Grand Canyon North Rim Teenager Trip
RIDING TYPE
Intermediate
DURATION
5 Days
SEASON
June - August
Grand Canyon, North Rim Teenager Trip
A Higher Perspective for Active Teens
This trip is designed especially for teenagers who already have experience with singletrack and are looking to step up their riding skills in a fun family setting! 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 expedition in the North Kaibab National Forest is one of our all-time favorites.
The construction techniques the rangers used to build this trail are the best we have found in the West; because the grade rarely exceeds 9%, everybody feels like a hero. The climbs are gentle and consistent, the descents are smooth and flowing, and the North Rim offers some of the most jaw-dropping views of the Grand Canyon. At a higher elevation than the South Rim, this route is a bit more challenging and offers an approachable guided mountain biking trip for those looking to build skills with options for longer or shorter rides.
Why Teens Love the North Rim Expedition
Hero Dirt & Flow: Experience the Rainbow Rim Trail, specifically designed to maintain a gentle grade for maximum “flow.”
Advanced Geography: Explore the higher, cooler, and more remote side of the canyon with dramatically different forest ecosystems.
Historic Highlights: Visit the massive timbers of the Grand Canyon Lodge and explore 250-million-year-old fossil beds.
Skill Building: A perfect “bridge” trip for teens ready to transition from dirt roads to sustained singletrack riding.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
After meeting in St. George and shuttling to the Kaibab National Forest, we’ll warm up on forest service roads before hitting the Arizona Trail for an afternoon of fine singletrack through Ponderosa pines.
The trail pops out at the East Rim Viewpoint for dramatic views of sedimentary rock layers like the Coconino Sandstone and Redwall Limestone, ending at a camp with a natural terrace perfect for watching the sunset.
Today we’ll ride an out-and-back on the Arizona Trail, pedaling through beautiful meadows, aspens, and ponderosas with flexible mileage options that allow you to ride all the way to the corral.
Back at camp, we’ll relax with views of Marble Canyon far below while learning about the 360-million-year-old Redwall Limestone that John Wesley Powell famously named for its polished, marble-like appearance.
We’ll shuttle into the National Park for a morning hike along the rim to discover fossils from a 250-million-year-old seabed before visiting the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, a 1930s masterpiece built from giant timbers.
After a shuttle back to the forest, we’ll ride aspen-lined dirt roads to our camp at Locust or Fence Point, where the views reveal nearly two billion years of geology, including the oldest metamorphic rocks in the Inner Gorge.
Today is dedicated to the Rainbow Rim Trail, a highlight designed by Ranger John Kneeling with a consistent 9-degree grade that makes the climbs manageable and the descents incredibly fun.
We’ll ride north to Parissawampitts for a trailside lunch while studying the canyon strata, with the flexibility to turn around at any time or push for the full out-and-back experience.
We’ll finish our adventure riding the southern section of the Rainbow Rim Trail through Ponderosa pines, a fast and smooth route with swooping downhills that are guaranteed to bring out huge smiles.
After a few final climbs to wear out your legs and a celebratory lunch near the rim, we’ll load up for the shuttle back to St. George to conclude our journey.
-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
9-28 miles per day (optional extensions can bring the longest day's riding to 28 miles)
Hiking Mileage
9-28 miles per day (optional extensions can bring the longest day's riding to 28 miles)
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
St. George, UT. Begins 7:30 AM MST at Holiday Inn St. George Convention Center, 1808 Crosby Way.
Getting There
120 mi north of Las Vegas on I-15. Flying into SGU, LAS (Salt Lake Express), or SLC (~5hrs).
Taxi Service
Quality Cab 435-656-5222; Taxi USA 435-656-1500.
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
Standard western spirit packing list
- Meals/camp gear provided
- Bring/rent bike & helmet, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cycling & camp clothing, 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.
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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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