Biking

Inside the park on the South Rim, cyclists are allowed on all paved and unpaved roads as well as on the Greenway Trail (there are plans to extend this trail through forest land and between canyon overlooks, connecting Grand Canyon Village to Tusayan, Hermits Rest, and Desert View). Cyclists are not permitted on hiking trials or pedestrian paths, including the South Rim Trail. Hermit Road is open to cyclists year-round and makes for a terrific ride, but you'll need to yield to tour buses, shuttles, private vehicles, and people on foot.

On the North Rim, the entrance road is wide enough to accommodate experienced cyclists, and bicycles are permitted on all blacktop roads, as well as the Arizona and Bridle Path trails.

Outside the park, experienced cyclists enjoy the spectacular views on Highway 67 (from Jacob Lake to the North Rim entrance) and the ride on Highway 89 (from Fredonia, AZ, to Jacob Lake), which travels through several climates.

Bicycles are not available for rent on the South Rim, but there is a bike rental shop on the North Rim, at the Sinclair Gas Station by the entrance to the North Rim Campground. When planning a ride, keep in mind the high altitude.

Mountain Biking

To mountain bike near the Grand Canyon, you'll need to cross out of Grand Canyon National Park into the Kaibab National Forest, which borders the park on both rims.

On the North Rim, avid cyclists flock to the Rainbow Rim Trail, an 18-mile stretch of single track (no motor vehicles allowed) that provides access to five remote canyon overlooks. Old logging roads, jeep trails, and footpaths crisscross other North Rim areas, providing a variety of cycling options. Visit the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center in Jacob Lake (tel. 928/643-7298) for directions, maps, road conditions, and trail descriptions.

On the South Rim, you'll find excellent mountain biking on the trails around the Grandview Lookout Tower. To reach the tower, take Highway 64 east from Grand Canyon Village. About 1 1/2 miles east of the Grandview Point turnoff, turn right (south). Leaving the park, follow this dirt road 1 1/2 miles to Grandview Lookout and the trail head. Beginning here, you can ride more than 20 miles of intermediate-level single-track (with a few short, technically demanding stretches), much of it along the Coconino Rim.

Another trail system, with loops of 3.7, 10.2, and 11.2 miles, is near Tusayan. These loops follow old jeep trails through rolling hills in the ponderosa pine forest and have a few steep, rocky areas, though most of the terrain is only moderately difficult. To reach them, find the marked parking area 1/3 miles north of Tusayan on Highway 64's west side. A single trail goes north from there, eventually crossing under the highway through a concrete tunnel and providing access to the loops. (Note: This is also a great place to run when staying in Tusayan.) For information on these trails and maps of the Tusayan Ranger District (tel. 928/638-2443), visit the Forest Service office (weekdays 8am to 4:30pm) a half-mile south of the park entrance on Highway 64.

Bike Rentals

For the South Rim, higher-end bicycles can be rented in Flagstaff at Absolute Bikes (tel. 928/779-5969), 202 E. Route 66. Prices vary from $15 to $70 for a full day, $15 to $50 for a half-day.

On the North Rim, Forever Resorts (tel. 928/638-2611, ext. 758) rents mountain bikes at the Sinclair Gas and Outfitter Station located at the entrance to the North Rim Campground. Adult mountain bikes cost $40 per day or $7.50 per hour; kid-size mountain bikes cost $25 per day or $4 per hour. Helmets are required and provided.

Outside the park, Escape Adventures (tel. 800/596-2953 or 435/259-7423; www.kaibabtours.com) in Moab, Utah, offers mountain and road bike rentals on a half- or full-day basis. Mountain bikes range from $35 for a half-day to $75 for a full day. Road bikes cost $55 for the first day, $45 for each additional day. For $225, you'll get a road bike for 7 days. Escape Adventures also offers multi-day mountain bike tours of the North Rim; call or see the website for seasonal rates.