Grand Canyon NP--Cape Royal

Tips for Birding

In-depth information is found on the Grand Canyon National Park website.

About this Location

Cape Royal is the southernmost viewpoint on the North Rim, and it has the widest panorama of any Grand Canyon overlook – the great gorge occupies about 270° of the horizon, from Marble Canyon in the north, south over Palisades of the Desert, and westwards for many miles towards the main South Rim visitor area around Garden Creek. Quite a long drive is needed to get there, as the point lies 53 miles south of Jacob Lake and the US 89 junction, and 15 miles from the north rim visitor center at Bright Angel Point; this latter section is along a road that is quite narrow and winding in places as it climbs a wooded valley and passes over undulating land linking the Kaibab Plateau with the Walhalla Plateau. After a pleasant last few miles through the thick pine woodland, the road ends in a loop around a large gravel parking area without any visitor facilities, just a paved, mostly flat trail that leads south towards the viewpoint, at the furthest edge of the north rim landmass.

Interpretive signs along the 0.3-mile trail identify some of the common plants of this location, and there are plenty of viewpoints of the canyon to the east. Most memorable is of Angels Window, a natural arch in the Kaibab limestone which frames a little section of the Colorado River, 5,000 feet below and 6 miles distant. A short, railing-protected side path leads across the narrow neck of land on top of the window, stopping at a fine viewpoint right at the edge of the cliffs. The main path becomes unpaved and continues a few hundred feet to the final overlook, which is slightly blocked by trees in some directions; the best views westwards are obtained by climbing over the railings and walking a few steps downhill.

About Grand Canyon National Park

See all hotspots at Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon is considered one of the finest examples of arid-land erosion in the world. Incised by the Colorado River, the canyon is immense, averaging 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles. It is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 18 miles at its widest. However, the significance of Grand Canyon is not limited to its geology.

The Park contains several major ecosystems. Its great biological diversity can be attributed to the presence of five of the seven life zones and three of the four desert types in North America.

The five life zones represented are the Lower Sonoran, Upper Sonoran, Transition, Canadian, and Hudsonian. This is equivalent to traveling from Mexico to Canada.

The Park also serves as an ecological refuge, with relatively undisturbed remnants of dwindling ecosystems (such as boreal forest and desert riparian communities). It is home to numerous rare, endemic (found only at Grand Canyon), and specially protected (threatened or endangered) plant and animal species.

Over 1,500 plant, 355 bird, 89 mammalian, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian, and 17 fish species are found in the park.

Notable Trails

Many options are available for day hikers. Both the South Rim and the North Rim offer rim trail hikes that have spectacular views of the inner canyon, some on paved trails. Or you can choose to day hike into the canyon. Permits are not required for non-commercial day hikes.

Content from Official Website, Day Hiking - Grand Canyon National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park website

Grand Canyon Panorama Map