Jumpup Overnighter

  1. Route Guide

Location

Grand Canyon - North Rim, Arizona, USA

Physical Difficulty*

7/10

Days to Ride

2 - 3 Days

Technical Difficulty*

5/10

Length

91 Miles

Tire Size

Recommended: 2.4"-2.6"

Seasons

Best: May - Mid-June

Best: Sept. - October

Not Advisable: Late-June - August

Not Possible: November - April

Elevation Gain

7,169 Feet

Primary Surfaces

  • Rough Gravel; 4x4 Roads; Smooth Gravel

*Based on Bikepacking Roots’ Route Rating Scale

2. Route Description

Jumpup Overnighter is a spectacular ride to one of the most remote viewpoints off the North Rim on the Kaibab Plateau. Bikepackers get a chance to stay overnight in historic US Forest Services cabins at Big Springs and Jumpup. They also get to camp rimside at Jumpup Point where views of the crimson Esplanade stretch within the Kanab Creek Wilderness.

Riders start at Jacob Lake and immediately descend geologically beautiful Warm Springs Canyon to meet up with FR 22. Bikepackers then ride out to the Jumup Divide down doubletrack that crosses unexpected grasslands and down gullys. From here, it's an out-and-back ride to Jumpup Point as it juts straight into the heart of the Kanab Creek Wilderness. Camp on the rim edge for the night and enjoy the view of red-benched rock stretching within the chasm. Return the way you came and head downhill to the turnoff for Jumpup Cabin where reservations allow you to stay in this old historic USFS cabin next to Jumup Canyon. Start a a big climb from here back into the aspens and pines before a downhill for water and an overnight stay at historic Big Springs Cabin Site with its gushing waterfall. Finally, start an ascent up Castle Canyon into the pines and aspen once more as you ride along the Spine of the Kaibab to finish back at Jacob Lake.

Highlights:

  • Riding down Warm Springs Canyon

  • Doubletrack through beautiful grasslands along gullies

  • Jumpup Point and views of the Esplanade bench in the Kanab Creek Wilderness

  • Camping rimside at remote Jumpup Point with its dark skies at night

  • Renting historic cabins for the night at Jumup and Big Springs

  • Riding through the aspens along the Spine of the Kaibab

3. Map and GPX

    • Purple = Improved Dirt Surface (Frequently Maintained, Usually Smoother)

    • Red = Rugged Dirt Surface (Infrequently Maintained, Typically Rougher/Rockier)

    • Blue = Vehicular Pavement

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4. Route Difficulty, Surface Conditions, and Direction to Ride

Route Difficulty

Physical Difficulty = 7/10 (Very rugged terrain with abundant climbing, some of which is very steep and unrideable)
Technical Difficulty = 5/10 (Continuous sections of track may be rocky, loose, and steep; (e.g., 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain) suitable for riders with intermediate off-road experience)

The technical difficulty of the route is due to the sections of rocky and loose doubletrack that extend out and back from Jumpup Point.

The physical difficulty is mostly due to the climbing. Although most of the climbing is sustained and rolling, the ascents can be quite long and feature some steeper sections that some cyclists may need to hike-a-bike.

Noteworthy Climbs

  1. Climbing from Jumpup Cabin to FR 427

  2. Climbing from FR 427 to FR 22

  3. The ascent from FR 22 to FR 282

Surface Conditions

Jumpup Overmighter travels down a mix of Forest Service roads, some wide and some doubletrack. The better roads feature hard-packed dirt, wider tread, and smoother surfaces. Others, especially the portion heading out to Jumpup Point and back from the Jumpup Divide are 4x4 roads that are chunky, decayed, and washed out in places. All higher-elevation roads on the route are often littered with tree blowdowns come early summer. The deadfall will get removed, but anyone traveling in the early season may have to go around/over trees until agencies clear them.

Noteworthy Primitive, Rocky Surfaces

  1. Some of the doubletrack out to Jumpup Point on the Jumpup Divide can become especially eroded and chunky after monsoon season.

Direction to Ride

The route is intended to be ridden in a counterclockwise direction.

5. Parking

Jacob Lake Inn is the official start and place to leave your vehicle for the duration of the route. Follow these steps below:

Jacob Lake Inn has graciously agreed to allow bikepackers to park vehicles on their property. There is no fee to park, and you are able to leave your vehicle at Jacob Lake Inn for however long you need; you’ll just need to provide the date you plan to finish and pick your vehicle back up. Reach out before your trip to confirm parking will be available (928-643-7232, jacob@jacoblake.com). When you arrive, head to the front desk to fill out a slip with your vehicle information and signature. Have your intended finish-date ready. After signing, the front desk clerk will let you know where to park your vehicle. If you are part of a group bringing more than 10 vehicles, you will need to let them know at least 4 days in advance so they can confirm with their managers. Give them big thanks for this opportunity!

6. Water and Food

Water Reliability

Water is scarce along this route. The Kaibab National Forest is considered the driest national forest in the United States. Although the North Rim is higher than the South Rim and consequently receives an average of 25.8 inches of moisture a year, most quickly percolates through the porous rock of Kaibab Limestone that makes up the upper layers of this area. Plan to carry several liters of water, enough to last you at least 24 hours should you arrive at a source and find it dry. Reliable water can be found at Jacob Lake and Big Springs. Jumpup Cabin has no water save for a hike down to Jumpup Spring on Ranger Trail in the canyon.

Beyond that, water is mostly found in dirt cattle tanks, metal cattle tanks, springs, and Arizona Game and Fish Water Catchments (Wildlife Tanks). Wildlife tanks can be chock full of bugs and algae in the summer, but are safe to drink with treatment/purification. AZGFD Wildlife Tanks help provide water to wildlife in the ever-drying environment of the southwest under climate change. There is no camping within 0.25 miles of AZGFD Wildlife Tanks (or other water sources). This route requires riders to dry camp. Be prepared to load up at water sources so that you can camp far away from them.

Food Resupplies

Food resupplies are located at the start/finish at Jacob Lake.

7. Fees and Permits

8. Important Information

Hunting Season:

Starts in September and goes through December.  Hunters will mostly be seeking deer and elk.  Expect to see more trucks, backcountry campers, ATVs, and individuals on foot.  WEAR ORANGE and make yourself visible as you ride.  Be smart and be seen during hunting season.  Wildlife Tanks may have more hunters scoping them out.

Dark Skies:   

Grand Canyon National Park is an International Dark Sky Park.  This means that you can expect to have anywhere between Bortle Class 1 - 3 night skies overhead (even better night viewing during a new moon).  The Bortle Class Scale is used to rate night skies on their clarity and lack of light pollution.  A Bortle Class 1 is the darkest possible and there are several locations along these routes where, should you camp, you will have this level of darkness.  Here, night skies will be virtually unimpeded by artificial light.  You can use the following sites to explore more:  

Black Bears:

There are black bears which means you need to properly store your food at night using a bear-aware method. 

Bugs:

Mosquitoes and biting flies can be abundant on this route in the forest valleys and drainages where moisture and standing water collect.  This will be especially true in the summer and early fall, especially if precipitation has been plentiful.  

Fences: 

There may be "cowboy fences" on this route which consist of barbed wire wrapped around vertical wooden branches that are strung across roads.  They can be opened by removing a loop of wire on one side.  Most importantly, leave fences as you found them; re-close them if they were closed.  

Hantavirus and Plague: 

Bubonic plague and hantavirus are frequent enough amongst the rodent population that you should avoid their saliva, feces, urine, and direct bodily contact.  Be careful when entering old cabins and caves where droppings are plentiful and ventilation is limited.  These are prime areas for possible contraction of these diseases.  

9. General Access and Tribal Nations

You are allowed to cycle on any established dirt roads.

Bikes are STRICTLY forbidden below the rim in the inner gorge of the Grand Canyon. DO NOT RIDE YOUR BIKE DOWN INTO THE CANYON - you will get fined, it is illegal, and you will hurt the perception and opportunities of other bikepackers on this route. Practicing Leave No Trace means staying on established trails, roads, and paths.

I must note that although this route stays on "public lands," the formation of Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding land designations involved the forced removal of tribes such as the Havasupai, and they have endured legal battles to keep their vastly smaller chunk of land out of their historical precedent. Know the land you are riding on is traditionally theirs, know their current reservation boundaries are smaller than where they historically inhabited, and know where you are riding to keep yourself both legal and respectful.

10. Camping

In the Kaibab National Forest, excellent and numerous dispersed camping abounds. The North Rim is truly one of the most remarkable places for dispersed camping right up against the edge of the Canyon at numerous locations for those making the remote trek out.

11. Sample Route Itinerary

This is a suggested itinerary. Use it as a rough guide for your own planning purposes. Feel free to use it, adapt it, or don't use it all and make your own plans. Plan your trip on this route based on your own strengths, comfortabilities, experiences, wants, and needs.

    • Mileage: 37 Miles

    • Elevation Gain: 1900 Feet

    • OPTIONAL: Bike 14 miles and 900 feet of gain further to stay overnight at Jumpup Cabin if you've reserved it.

    • Water: Several Wildlife Tanks including a good one out near Jumpup Point

    • Resupply: None

    • Camping: Dispersed camping at Jumpup Point.

    • Mileage: 30 Miles

    • Elevation Gain: 3000 Feet

    • Water: Several Wildlife Tanks; Big Springs

    • Resupply: None

    • Camping: Stay overnight at Big Springs Cabin Site if you have reservations; Dispersed camping nearby

    • Mileage: 25 Miles

    • Elevation Gain: 2300 Feet

    • Water: Castle Spring; Jacob Lake

    • Resupply: Jacob Lake Inn

    • Camping: Finish! Stay at the Jacob Lake Inn, Kaibab Camper Village, Jacob Lake Campground, or Dispersed camp nearby