National Park Reservations is a for-profit company does everything it can to deceive the public that it is affiliated with the National Park Service (NPS) and goes to great lengths to hide that they charge a booking fee of 10%. Instead use Forever Resorts which does not charge any fee. A compete scam legally averted by hiding a disclosure in a remote pull down menu and otherwise not disclosing the cost and fee until after a reservation is completed at which time the "fee" is "non-refundable". They just cancelled my reservation for a cabin at the Grand Canyon North rim due to Forest Fire and have refused to refund the 10% ($84) fee they charged.

The great thing about the north Rim is it seems very undisturbed and natural. The Lodge is built into the environment and ...well the view from dawn,to dusk is spectacular. You must book early- very early- as well as a window table in the dining room.

Plan ahead if at all possible. Find a map of the cabins online and look at the numbering system and do your best to put in a request for a cabin on the perimeter close to the canyon edge. We ended up with nothing but a few trees between our front porch and the canyon edge. The view was spectacular. You might have to walk a little more with your gear but it is worth the effort. If the cabins book up before you try to make a reservation, understand that there is no penalty to cancelling a reservation so it is very common for people to book a reservation and then cancel it 1-4 weeks before the trip. So starting about 28 days before your trip you can do what I did and check availability on a regular basis and then be prepared to scoop up a room when it becomes available! Again, it takes some effort but this place is well worth all of that effort!

The road to the North Rim opens on May 15th and apparently the following weekend is THE time to do Rim to Rim (we were part of that crowd!). Because of this, the resort seemed busy. I was really glad that we made dinner reservations ahead of time (super easy, just email them) as there were a TON of people waiting on tables. Food options include the main restaurant along with a bar that I think has food and a smaller little snack area (sandwiches and pizza, I think). The lodge was wonderful! We stayed in one of the cabins and the view was amazing. The beds were comfortable and the heater worked great. Hot water worked well too. If you have small children, I'd keep them close as the canyon is a stone's throw away. The lodge has an absolutely breath taking view of the canyon, you won't regret making the trek out to the North Rim. Much less people than the South and I think it has superior views. The Lodge is the only hotel on the North Rim but if you can't get reservations, don't fret! Just watch for cancellations daily. We were able to get a cabin on the exact day we needed, just be patient! The North Kaibab trail is amazing, just make sure you know your limits. We did Rim to Rim in a day but only after a LOT of preparation. Parking seemed to fill up fast but I think there's a shuttle from the lodge to the trail head. Absolutely recommend!

I loved the the simple decor of the room. The bed was comfy, good shampoo in the bathroom, coffee maker in the room. Easy access to the second floor. There is a decent restaurant close enough to walk to.