June 2012 - this time we visited the North rim. It was already opened to public- We were lucky and could reserve a campground a few weeks earlier online. The north rim is way more remote, hence less tourists and less buildings. The campground is great, we could look over the rim from our tent. On our way from Mesa Verde we passed Monument Valley. A must see on your way through the mid West.

First day we drove to the scenic viewpoints. The views were even more magificant than from the southrim. The next morning we started our hike down at 5. a.m. so we would not get into the heat. After a few hours we met a group of Boys going already up again. They had been hiking all night starting at the southrim, passing Colorado  and now back up again, amazing. The north rim is a bit higher and after hours of hiking it got warmer and dryer and the worst part was yet to come, to hike up again. So we decided to turn around after 2/3rds of the way and made our way back. Rest of the day we relaxed. The NPs have fridges loaded with a broad selection of lovely hopped IPAs. So also the rest of the day was great. 

North rim: was really one of the greatest adventures of my life. But we continued next day to Zion, almost as good an experience.