

Did you, by any chance, check out the campgroung at the rim? I'm just looking for info on site size (they give that on the website, but we're not sure how to interpret it), parking for the towd, etc.

Thanks again.

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

[Updated on: Sat, 09 January 2016 16:39]

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Re: [GMCnet] Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293638 is a reply to message #293603]

Sat, 09 January 2016 17:14

Ken Henderson

Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA

Karma: 9

Senior Member

Carl,

I've little to no use for the "North Rim" as that usually signifies. But I
love Toroweap Overlook, The two times I've been there, in '95 and '13, we
just visited Pipe Springs National Monument (a DON'T MISS about 45 miles W.
of Jacob Lake), then took the well graded gravel road 52 miles south of
there to the Overlook. Reading the article below sounds as if things have
been tightened up a LOT since those visits (thanks, Government):
http://www.desertusa.com/desert-arizona/tuweep-wilderness.htm

The article makes it seem more of an adventure than it really is, but then
they took a different route. The scenery is AWESOME!!! As is that all
across the Painted Desert, which we toured during the '95 visit.

I suspect the vast wilderness and the number of rangers means one can still
visit 'most any time and do 'most anything without interference.

It's doubtful I'll ever visit the "North Rim" again, but if I'm within a
couple of hundred miles of Toroweap, I WILL go there. Getting out of the
truck, immediately laying down on the ground, and looking 3000' straight
down at the Colorado River is FUN. :-)

Ken H.

On Sat, Jan 9, 2016 at 11:47 AM, Carl Stouffer wrote:

> Kathy and I are planning a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for
> her birthday in July. Reservations for the campground need to be made six
> months (to the day) before scheduled arrival, so we are trying to do our
> planning now.
>
> Does anyone have any experience with the campground up there? If so, can
> you recommend a particular space? We will be towing our Chevy Tracker, so
> we'll need a place to park that as well as our 26' GMC. We will also want
> (at least) morning sun for our solar to charge the house batteries, as
> there are no electric hookups. Any other information or advice would be
> appreciated as well.
>
> Thanks,
> --
>
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Ken Henderson
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www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach

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Re: [GMCnet] Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293639 is a reply to message #293638]

Sat, 09 January 2016 17:27

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Thanks Ken, The Toroweap Overlook IS on our list.

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

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Re: [GMCnet] Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293645 is a reply to message #293639]

Sat, 09 January 2016 18:59

Matt Colie

Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan

Karma: 7

Senior Member

Ditto

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293646 is a reply to message #293603]

Sat, 09 January 2016 19:09

armandminnie

Messages: 864
Registered: May 2009
Location: Marana, AZ

Karma: 2

Senior Member

Carol and I stayed at the North Rim campground a few years ago and I think it may have been right next to that site that Billy pointed to. I don't remember much but can say that we really liked the place, we got in without reservations but it did fill up that night. There was actually a gas station inside the park and the price was not bad at the time. What do you want to know about it that I might remember?

Armand Minnie
Marana, AZ
'76 Eleganza II TZE166V103202
visit my gmc blog
click here to visit gmcws.org

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293647 is a reply to message #293646]

Sat, 09 January 2016 20:20

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

armandminnie wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 18:09

Carol and I stayed at the North Rim campground a few years ago and I think it may have been right next to that site that Billy pointed to. I don't remember much but can say that we really liked the place, we got in without reservations but it did fill up that night. There was actually a gas station inside the park and the price was not bad at the time. What do you want to know about it that I might remember?

Thanks Armand. Their information says you should reserve a space that is long enough for your entire rig, in our case, the motorhome and towd. That would mean we could only stay at a 40' space. Do you remember if this info is correct, or is there room to park the towd at smaller spaces or at another lot? There appear to be quite a few 27' spaces that would fit the GMC just fine.

How heavily wooded is the campground? we would like to have sun part of the day for our solar to recharge the batteries.

Those are the main questions.

BTW, I got the CD in today's mail. I'll take a look at it sometime this week.

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293649 is a reply to message #293647]

Sat, 09 January 2016 21:05

Adrien G.

Messages: 474
Registered: May 2008
Location: Burns Flat, OK 73624

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Carl,

No I didn't look at the CG, right now I don't recall seeing the sign for it.

My sister-in-law was with us and she never been there and 4hr to spare, which is not much time, but at least she can say that she has been there.

There is a day visitor parking area, and also for those renting cabins, maybe you can drive the toad in and park it there.
Look up the ranger phone # and get your question answered, maybe even some forum may something about.

The place has definitely changed a lot from the first time I went there.

Adrien & Jenny Genesoto 75 Glenbrook (26-3) Mods LS3.70 FD / Reaction Sys / 80mm Front&Intermidiate / Hydroboost / 16" Tires / Frame Rebuild / Interior Rebuild Yuba City,Ca. Text 530-nine-3-three-3-nine-nine-6

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293654 is a reply to message #293647]

Sat, 09 January 2016 23:07

armandminnie

Messages: 864
Registered: May 2009
Location: Marana, AZ

Karma: 2

Senior Member

We did not have a tow car at that time but the space we had was large enough that a woman we met there and who needed a space for the night was able to easily fit her car behind our coach and her tent well away from us. The space was very large. The one that Billy pointed out seems to have a car and a big trailer in it with plenty of space and there is lots of sky visible from it. I think our space had more trees but I also think there was plenty of choice for more open ones - but can't say for sure.

Armand Minnie
Marana, AZ
'76 Eleganza II TZE166V103202
visit my gmc blog
click here to visit gmcws.org

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293664 is a reply to message #293603]

Sun, 10 January 2016 07:02

paulb

Messages: 24
Registered: June 2013
Location: Lansdale PA

Karma: 1

Junior Member

Did a week at the North Rim campground the summer of 2013 . It was great ! We arrived only to find our reservation didnt start until the next day(lost track of dates on that trip LOL) , and were told if we went back out of the park onto public land we would see Rt. 22 on the left, follow that a mile or so and there were several places to camp. We found an unbelievable spot at the intersection of Rt 22 and Forest Rd 270AB , totally alone, check it out:

http://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNSv58Xd7vxA5GaufPryoGSkdH-6-etC2Sy62ao

Next day we made it to our spot in the campground. Very nice, young trees all over, spacious sites.

http://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNkt1qFQ-EUwSd4xkpXqZF1L631PNEai6NC8qOd

http://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNOiS6CJkfseOnDc9T-VfLsNubvtzEuY2Os6cEb

Campground was a half mile or so from the North Rim Lodge.

Paul Bauerlein '75 ex-Glenbrook Lansdale, PA

[Updated on: Sun, 10 January 2016 07:30]

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293665 is a reply to message #293664]

Sun, 10 January 2016 07:09

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Okay, good information from all. I had heard there was another camping area outside of the main park area on forest service land. Sounds like that might work in a pinch for a day or two.

None of your links worked for me for some reason.

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293666 is a reply to message #293665]

Sun, 10 January 2016 07:21

paulb

Messages: 24
Registered: June 2013
Location: Lansdale PA

Karma: 1

Junior Member

Ok let me try to edit my post with the sticky instructions . . .

I edited them

Paul Bauerlein '75 ex-Glenbrook Lansdale, PA

[Updated on: Sun, 10 January 2016 07:31]

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293668 is a reply to message #293603]

Sun, 10 January 2016 09:32

Matt Colie

Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan

Karma: 7

Senior Member

For those other people that already use Google Earth and those that need to learn about this tool:

North Rim N36°12.286' W112°3.487' There is a campground there that might not be good for solar charging.
Toroweap N36°12.876' W113°3.426' There is no evidence of a local campground or even water. Site says you can camp there with reservation.

If you learn to work GE for what it can do, you may come to the same conclusion that I just have.
If you want to camp comfortably but still with 0HU, you might want North Rim. If you want to see the Canyon, Toroweap is a stop.
Problem with Toroweap if you don't drag a ORV, from what GE and the NPS says, it may be rough on a coach.

Matt

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293669 is a reply to message #293666]

Sun, 10 January 2016 09:46

A Hamilto

Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011

Karma: 39

Senior Member

paulb wrote on Sun, 10 January 2016 07:21

Ok let me try to edit my post with the sticky instructions . . .
I edited them

Won't help. Your pictures require the person viewing them to be logged into something (some kind of google account, apparently). You will need them to be somewhere that does not require the viewer to be logged in before the links will work.

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Re: Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293675 is a reply to message #293668]

Sun, 10 January 2016 12:23

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Google Earth is great and I use it all the time. However, it doesn't see through trees. I'm trying to find out about ground features of the campground and can barely see the roads, much less the campsites.

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

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Re: [GMCnet] Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293677 is a reply to message #293675]

Sun, 10 January 2016 14:12

James Hupy

Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010

Karma: -62

Senior Member

Gee, I guess that is a big problem out here in the Western United States.
All these darned trees. You can't see nuttin'. Maybe we should just make
our campgrounds look like some of the ones we stayed at on our Route 66
Rolling Rally. Nary a tree in sight. I remember one, can't remember what
State, but a big diesel pusher pulled in to a site, then moved to 3 others
before settling on the original one. They were all bare, had the exact same
picnic tables and hook-ups. I walked around to each of them when he was
through stinking up the air with diesel fumes and clatter, to see what the
difference was. Near as I could tell, they were identical. Judy and I just
pull in and plug in. That's it. 5 minutes, top. Only going to be there for
a brief stay. I find (that in our case) we are not so much interested in
the site as we are the attraction that compelled us to travel there. In
your case the Canyon is going to shock and amaze you. Every American should
see it. Rushmore and Ground Zero too. Might as well throw in the Vietnam
Memorial as well.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Jan 10, 2016 10:24 AM, "Carl Stouffer" wrote:

> Google Earth is great and I use it all the time. However, it doesn't see
> through trees. I'm trying to find out about ground features of the
> campground and can barely see the roads, much less the campsites.
> --
> Carl Stouffer
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>
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Re: [GMCnet] Grand Canyon North Rim [message #293678 is a reply to message #293675]

Sun, 10 January 2016 14:12

James Hupy

Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010

Karma: -62

Senior Member

Gee, I guess that is a big problem out here in the Western United States.
All these darned trees. You can't see nuttin'. Maybe we should just make
our campgrounds look like some of the ones we stayed at on our Route 66
Rolling Rally. Nary a tree in sight. I remember one, can't remember what
State, but a big diesel pusher pulled in to a site, then moved to 3 others
before settling on the original one. They were all bare, had the exact same
picnic tables and hook-ups. I walked around to each of them when he was
through stinking up the air with diesel fumes and clatter, to see what the
difference was. Near as I could tell, they were identical. Judy and I just
pull in and plug in. That's it. 5 minutes, top. Only going to be there for
a brief stay. I find (that in our case) we are not so much interested in
the site as we are the attraction that compelled us to travel there. In
your case the Canyon is going to shock and amaze you. Every American should
see it. Rushmore and Ground Zero too. Might as well throw in the Vietnam
Memorial as well.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Jan 10, 2016 10:24 AM, "Carl Stouffer" wrote:

> Google Earth is great and I use it all the time. However, it doesn't see
> through trees. I'm trying to find out about ground features of the
> campground and can barely see the roads, much less the campsites.
> --
> Carl Stouffer
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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