Snap Point and Snap Canyon

Looking southeast into the Grand Canyon from Snap Point. To put this landscape in perspective, it is approximately 2,000 feet from here down to the Sanup Plateau below (one of the Grand Canyon's middle benches). The inner canyon is almost 3,000 vertical feet further down to the Colorado River itself.

NPS - J. Axel

 

The 1680 road is not shown on the free NPS park map as it is rough and seldom used. It is shown on the BLM map but not numbered. The 1012 road continues northwest down Snap Canyon then north toward the Grand Gulch Mine. Snap Canyon is very steep and narrow, suitable for Jeeps and UTVs only.

Snap Point is an awe inspiring viewpoint. It is the official western end of the Grand Canyon north rim. Snap Point provides a tremendous view east back up the Grand Canyon, down to Lake Mead, and north up the Pakoon Basin. On a clear day mountains over 100 miles to the west are visible.

Most high clearance 4x4s and pickups can reach the first view near Fort Garrett Point on the 1680 road. This road is deeply rutted and bushes have pushed into the roadway. Motorists will scrape the sides of vehicles against bushes. On the map at right past the Fort Garrett viewpoint the road is shown as black dashed. The last 2 miles are suitable for UTVs and Jeep Rubicon-type vehicles only. The 1680 road crosses multiple stretches of small boulder fields. The roads in this area are usually impassible in winter due to mud, snow, and ice.

 

Visitor on a cold spring day at Snap Point where the Grand Wash Cliffs meet the western end of the Grand Canyon. (NPS)