Arizona Highway 67 the previous autumn. Planning and preparation, of top importance in all Grand Canyon forays, are especially so up north, where services are less plentiful. All camping in the Canyon requires a backcountry use permit. If you arrive at the Backcountry Reservations Office expecting to obtain a permit for that day, week, or even month, you will very likely be disappointed. The Grand Canyon is a separate realm.
Some people find the feeling unnerving, while others revel in it.
But the thrill of just being there, of trading in your world for the intense and immense spectacle of the Canyon, makes it all worth while, and seeing it from the North Rim is especially satisfying.