Cliff Springs Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The trail surface near the spring gets slick from moisture and algae-covered rock — wear shoes with decent tread and watch your footing on the final approach.
The overhang area has loose rock overhead. Don't linger directly under unstable sections, and keep kids close.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Pair this with the Cape Royal trail — the trailhead is right at the Cape Royal parking area, so you can knock out both in under two hours and see two completely different sides of the North Rim.
The Ancestral Puebloan granary ruin is easy to walk past. Look up and to the right about a third of the way in — it's tucked into a shallow alcove in the cliff face.
Visit in late morning when the light filters into the ravine and illuminates the mossy overhang at the spring. The contrast between the dark rock and bright green moss makes for striking photos without any special gear.