North Rim of the Grand Canyon Bike Trip
RIDING TYPE
Intermediate
DURATION
5 Days
SEASON
June - September
Grand Canyon North Rim Bike Trip: Rainbow Rim & Arizona Trail
An Unparalleled North Rim MTB Experience
In addition to riding sections of the Arizona Trail, our mountain bike trip on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon includes a visit to Grand Canyon National Park and the highly acclaimed Rainbow Rim Trail. This mountain biking trail in 1the upper region of Grand Canyon National Park is one of our all-time favorites.
The construction techniques the trail builders used to form these trails are some of the best we have found in the West. The grade rarely exceeds 9% and everybody feels like a hero. The climbs are gentle and consistent, and the descents are smooth and flowing. With sweeping views of the Grand Canyon, the camping is truly hard to beat. This trip is an exciting way for intermediate mountain bikers to see one of America’s most spectacular National Parks! Because the North Rim sits at a higher elevation than the South Rim (7,500 – 8,900 ft), our route on this side of the canyon is a bit more challenging, offering a fantastic guided experience with options for longer or shorter rides.
Why Choose the North Rim Mountain Bike Tour?
This guided mountain biking trip is designed for intermediate riders seeking world-class “flow” and immersive National Park access:
The Rainbow Rim Hero Ride: Experience 20+ miles of purpose-built singletrack designed to never exceed a 9% grade—ensuring smooth, rideable climbs and thrilling, flowing descents.
Arizona Trail (AZT) Immersion: Pedal through high-alpine meadows and lush ponderosa forests on sections of this legendary 800-mile cross-state trail.
Geological Grandeur: Camp directly on the rim and explore two billion years of history, from Permian layers to the ancient metamorphic rocks of the Inner Gorge.
Fully Supported Expertise: Our expert guides handle every detail, from preparing gourmet trailside meals to providing mechanical support, so you can focus on the expansive views and iconic singletrack.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
After our meeting in St. George, we will shuttle about 3 hours to the Kaibab National Forest. Our ride begins south of Jacob Lake where we will start out riding a series of aspen-lined dirt roads and singletrack to our camp at Locust or Fence Point.
This evening we will enjoy stunning Grand Canyon views that give us a great look at its vast complexity. Below us lies almost two billion years of geology, from the younger Permian layers to the metamorphic and igneous basement rocks that comprise the Inner Gorge of the Grand Canyon. These are some of the oldest rocks exposed in the world.
Today we’ll ride singletrack on the Rainbow Rim Trail, one of the highlights of our trip. It was designed and flagged by Ranger John of the North Kaibab Ranger District, who made sure the trail never rose or fell by more than nine degrees.
This means that the climbs are all very rideable and the descents are some of the most fun on any trip we offer. We will enjoy our pack lunch trailside at Timp Point, while studying the amazing strata of the canyon. If you are feeling tired, you have the option for a shorter day and can turn around at any time.
After packing up camp, we will shuttle into Grand Canyon National Park. We will spend the morning hiking on one of the park trails to explore the incredible sedimentary rock layers and find fossils—evidence of the 250-million-year-old seabed.
Next, we visit the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, constructed from giant timbers with a porch that suspends visitors over the canyon walls. We will shuttle back to the Kaibab Forest and ride singletrack to camp on the Arizona Trail (AZT).
Today we will ride an out-and-back ride from camp on the Arizona Trail. After a short warm-up, we’ll ride fun singletrack through both aspens and ponderosas, crossing beautiful meadows with both shorter and longer mileage options.
Back at camp, we’ll relax with views of Marble Canyon far below. John Wesley Powell named this part of the canyon for the polished Redwall Limestone which reminded him of marble. This limestone is about 360 million years old and was deposited when most of the continent was under marine waters.
Today we will ride more of the Arizona Trail heading north towards Jacobs Lake. Today’s singletrack winds through an aspen grove which is still recovering from the 2011 wildfire.
Our ride will end with views of Little Mountain and North Fork Rock Canyon. After a tasty lunch near the overlook, we will load up for the shuttle back to St. George.
-TRIP NOTES
The fine print
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.
Road Surface
Variable; dirt roads, singletrack trails.
Overall Rating
Intermediate
Technical Difficulty
Moderate; singletrack is not very technical, climbing is minimal.
Physical Difficulty
Moderate; singletrack is unsupported.
Altitude
7,500 - 8,900 feet
Biking Mileage
9-24 miles per day
Hiking Mileage
9-24 miles per day
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
St. George, UT, 7:30 AM MST at The Holiday Inn St. George Convention Center, 1808 Crosby Way. Ending time: return to St. George 4:00-5:00 PM last day. Getting there: 120 mi north of Las Vegas on I-15; fly into St. George (SGU) or Las Vegas (LAS, Salt Lake Express shuttle).
Lodging Before Your Trip
Holiday Inn St. George Convention Center
Book your room at the Holiday Inn using this special booking link to enjoy a discounted rate.
Tru by Hilton St. George
Fairfield Inn St. George
Hilton Garden Inn St. George
PACKING
What we provide
- Meals
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Camp mugs & dining ware
- 1 cycling water bottle
- Camp chairs
- Solar showers
- Sunscreen & bug spray
- Bike stand
- Lube
- First aid kit
Bring or rent
- Bike
- Helmet
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Cycling & camp clothing
- Rain gear
- Personal items
- Tipping cash (10-20%)
Bring or rent
Bringing or renting
- Bike (rentals come with flat pedals)
- Helmet (gratis w
- Rental bike)
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Cycling clothing
- Cycling shoes
- 3-5 pair cycling shorts
- 3-5 cycling shirts
- Long sleeve cycling shirt
- Long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
- Cycling socks
- Windbreaker
- Tights or leg warmers
- 2 pair cycling gloves
- Rain jacket & rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Warm layer
- Sunglasses
Camp clothing
- Camp shorts/shirts
- Warm socks
- Long underwear
- 2 pair warm long pants
- Fleece/sweater
- Pile or down jacket
- Warm gloves and hat
- Brimmed hat
- Bathing suit
- Hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rain gear
Personal
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Towel
- Biodegradable soap
- Wet-wipes
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Sunglasses
- Optional day bag
- Stuff sacks
- Cash for tipping (10-20% of trip price)
Optional
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Favorite beverages
- Books
- Maps
- Portable USB charger
Need more information about our bike trips?
Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732.
Need more information about our bike trips? Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732
Gallery
-A DAY WITH-
Western Spirit
Three chapters to every day on the trail. We sweat the details so you can simply ride, eat well, and look up.
Wake to cowboy coffee on the rim, fresh fruit, pancakes and granola. Unforgettable sunrises over the canyon — every single morning.
Learn More ↗
From the Rainbow Rim Trail to the White Rim Road in Canyonlands, our guides put you on the right line for breathtaking Grand Canyon views.
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We pick camps for a reason. Rivers, lakes, sunset vistas — and a chef-prepared meal under one of the darkest skies in the lower 48.
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