Marty:

Never had the pleasure of staying at the Lodge, but did use it as a jumping off place for a backpacking trip across to the South Rim. The North Rim is much less crowded than the South Rim, and there are several excellent vantage points within "spittin' distance" of the Lodge. The most obvious being Bright Angel Point, about a half mile down a paved path from the Lodge.

But, there are a lot of equally good or better views to be had a little ways further down the trails. They are also likely to be less crowded than the ones by the Lodge. But try to pick a trail that the mules don't use. On a hot summer's day, those puddles of mule p#$% can be downright overpowering.

There are a lot of viewpoints along the road to Cape Royal. The folks at the Lodge can help you identify some good spots. The light at the Canyon changes constantly from pre-dawn, to morning, to sunset, to afterglow, so if you find a spot you like, plan on two visits. If you are lucky, maybe you'll catch a mid-day storm to provide some really dramatic effects.

Remember to carry plenty of water, and, if you wander down any of the trails, don't forget that it is UPHILL on the way back. Enjoy.

Tucson Jim