Who in their right mind, and even wrong mind, would not be totally awed by this place. It truly is one of the most amazing places on the planet. Pictures and words simply cannot even come close to describing it. You MUST be there to realize the immenseness and grandeur and serenity of the place. You are humbled as it envelops you.

I left St. George, Utah, just before sunrise to begin the three-hour journey. I had the highways to myself the last two hours. That drive made for the perfect setup for what I was about to experience. About an hour away from the north rim, the desert changed to forest. The temperatures in the early morning were much cooler than the 100-plus degrees that had been the norm everywhere else for days. The air was filled with the delicious lightly sweet smell of the pine trees. I rolled down the windows and soaked it all in. Ahhhhh. Rather nice to smile for an entire hour. Many birch trees were along the road too. Birch is my favorite tree.

I was amazed that I had the road to myself for so long. I could not believe that no one else wanted to be there that morning. Once I got to the park entrance, I found out that everyone else was already there. A large lodge and numerous cabins were very close to the edge of the canyon. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people were already there.

I overheard several people talking that had been there a few days. Apparently the nearby forest fires had made the canyon hazy smoky for the previous couple of days. However, a heavy rain the night before had put out the fire and eliminated most of the smoke/haze. I timed it well.

Trails along the canyon edge go both directions for many miles. I hiked the one going west for about ten minutes until I came upon a lone bench. I sat there for almost an hour soaking in the canyon and the surrounding trees and other plant life. Several hikers and joggers went by and each said good morning.

The lodge was full of people dining both indoors and outdoors. Everyone seemed to be mesmerized by the canyon.

There are two places near the lodge that jut out into the canyon. A fence and rail protect those not afraid of heights from falling (those who are afraid of heights probably would not even go on those points). On both of them I asked a couple or group if I could take their picture and they could take mine, each on our own cameras and with the canyon in the background. They all quickly agreed to that deal. Everyone at the canyon seems to be in a happy, friendly and peaceful mood

Near the lodge is a very nice gift shop and bookstore. There is also ample parking for the many cars.

Once you are back on the main highway 89 and head east then south (to either the South Rim or on to Flagstaff), the terrain is quite different. There is one stretch of very curvy mountainous road. Then it changes into a long straight flat stretch that is in a valley between two mountain chains. You literally feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.

Bottom line: it takes a bit if driving to get to the North Rim. It is worth every second.