Reviewed by: Rob ,  Racer , from Florida

Summary:
This trail gives pristine views from the north rim of the GC!! Beautiful!!
Very remote, so I saw 2-3 people camping, one other biker, and one family having a pick nick in the middle of summer! The trail itself has one or two climbs to get you a little winded (it's around 7 to 8 thousand feet of elevation) but the downs are flowing, smooth, and sweet. I would highly recommend this trail for most riders, unless maybe you are not conditioned for the higher elevations. I'm from Florida, so it took me 2-3 days in northern Arizona to adjust to the thinner air. I did the full out-and-back 36 miles in 5 hours stopping at every point for the vistas, lunch, and taking pictures.

Recommended Route:
Parrisawampits to Timp and back to Parrisawampits. The return leg has the steepest grades on the climbs.

Reviewed by: Dunko , from Oz

Summary:
Yep, its spectacular. All single track, and though I wasnt able to complete the entire route (partner problems), Id do it again in a flash (and intend to).
The single track is fast and furious, youll see wildlife and the quietest, most awe striking vistas youll see anywhere in the MTB knigdom.
If you go to the GC area and dont ride this trail, youre not a true (fairdinkum) mountain biker..

Recommended Route:
Good directions from the top reveiw

Reviewed by: Bill Snure , from Amarillo, Tx

Summary:
Five of us, four Texans and one expatriot Texan from Prescott, Az., rode this trail Aug 24, 25,and 26th of this year. We started at Parissawampitts point and rode back to Temp Point. It was one of the most enjoyable rides any of us has taken. The trail was obviously built primarily for mountain bikes and it shows. The layout and construction are just perfect.AS someone who does a lot of trail work himself, I can't brag enough on the superb job the trail designers and builder did. To me it is a trail building work of art. The trail traces five fingers (points) that jut out to the edge of Grand Canyon. Each finger or point is a viewpoint into the Canyon. The trail winds back and forth along the drainages separating the fingers back to their headers, crossing over to the next one. You can fly as fast as your nerve will allow you on the downhills and the climbs up the other side are long and challenging but still very ridable, which was what impressed us the most. The views of the Canyon from all of the points are breathtaking and you should plan plenty of time to stop and take in the views. After all that's big part of what this trip is about. It is an 18 mile single track and there are bail out points at each of the points, that you can drive to. This trail is not technical but is physically challenging because of the climbs. If you are in reasonable physical condition you will have no problem. It is just really sweet single track through some of the most beautiful scenery you'll ever see. On northern sections of the the trail there are some amazing stands of old growth ponderosa that are the most beautiful I have ever seen. Then on the other extreme there are the views looking off into Grand Canyon. I would strongly encourage anyone who does this trip to take in one sunset or sunrise at the actual rim, it's a spiritual experience and will refresh your soul! I believe this ride is best done as a one way trip with a shuttle vehicle although you can ride forest service roads back to the starting point. In that case it will be about a 37 mile loop. It takes about a half a day to ride the Rainbow Rim trail and would be a full, hard day to do the full loop or out and back. I think the climbing would be more difficult if you start at Temp Point and ride back ot Parisawampitts Point. There are numerous terrific spots to camp at the various points and in the Kaibab Nat'l Forest. Be advised that there is no water at all along the trail and very little on the Nat'l Forest. The nearest civilized water is along highway 67S from Jacobs Lake to the Nat'l Park. WE also thought it would be cool to take BOB trailers or panniers and spend one night in the middle of the ride.
As one other review of this trail points out this trail and area is a long way from nearly anywhere,(it's a five hour haul to Flagstaff) but we all felt it was well worth the trip. But we're from west the Texas Panhandle and a couple hundred mile drive is pretty standard for us.
We also rode a section of the Arizona Trail that runs the length of the state and a portion of it goes from Jacobs Lake to the Nat'l Park boundary. This is also a very good ride and one should definitely do it if you are there and ride Rainbow Rim. The Az. Trail is on the other side (east) of Highway 67 S. There are numerous USFS roads that cross this trail as well so you can ride as much or as little of it as you choose. This is a combination of single track, jeep roads and abandoned logging roads. It is not as buff and sweet as Rainbow Rim and you can tell that users besides (hikers and possible equestrian) mountain bikers were involved in the building of it. It is still an awesome ride and well worth doing. If I had not just ridden Rainbow Rim and been spoiled by that I would be raving about how great it was. It climbs to a saddle that looks off to the east into the Saddleback Wilderness Area,to the Vermillion Cliffs towards Marble Canyon and Lees Ferry, a totally different view than from Rainbow Rim. We Rode a nineteen mile section ending up at the Natl' Park boundary fence.
We camped at the DeMotte Campground on 67 S near the Kaibab Lodge. It has outdoor johns and potable water, fire rings, no showers, excellent access to both Rainbow Rim and Arizona Trail. Once again if you take in your own water it would be really cool to camp in the Nat. forest.
I would rate this as a "must do" ride.

Recommended Route:
Parissawampits Point to Temp Point

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Arizona Trail (see above)