The Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center sits right at the junction of Highway 67 and 89A, next door to Jacob Lake Inn — which makes it the natural first (or last) stop for anyone driving the 44 miles of AZ-67 down to the North Rim. Run by the Forest Service with a crew of local volunteers, it's a small building with an outsized amount packed inside: raised-relief maps of the Kaibab Plateau and canyon country, wildlife exhibits covering the Kaibab squirrel and other high-elevation species you won't see on the South Rim, and rangers who can talk through current road, weather, and trail conditions before you commit to the drive. There's a Smokey Bear photo op outside for the kids.
Worth knowing
- Rating: 4.5 stars from 78 Google reviews, with visitors consistently calling out the friendly, well-informed volunteer staff
- Hours: open daily 8am–4pm
- Location: at the Jacob Lake junction, adjacent to Jacob Lake Inn — an easy add-on stop, not a detour
It's a quick stop, not a destination in itself, but a genuinely useful one — especially if it's your first time heading to the North Rim and you want current conditions from someone who actually knows the plateau.