Cape Royal hike
View Photos
Cape Royal hike
Difficulty Rating:
At the end of the harrowing scenic drive, Cape Royal is definitely an impressive reward. A short hike along a paved path from the parking area brings you past Angel’s Window to stunning panoramic views of the Grand Canyon, including Grandview Point across the river.
Getting there
From the north entrance to Grand Canyon National Park continue until you reach the first junction. From here turn left onto the extremely narrow and winding Scenic Drive, with signs for Cape Royal. This road is not recommended for large vehicles and RV’s, because it is incredibly tight! Follow this road to its very end and park in the dirt parking lot. You will find an outhouse at the trailhead.
About
| When to do | Spring and Fall, avoid summer heat, Access Road closed Oct-May |
| Backcountry Campsites | None |
| Toilets | At trailhead |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | High |
| Route Type | Out and back |
Cape Royal
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Cape Royal
From the parking area follow the clear paved trail that leads south. After less than half a mile you will reach a junction with a sign pointing towards Angel’s Window to the left. Briefly divert off the path for less than a quarter of a mile to reach the Angel’s Window viewpoint.
Angel’s Window is a natural arch in the rock allowing a picturesque view all the way down to the Colorado River! Here you can also get your first panoramic view of the canyon, including the far east side and the desert lands which hug the rim.
Return to the main route and continue hiking along the flat path towards the cape. As you continue along the trail you will pass by several informational signs. These inform you on the geology and biology of the region, and are usually very interesting to check out – we definitely recommend it!
Shortly you will reach your final goal – Cape Royal. This beautiful point has unparalleled views of the Canyon. If you peer directly across you will mostly likely be able to see a small smudge on the horizon. This is the tower of Desert View on the South Rim! Additionally you will be able to observe several temples, as described by the information billboards along the cliff.
Return the way you came but don’t take the diverging path to Angel’s Window. Take extreme care on the drive back.
Insider Hints
Do NOT walk along the road to get a view. The highway is way too narrow for cars to be winding around people! If you want a shorter hike just go to Angel’s Window to get a view and a photo.
Similar hikes to the Cape Royal hike
North Rim Fire Watchtower Hike
Adventure through the forest on the trail to the North Rim Fire Watchtower, a hike that sees very little traffic…
Grand Canyon Bridle Trail
The Grand Canyon Bridle Trail is a 3.2mi easy hiking trail on the North Rim of the Grand…
Roosevelt Point Trail
Roosevelt Point Trail is a short and sweet hike on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon known for its…
TwoBoots 5 years ago
The view from the Cape is all color and grandeur. The views were amazing.
Anabelle Clyde 5 years ago
Nice, easy hike to an overlook of the canyon. This was a fun and easy!
Jason Bin 5 years ago
We had so much fun trekking and taking pictures. There were more scenic views here than other short hikes.
MissGiggles 5 years ago
Super easy trail and lovely views. Great for picnics.
Irene G. 5 years ago
Phenomenal hike! One of the best easy hikes in the park. I must admit it was really impressive!
Lisa M. 5 years ago
Great for beginners. Enjoyed it a lot. Would return again next spring.
mandywheel 6 years ago
Spent about 30 minutes or so to explore the whole area. It was darn short but very rewarding.
Wyatt Thomas 6 years ago
Nice view from Angel's Viewpoint, and a cape royal is a short walk to get there.
mountaincat 6 years ago
Angels Window viewpoint was easy to get to and worth it
ishita_war 6 years ago
Another overlook, they all look nice but this one is very crowded and one of the most popular