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This was another part of this summer's trip that was unscheduled and just done on the fly. I have always wanted to visit the Toroweap area of the north rim and I had a couple extra days after the end of my Clear Creek hike and just decided to drive over and see if I could get out there. I have heard some horror stories about the roads that lead out to Tuweep and Toroweap, especially under wet (less then completely dry) conditions but there had been no rain whatsoever in the area for a number of days and I figure the roads should be in pretty good condition. I was right and except for some problems with the roads being deeply rutter here and there and some sections that had pretty bad washboard effects the drive was pretty easy and straightforward. It took a long time to get out there as the drive is 63 miles and the best speed you can hope for on the good sections is about 45 miles per hour.
I began the drive over to the north rim right after an early breakfast and did not stop anywhere along the way until I got to the North Kaibab Ranger District Office around 10 am. After a brief talk with the ranger there to confirm the road conditions I stopped in at a local store to pick up some provisions for the day. I started the drive out at just after 11 am and arrived just before 1 pm. Once out there I spent about an hour cliff and rock hoping along the rim, taking photos and taking in the view, and also had some lunch. I left around 2 pm and was back in Fredonia by 4 pm. I spent the night in Fredonia and stayed at the Shiprock Motel and had dinner at Nedra's Cafe. The Shiprock Motel is quite nice and very inexpensive and Nedra's Cafe serves some of the best Mexican food that I have every had the pleasure of enjoying. If you go there make sure you try some of the famous salsa.
On the way back to the south rim I stopped in at the Jacob Lake Lodge for a wonderful breakfast and also stopped for a brief visit at the new Marble Canyon visitor center on the west side of the Rainbow Bridge.
It is very important to make sure that you have some food and water with you if you are going to attempt the trip out to Toroweap as there is no way of knowing how long you may be stranded along the road before another vehicle happens to come by. I encountered a total of four vehicles during the time I was on the roads heading out there: one car heading out while I was heading in, two other vehicles that were out at the overlook when I got there, and one pickup coming in while I was heading back out.
The views from Toroweap, as you can see from the photos posted on this page, are magnificent and the long drive is well worth it. If you have enough time, and a backcountry permit, you could spend one or more nights out there and avoid having to do the drive out and back in the same day. If you have time to do any hiking the Tuckup Trail is also accessible from Toroweap and leads down onto and along the Esplanade. I have yet to have the opportunity to explore this trail but it is on my list of things to do.
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Looking west from Toroweap
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Looking east from Toroweap
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Vulcans Throne, Toroweap
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Old Mormon church, Tuweep
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