Nellis AFB - Desert Eagle RV Park

We do not normally showcase military facilities on our blog,  but we thought we would make an exception with this RV Park,  We have been to many military bases and while some RV Parks are excellent we rated this facility as the best of the best.  

This is the layout of the park.  It has four large roundabouts which can accommodate 25 RV's each. The smaller circles on the left are overflow sites which can handle 8 rigs each.  The facility has 148 total sites of which 116 are full hook ups and 32 are partial hook ups.  They also have 50 overflow dry camping sites.

This is the entrance to the park,  It has three spaces to park and register.  These spaces are also used to park overnight if you arrive after office hours.

Here's a photo of the main RV park office. Reservations are accepted six months in advance. 

Here's a vacant site.  Notice the cement pad which can accommodate a 45' motor home. 

Here we are parked in site 13 in circle 1.  The park has two laundry and two shower facilities. 

The rear of the sites are really wide.  The park Wi-Fi is outstanding. 

This is one of the pull through sites.   Looks like you can fit 2-3 motor homes.   

This is a photo of the water and electric only sites.  

Here's the walking trail that goes around the perimeter of the campground which many people use to walk their dogs.  You can see fake grass and pet waste container.  There are multiple pet waste areas and containers conveniently located throughout the park. 

Here's the fenced dog walk area.  This was one of the cleanest pet areas we have ever seen.  The facility has received numerous Air Force awards and commendations. 

Grand Canyon - North Rim Day 2

Uncle Jim Trail 

Kathy at the trail marker.

Uncle Jim Trail begins by climbing gently among the tall trees, running quite close to the rim and offering partial views down Roaring Springs Canyon.    

Our first view of North Kaibab Trail.

This was taken with our camera zoom.  Looks like a bridge you need to cross.  Kathy is not fond of bridges but if you hike this far down the canyon, you definitely do not want to hike back up the mountain.  I think she can make even with her eyes closed.

Some parts of the trail show quite extensive wildfire damage.

Uncle Jim Trail is about 2-1/2 miles long one way.  The views of the canyon and North Kaibab trail get better at the overlook. 

The North Kaibab Trail is the least visited but the most difficult to maintain.   If you click in this photo you can see some of the trial in the center of this photo.  Much of the trail was blasted directly into the cliff. 

The trail is about a 1000 foot higher at the trail head than South Rim trails.

If you click on this photo, you can see a white roof in the center left.  This is the Pumphouse Residence.  

Here I am scoping out the canyon.  

The trail travels steeply in the first couple of miles then evens out to match the quality and grade of the South Kaibab Trail.  

Pictures along the Cape Royal Drive

After a wonderful morning hike on Uncle Jim Trail it was time to do some scenic driving. The turn off for Cape Royal Drive was not far from the North Kaibab Trail parking lot, so it was an easy decision to make!  This photo was taken at the Vista Encantada Viewpoint. 

The drive is 23 miles one way, but with stopping to view the numerous viewpoints and maneuvering the winding road it takes a few hours. Another photo at the Vista Encantada Viewpoint.

The road gets close to the Rim at times.  Kathy said "Slow Down" many times during the drive.  I swear I was not speeding.   

The viewpoints were spectacular, 

I especially like the clouds. 

Don't skip this drive if you make it to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

.At Walhalla Overlook, you’ll see the Colorado River far below as it twists and turns through the Grand Canyon.

Cape Royal 

We finally arrive at the Cape Royal Marker. 

Display for Angels Window.

 

Here you can see the dramatic hole in the arch.  You can also see visitors along the top of the arch. 

Cape Royal provides a panorama up, down, and across the canyon. 

With seemingly unlimited vistas to the east and west, it is popular for both sunrise and sunset.

The Cape Royal view point has the best views in the park. The Desert View Watchtower on the South Rim can be seen from this point as well as the Colorado River below. We did see the Watchtower with our binoculars. 

The visit to the North Rim brought back many great memories of our hikes of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Do Not miss the opportunity to see the canyon and all its beauty!

Grand Canyon - North Rim Day 1

The primary goal of our visit to the North Rim was to examine the North Kaibab Trail which leads down to the Cottonwood Campground then onto Phantom Ranch.  The photos of the North Kaibab Trail are in the Grand Canyon - North Rim Day 2 post.   

Kathy and I have hiked  the South Rim Corridor Trails which are the South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Trail twice before.  However, we have never hiked from the North Rim down to Phantom Ranch.  We are exploring hiking the North Kaibab Trail down to Phantom Ranch and then taking a multiple-day rafting trip out of the Canyon. That will be for another year though.  Anyone want to join us?  We can then say we have hiked the Grand Canyon from Rim to Rim, just not all in one trip.  

Day 1

Here we are at the entrance to the park.  The entrance is some 13-14 miles from the North Rim, 

We arrive at the North Rim and see our first glimpse of the canyon.

You cannot imagine how massive the canyon is until you see it in person.  

Not many people leave the rim to explore the real beauty of the canyon.

You can see a couple have ventured to the edge of the rim to get a better view. Don't get too close to the edge.  Its not the falling that hurts, its the landing. 

Here's a view of the inside of the Grand Canyon Lodge.  The lodge burned to the ground from a fire in 1932 and was replaced in 1936-1937. The views from the windows are stunning.   

View from the left window. Click on any photo to enlarge. 

View from the center window. 

View from the right window. 

Bright Angel Point. The trail is paved over its entire 0.75 miles length. This trail follows a ridge line at the end of the Bright Angel Peninsula to Bright Angel Point, which offers a panoramic view of the canyon from its north side.

The small cavern in the center section of this photo is the Bright Angel Canyon. 

I thought this was a great photo.  I did not realize that I took the same one when we visited the North Rim back in 2008. 

You can see the steep grades within the canyon walls.  The North Rim sits at 8241 feet some 2000 feet higher than the South Rim. 

Portions of the Cottonwood Campground are visible from the end of this trail.

This photos shows some of the South Kaibab Trail heading down to the Colorado River. 

Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim is visible about 10 miles  away.

It was a very chilly day, then it started to snow so we decided enough is enough.

This photo is 13 miles away and its still snowing sideways.  All in all still a great day.