Uncle Jim Trail

Uncle Jim Trail is a 4.7-mile loop from North Kaibab Trailhead parking. It follows Ken Patrick Trail through the North Rim forest before circling to Uncle Jim Point. The route passes ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir, with occasional aspen; the canyon views build toward the point rather than appearing every few minutes. I’d choose it for a forest walk with a big finish above Bright Angel Canyon.

The point looks over Bright Angel Canyon and into Roaring Springs Canyon. From the overlook, you can pick out the North Kaibab Trail winding down below the rim. This is the stop to slow down for: include some of that trail in a canyon photo so the drop into the canyon reads in the frame.

Count the full Ken Patrick approach, the Uncle Jim loop, and its return connector in the 4.7 miles. Allow about three hours. It is an unpaved route with rolling ups and downs; most of the walk is forest, so the view is concentrated near the point. The route stays high on the North Rim rather than descending into the canyon.

The trail honors James T. “Uncle Jim” Owens, a game warden hired by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. Owens is credited with killing 532 mountain lions on the North Rim. It is a grim piece of predator-control history, but it explains the name you will see on the map.

Begin at the North Kaibab Trailhead parking area. Vehicles longer than 22 feet use the oversized lot near the former Grand Canyon Lodge. The route sits around 8,300 feet, so its altitude adds effort to the 4.7 miles despite the modest climb. Leashed pets are allowed on trails above the rim; keep back from the unprotected canyon edge at Uncle Jim Point.