North Rim in Coconino County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

North Kaibab Trail

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 24, 2024

1. North Kaibab Trail Marker

Inscription.

North Kaibab Trail. . , [Caption]: In the spring of 1902....we began to seek a route across to the north side. But at that time there was no trail across from rim to rim, nor was there a bridge over the Colorado. - , Whether you hike just a mile or go rim-to-rim, you are among a long lineage of North Rim hikers, beginning with American Indians thousands of years ago. In 1902, when cartographer Francois Matthes began mapping the canyon there was no rim-to-rim trail here, even though tourists had been coming to the South Rim since the 1890s. Matthes had to swim his horses across the Colorado river to reach the north side, and then it took him and his crew six days to reach the North Rim on the Kaibab Plateau, where you stand., In 1906, David Rust and crew, hired by the Grand Canyon Transportation Company, built the original rim-to-rim connector trail - then considered an extension of Bright Angel Trail. His trail began at the head of Bright Angel Canyon, crossed the river by cable car, and connected with Bright Angel Trail on the south side. By 1928, the National Park Service completed the present trail route from here to Roaring springs and renamed it the North Kaibab Trail., [Caption]: David Rust, in 1910, stands with his cable car, which made crossing the Colorado River possible for visitors., [Caption]: The Santa Fe Railway built Phantom Ranch in 1922 for the Fred Harvey Company, replacing Roosevelt Camp., [Caption]: The National Park Service began improvements to Rust's trail in 1920, replacing his cable car with a suspension bridge in 1921, and again, in 1928., [Caption]: In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps made many improvements to the trail you enjoy today., [Caption]: Bright Angel Fault provided canyon access and drinking water for American Indians and all people who have followed for centuries., [Caption]: Francois Matthes (left) and crew member mapping Grand Canyon on the North Rim, 1904. Matthes made the first topographical map of the canyon., [Caption]: National Park Service trail crews blasted rock cliffs to carve out sections of the North Kaibab Trail in the 1920s.

[Caption]: In the spring of 1902....we began to seek a route across to the north side. But at that time there was no trail across from rim to rim, nor was there a bridge over the Colorado. -

Whether you hike just a mile or go rim-to-rim, you are among a long lineage of North Rim hikers, beginning with American Indians thousands of years ago. In 1902, when cartographer Francois Matthes began mapping the canyon there was no rim-to-rim trail here, even though tourists had been coming to the South Rim since the 1890s. Matthes had to swim his horses across the Colorado river to reach the north side, and then it took him and his crew six days to reach the North Rim on the Kaibab Plateau, where you stand.

In 1906, David Rust and crew, hired by the Grand Canyon Transportation Company, built the original rim-to-rim connector trail - then considered an extension of Bright Angel Trail. His trail began at the head of Bright Angel Canyon, crossed the river by cable car, and connected with Bright Angel Trail on the south side. By 1928, the National Park Service completed the present trail route from here to Roaring springs and renamed it the North Kaibab Trail.

[Caption]: David Rust, in 1910, stands with his cable car, which made crossing the Colorado River possible

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[Caption]: The Santa Fe Railway built Phantom Ranch in 1922 for the Fred Harvey Company, replacing Roosevelt Camp.

[Caption]: The National Park Service began improvements to Rust's trail in 1920, replacing his cable car with a suspension bridge in 1921, and again, in 1928.

[Caption]: In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps made many improvements to the trail you enjoy today.

[Caption]: Bright Angel Fault provided canyon access and drinking water for American Indians and all people who have followed for centuries.

[Caption]: Francois Matthes (left) and crew member mapping Grand Canyon on the North Rim, 1904. Matthes made the first topographical map of the canyon.

[Caption]: National Park Service trail crews blasted rock cliffs to carve out sections of the North Kaibab Trail in the 1920s.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1902.

Location. 36° 13.026′ N, 112° 3.399′ W. Marker is in North Rim, Arizona, in Coconino County. It is on CC Hill Road (Arizona Route 67), on the right when traveling north. Marker located at the North Kaibab Trail Parking Lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: North Rim AZ 86052, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Flagstaff & High Country

and in Hopi.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 24, 2024

2. North Kaibab Trail Marker

At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Summer Home (approx. 1.2 miles away); From Canvas to Castles (approx. 1.3 miles away); Grand Canyon Lodge, 1928-1932 (approx. 1.3 miles away); Grand Canyon Lodge, A Legacy Rebuilt (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Grand Canyon Lodge (approx. 1.4 miles away); Promoting Tourism on the North Rim (approx. 3½ miles away); Maintaining Mountain Meadows (approx. 3½ miles away); Greenland Lake (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Rim.

North Kaibab Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 24, 2024

3. North Kaibab Trail

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 24, 2024

4. North Kaibab Trail

Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 185 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 7, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.