The crisp air, deep snow, and absolute silence make the North Rim a delightful place to ski. The closest skiing to the park starts south of Jacob Lake, at the gate that closes Highway 67. You can park your car here and then ski south on the snow-covered highway. Snowmobiles are banned from the highway and the land east of the highway. If you'd like to ski into the park (44 miles and several days' travel from the gate) and spend a night on the North Rim, you'll need to obtain a backcountry permit from the Backcountry Information Center (tel. 928/638-7875).
When snow sticks on the South Rim, you can cross-country ski at the Grandview Nordic Center in the Kaibab National Forest near Grandview Point. To get there, drive east toward Desert View on Highway 64. About 1 1/2 miles past the Grandview Point turnoff, turn right on the road to the Arizona Trail. Park where the snow begins, then ski or walk down the road roughly a quarter mile to a bulletin board with instructions for the trails. The Forest Service has marked three loops in this area, each meandering through meadows and ponderosa pine forest: the intermediate 7.5-mile-long Twin Lakes Loop; the easy 1.1-mile Grandview Lookout Loop; and the easy 3.7-mile Boundary Loop. There's no charge. For more information call the Kaibab National Forest Tusayan Ranger District Office at tel. 928/638-2443.
