Francois Matthes Trail

Francois Matthes Trail is a 10.7-mile out-and-back from the Walhalla Glades Trail junction to Francois Matthes Point, about 5.3 miles each way. It follows a former road southwest over the Walhalla Plateau through scattered pines, burned patches and open meadows, then returns along the same line. Allow about five and a half hours for the long walk at North Rim elevation. It suits hikers who enjoy a less-used route and a different angle on the canyon more than a developed viewpoint.

The broad roadbed is slowly being reclaimed by vegetation. At the Walhalla Connector, continue straight toward the point. The route descends steadily along a ridge, with a couple of steeper drops near the rim; you climb that ground on the way back. No dependable water source was confirmed along the route, so bring what you need. Access to North Rim scenic roads is seasonal and weather-sensitive.

Brush partly screens the view, but openings look toward Zoroaster Temple and Wotan's Throne, with Cheyava Falls and the Clear Creek drainage in the wider scene. Don't expect an unobstructed panorama. The foreground scrub can frame the canyon in a photo, and the payoff is a distinctive view of these formations from a quieter part of the North Rim.

The trail honors Francois E. Matthes, a geologist and expert topographic mapper. Leave pets behind: North Rim rules limit leashed pets to the Bridle Trail and a designated section of the Arizona Trail, not this route.