DeMotte Campground

Kaibab National Forest, North Rim, Grand Canyon

It’s cold on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and at an elevation of 8,700 feet, DeMotte Campground can be chilly, too. That’s why it doesn’t open until mid-May, or later if seasonal snowfall has been heavy.

When the snow melts, this campground is worth a trip. Moderately sized with 38 campsites, DeMotte isn’t too crowded. Pine trees and meadows make up the immediate scenery, and those meadows are popular among wildlife — elk, squirrels, chipmunks and more.

While the meadows are something to marvel at, the campground is only 7 miles from the Canyon’s North Rim. There, of course, you’ll find some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. For adventurers, several hiking trails originate on the North Rim, including the North Kaibab Trail, which runs 14 miles into the Canyon, ending at the Colorado River and Bright Angel Campground. Back at DeMotte, you’ll find picnic tables, fire pits and grills, and those will come in handy, for cooking out or staying warm.

Campfire Tale: In 1872, Major John Wesley Powell named the park on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for Harvey C. DeMotte, a mathematics professor from Wesleyan University who traveled with Powell’s party during its Grand Canyon expedition.