A brand new iteration of a historic motor lodge has created a new basecamp to explore the Grand Canyon's remote North Rim alongside the Colorado River.

Far less touristed than the Southern Rim, the region is full of incredible adventures, rich culture, and ecological splendor at sites like Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Lees Ferry, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, the Navajo Bridge, and the general awe-inspiring beauty of the northern Arizona and southern Utah desert.

The lobby at Marble Canyon Lodge(Courtesy of Marble Canyon Lodge)

Where to Stay on the Grand Canyon's North Rim

Marble Canyon Lodge has existed in some form or another on this site since the Navajo Bridge was constructed in 1929.

The 168-acre property now offers 53 reimagined guest rooms, including eight luxury ranch cottages that opened in February 2025—a refresh that has transformed the former motor lodge from rustic roadhouse to the best lodging for 100 miles.

All of the renovations showcase intentional design that complements the stunning Vermilion Cliffs backdrop. The spacious 1,500-square-foot cottages sleep up to six with a full kitchen, outdoor deck with Adirondack chairs, a campfire ring, and cooking grate. Lodge rooms have a modern Southwestern aesthetic with clever design touches like multi-purpose storage walls and Navajo-inspired drum-size ottomans. Enhanced landscaping is underway to include private patio spaces surrounded by native mesquite trees.

The lodge's new luxury cottages(Courtesy of Marble Canyon Lodge)

The Lonely Jackrabbit restaurant is the pulse point of Marble Canyon Lodge, with a menu of hearty Southwest-inspired fare in a newly spiffed-up space. Order the fried cactus breakfast burrito or the slightly savory blue corn pancakes in the morning, or wait for lunch when they appear again, topped with fried chicken. Chef Landon Neff has created a few smash burgers to choose from, all including excellent french fries piled high on mini baking trays. He also makes a mean red chile condiment, an off-menu secret worth asking about. The restaurant's bar offers craft cocktails, like the bright pink prickly pear margarita, along with a few local beers that are great after a long day of hiking or kayaking.

The Lucky Foot Coffee & Ice Cream Bar literally boasts the best espresso for hundreds of miles through a partnership with Portland's Good Coffee Roasters. It’s unlikely you'll see another espresso tonic or blueberry cardamom latte anywhere else nearby.

What to Do on the Grand Canyon's North Rim

Marble Canyon Lodge really is the perfect basecamp for exploring this special part of the Southwest. Anyone who drives four hours from Las Vegas or Phoenix just to take a photo at Horseshoe Bend is seriously missing out.

The Lodge has just introduced a bunch of curated adventures that are exclusive to guests. Their special relationship with Navajo Nation leaders and local outfitters provides access to the region's most spectacular landmarks away from the crowds.

"Secret Antelope Canyon"(Amber Turpin)

"Secret Antelope Canyon"

On a guided outing with Deer Spring Tours, "TK" (an abbreviation of her Navajo name) talks about land rights on the Navajo Nation. The reservation is 27,000 square miles, and only the people who live near the slot canyons have the rights to do tours.

Because the maternal side of TK’s family had control of this side of the street, she can lead people through “Secret Antelope Canyon.” Her great-grandfather discovered this slot in the 1950s, when he went out looking for his missing sheep, but the family didn’t begin doing tours until 2006. Its famous counterpart, Antelope Canyon, meanwhile, has become extremely busy with up to 3,000 people going through those slots each day.

To be a visitor here can feel tricky, loaded with similar cultural and environmental issues as places like Hawaii but, at least for now, the Navajo Nation owns the land and has more control over how it is used.

The tour starts by piling into a huge covered jeep for a two-hour off-road excursion during which guests learn about TK's family and traditions and take a walk through the secret canyon. It finishes at a private viewing area above Horseshoe Bend, separate from the throngs who observe the landmark near the town of Page.

Kayak the Colorado

The kayaking trip with Kayak the Colorado begins with a backhaul boat ride 10 miles upriver with a stop at Petroglyph Beach to view ancient carved images. Push off in the inflatable kayak to begin a peaceful 3-mile paddle downriver, floating around the iconic curve of Horseshoe Bend and waving up at the tiny people looking down from above. Pull off a couple hours later for a break at aptly-named Lunch Beach to enjoy a picnic (order a special lunch pack from Marble Canyon Lodge) then paddle the remaining seven miles back. It’s a long trip, but offers total serenity with no interruptions aside from a bunch of ducks, wild horses on the riverbanks and the occasional bighorn sheep.

The view from Navajo Bridge(Amber Turpin)

East Rim Tour + Guided Hiking

The Grand Canyon East Rim tour, a rural expanse that feels remote and untouched, is led by Sacred Edge Tours. Owner Franklin Martin picks you up at a gas station along the highway and piles you into his own vehicle to drive the slow, bumpy dirt road 24 miles to the gaping edge of the Grand Canyon, talking about his clan and Navajo history and customs along the way.

Sacred Edge keeps their tours on the down low, not advertising much, but Marble Canyon Lodge guests have special access this area that is rarely seen by visitors. Martin explains that he’s not interested in cashing in on the big tourism business. “It’s just something we want to do to keep it private…that’s one thing I’m worried about here, is [tourism] exploding. We don’t own the land, the land owns us."

He starts the tour with a jaw-dropping view of Anasazi Bend, an enormous U-turn in the Colorado River, and follows it up with a variety of special stops, each as breathtaking as the next.

For an even deeper dive into this land, Martin's daughter Alicia and her partner Jalen offer guided hikes through Grand Canyon Native Trails. One route passes ruins and fossils of the ancient sea life that was once here.

The view from the lodge's firepit(Courtesy of Marble Canyon Lodge)

What's Up Next for the Grand Canyon's North Rim

Marble Canyon Lodge is just the beginning for parent ecotourism company, Terra Vi. Across the street, the Terra Vi Grand Canyon Nature Lodge is slated to open by the end of 2026.

The property will feature diverse accommodations, including studio outposts with trundle beds and pellet stoves; family-friendly village cottages; and premium stargazer cabins with unobstructed glass walls, private decks, and soaking tubs. Existing historic structures are being transformed into a lobby, saloon, and vaulted-ceiling event space. A new café and a bar with a terraced outdoor courtyard—designed with attention to sun movement and wind patterns—is on its way.

Terra Vi is also bringing in innovative sustainability features, including vertical garden shipping containers producing fresh ingredients for their farm-to-table restaurant—the surplus from which will be shared with the local community. Wellness amenities will update an existing octagonal Navajo hogan structure into a spa and yoga deck, and add a soaking pool that will be cool in summer and hot in the winter.

“We believe that if you can get people into nature, they’ll fall in love with it and protect it,” says partner Kenn Fine.