Grand Canyon NP--Cape Final Trail

Tips for Birding

In-depth information is found on the Grand Canyon National Park website.

About this Location

There are plenty of trails on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim that have great views, but there may not be a hike more pleasant and rewarding than the Cape Final Trail. As part of a full day’s exploration of the Cape Royal Road with all of its wonderful overlooks, the Cape Final Trail would be the highlight. The combination of a pleasant forest trail and killer views is hard to beat.

From the parking area, the trail climbs gently through open ponderosa pine forest with little signs of the fires that have struck much of the North Rim area. There is a little climbing and descent as the trail traverses the branch of the rim that comprises Cape Final, and you’ll see a few tantalizing views on the left as the end of the trail approaches the point. With a short rock scramble up to the end of the point, the entire 180-degree vista of the canyon comes into view. There are lots of rocks to climb with varying degrees of vertigo potential, and the photo opportunities are endless. For the fortunate, there is one designated backcountry campsite right at the edge of the rim–not for sleepwalkers!

About Grand Canyon National Park

See all hotspots at Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon is considered one of the finest examples of arid-land erosion in the world. Incised by the Colorado River, the canyon is immense, averaging 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles. It is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 18 miles at its widest. However, the significance of Grand Canyon is not limited to its geology.

The Park contains several major ecosystems. Its great biological diversity can be attributed to the presence of five of the seven life zones and three of the four desert types in North America.

The five life zones represented are the Lower Sonoran, Upper Sonoran, Transition, Canadian, and Hudsonian. This is equivalent to traveling from Mexico to Canada.

The Park also serves as an ecological refuge, with relatively undisturbed remnants of dwindling ecosystems (such as boreal forest and desert riparian communities). It is home to numerous rare, endemic (found only at Grand Canyon), and specially protected (threatened or endangered) plant and animal species.

Over 1,500 plant, 355 bird, 89 mammalian, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian, and 17 fish species are found in the park.

Notable Trails

Many options are available for day hikers. Both the South Rim and the North Rim offer rim trail hikes that have spectacular views of the inner canyon, some on paved trails. Or you can choose to day hike into the canyon. Permits are not required for non-commercial day hikes.

Content from Official Website, Day Hiking - Grand Canyon National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park website

Grand Canyon Panorama Map