Inside the park on the South Rim, cyclists are allowed on all paved and unpaved roads as well as on the new Greenway Trail. They are not permitted on other trials, including the Rim Trail. Hermit Road is open to cyclists year-round, but they need to yield to tour buses, shuttles, and a handful of private vehicles, and watch out for people on foot. On the North Rim, the entrance road is wide enough to accommodate experienced cyclists, and bicycles are permitted on all paved and unpaved roads, unless otherwise posted. They are not allowed on any North Rim trails. Outside the park, experienced cyclists would enjoy Highway 67 from Jacob Lake to the North Rim entrance, which boasts spectacular views, as well as Highway 89 from Fredonia, Arizona, which travels through several climates.
Mountain Biking--To mountain bike near 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 are flocking 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 areas of the North Rim, 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 enjoyable mountain biking on a stretch of the Arizona Trail that starts at Grandview Lookout Tower. To reach the lookout, take Highway 64 east from Grand Canyon Village. About 1 1/2 miles east of the Grandview Point turnoff, turn right (south) onto the road for the Arizona Trail. 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 thrown in), much of it along the Coconino Rim.
Another trail system, with loops of 3.7, 10.2, and 11.2 miles, is located near Tusayan. These loops follow old jeep trails through rolling hills in the ponderosa pine forest. The trails have a few steep, rocky areas, but most of the terrain is only moderately difficult. To reach them, find the marked parking area .3 mile north of Tusayan on the west side of Highway 64. A single trail heads 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 you're staying in Tusayan.) For information on these trails and maps of the Tusayan Ranger District (tel. 928/638-2443), visit the Forest Service Office a half-mile south of the park entrance on Highway 64. It's open weekdays 8am to 4:30pm.
Bike Rentals
South Rim -- Higher-end bicycles can be rented in Flagstaff at Absolute Bikes (tel. 928/779-5969), 18 N. San Francisco St. Prices vary from $25 to $45 for a full day, $20 to $30 for a half-day.
North Rim -- Escape Adventures in Moab, Utah (tel. 800/596-2953 or 435/259-7423; www.kaibabtours.com) offers bike rental on a half- or full-day basis at the cost of $40 and $30, respectively. For $175, bicycles may be hired for 7 days. Escape Adventures offers mountain bike tours, including a van-supported 5-day tour (cost: $895) of the North Rim.
