Point Imperial

Point Imperial, at 8,803 feet, is the highest point on the rim of the Grand Canyon and the northern edge of the national park. It is on the North Rim, reached by one of the two paved North Rim scenic roads, and it gives a view unlike anything on the South Rim. From here you look east over the end of the Grand Canyon to the Painted Desert, and to where the canyon changes from the narrow gash of Marble Canyon into the wide, open canyon most people picture. Layers of red and black Precambrian rock, which you can't see from Bright Angel Point, add color to the view, and the white spire just below the point is Mount Hayden.

The drive is part of the visit. From the 'Y' junction with Cape Royal Road, the road to Point Imperial runs nearly three miles to a one-way loop at the point, through high forest, open meadows and areas recovering from wildfire. NPS describes sunrise and sunset here as especially dramatic, when long shadows fall across the side canyons and mesas. There is a picnic area and vault toilets, and part of the viewpoint is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. RVs and vehicle-trailer combinations over 22 feet in total are not permitted on the road because of its narrow, blind corners.

This is a seasonal stop. State Route 67 and the whole North Rim close to vehicles every year from December 1 to May 14. In 2026, the scenic roads to Point Imperial and Cape Royal were closed for repairs from October 15 and, as of November 2026, have been open again since November 3, and the North Rim entrance gate was due to close at sunset on November 30, or sooner after the first major snowstorm. NPS warns that post-fire hazards or weather may close the point temporarily at any time.

The North Rim is a no-services area in late 2026. As of November 2026 there is no drinking water on the North Rim for the 2026 season; the gas station closed on September 19, 2026, and the General Store and campground in mid-October. Fill up with fuel at Jacob Lake, about 45 miles north of the rim, and bring food and water. The 4-mile round-trip Point Imperial Trail, which runs from the point to the park boundary, is on NPS's list of North Rim trails still closed, as of the November 3, 2026 update.