Betty

We'll be visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon around mid-May next year. Where is the best place to stay in the area? Should we book the lodge at the Rim or is it better to stay in one of the small towns close by?
How much time do we need at the Rim-1 night or 2 nights?

GOL

Stay at the lodge, if they have opened up by then. North rim lodging from 5/15 - 10/15, if there is no snow. The other towns are nice, but not very close to the entrance.

As far as 1 or 2 nights, I would see Pt. Imperial, Cape Royal, Bright Angel Point , Walhalla Overlook, a sunset (Cape Royal) and eat dinner in the Dining Room (which is very nice). If you can do this in 2 days/ 1 night, just stay one night. [According to NPS, the average visitor views the Canyon less than 30 minutes per visit]

Bob Brown

We spent two very pleasent evenings at the North Rim last year. We attended a ranger guided star walk one evening that was quite interesting. Seeing the canyon from the various overlooks can take a full day. There are some dirt roads that can be driven in a high clearance vehicle that lead to some back country overlooks that most people never visit. Don't rush it; that scenery was made to be enjoyed at a liesurely pace.

howard

Definitely stay at the lodge. (The closest accommodations outside the park are over 40 miles away.)
You've already received solid advice in response to the rest of your questions.

GOL

Bob (or others),
I lost the the name/number of a special road & path at the N Rim. It was not well marked and a local told us about it. You drove a while, parked, then walked right up to the edge. You inched along your stomach and looked down a straight drop at the Colorado river. It was spectacular. I wrote the directions, and since lost them. Help!

Bob Brown

Could you be referring to the Widforss Trail? There is a dirt road leading off of the paved road that goes south to the lodge area that takes you to a trail head.
The Widforss trail then goes about 5 miles to the edge of the canyon.
It was closed last May when I was there because of the fire that swept through.
Stumps were still smoldering along the roads. That is the only one I know of.
There may be a dirt road or two in the Kaibab National Forest, but I cannot find my forest map. Perhaps lost somewhere. That is the best I can do. If that is not it, then I am out of ideas.

Bob Brown

Hi Betty. I do have one more idea.
Again, this may not be the road you have in mind, but it just might be. So here it is, just in case. There is an overlook well to the west of the developed area of the North Rim of the GC known as Toroweap Point as also known as Tuweep Point.
The roads that lead in are rough, so a high clearance vehicle is mandatory.
Toroweep is 3,000 vertical feet above the canyon. It can be reached by 3 routes that lead off of Arizona highway 389. The shortest route leads 61 miles to the rim where there is a primitive campground.
If this sounds like the route, let me know and I will fill in with more details. The description becomes a little involved.