North Rim Campground — Hotel in Tuba City

Charles Sams, Director of the National Park Service, please read!

Our first visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon was glorious with the exception of a “petty tyrant” park host. The park host Teresa made our visit extremely unpleasant. She seems to lack all the necessary skills and training needed in her role of interacting and assisting park visitors.

We first encountered Teresa when we arrived. The entrance to the campground is odd. You must do a U-turn to register, and we did not understand the signage. So, we parked out of the way at the General Store lot and started walking back to check-in. Teresa drives up and yells at us in a very rude manner. We must move immediately. Why be rude? We did not know. So, now we are stuck with our tow and cannot turn around. She just sits in her golf cart and glares at us as we unhook our tow vehicle. No offer to help, just a scowl on her face. What does the NP Service gain by having their volunteers be so rude to first time visitors?

We had driven about 2500 miles, and we had local relatives who were visiting us who drove up from Phoenix, AZ. Unfortunately, their hybrid car battery died on 10/10/23. So, the same horrible “petty tyrant Teresa” tells us to move our car as only two vehicles are allowed per site. We explained our mechanical dilemma and she leaves. We then tried to jump start it with our tow vehicle. To get close enough to jump we must drive very slightly onto the un-mowed weeds next to our site. Here comes “petty tyrant Teresa” again to tell us we better get off the vegetation immediately. No offer to assist, no empathy, no understanding whatsoever. Just enforcing the rules and could care less about our circumstances. We did not pull onto the weeds to blatantly disobey any rules; we were just trying get the car started. Poor, poor look as a representative of the NP Service. Basically, telling visitors, if you break down in our park, we will harass you until you leave. Really Mr. Sams, is this how you want the visitors to the NPs to be treated?

But it does not end there. Later, that night after dark, “petty tyrant Teresa” comes back to our site to tell us to move the car. We explain we still have mechanical issues, and we are trying to get a tow lined up for it the morning. She says you must move the car. She then again tells us we have too many vehicles on the site. As a side note, I mistakenly thought we were within the rules for the number of vehicles. Turns out I misread the rules online. But regardless we were not blatantly breaking the rules because we were jerks. We simply had a relative visit that had mechanical troubles and now the car will not move. We were doing our best to resolve the problem. We were then threatened to have law enforcement called on us if we did not move our vehicle; again, we explain it will not start. She then finally orders us to move our tow vehicles to the registration area. If not, expect a visit by law enforcement. No offer of a ride or anything. Again, no empathy, no helpful solutions, no understanding whatsoever. Just pure “petty tyrant Teresa” doing her rule enforcement. If any of us had a health emergency, we would have had no transportation. Interestingly she tells me she is just doing her job. I bet the underlings who performed terrible atrocities throughout history said the same thing as they blindly carried out their orders.

Fortunately for us in the morning of 10/11/23 we contacted a towing service who was willing to help and was already scheduled to be in this remote area for another tow. They also had enough onboard amperage to get the hybrid started. So, our relatives were able to get on the road and on their way home.

The North Rim is beautiful. Our visit would have been very pleasant without this horrible host Teresa. She needs basic communication skills training and enhanced oversight of job performance. She is unsuited for her role as a camp host even if she is a volunteer. Mr. Sams, we expect better,...

For starters, try your best to get here in the daylight. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we arrived after dark, and while normally not a problem, this campground is in complete darkness and signage isn’t great on where to check in/see a map. We stopped at the campground host, and although it wasn’t late (just dark), he was a complete a**hole. We just needed a bit of direction. He should absolutely not be in the job of camp host. An old white guy who doesn’t like to help campers. Big thumbs down.

The campground is great and spaces are spaced out. No hookups with limited generator use hours. There is a laundromat and showers (you’re supposed to use $1.50 in quarters for the showers) but the water turned on without them. Four shower stalls but only 2 that worked so there was always a line. Laundromat and showers close at 8 pm. General store was very well stocked and prices weren’t bad. Young dark haired girl was there every day and was so kind and helpful. Campfire wood was $7.

The one way loop through the campground is easy but for some spaces on the left, your camper door will be facing the wrong direction. Just something to think about when choosing your spot. (There was not enough room for us to park the opposite way and get back out.)

Many great views really close to the campground. About 1.5 mile hike to the visitor...

Tent camped at the campground. Tent areas are spacious, shaded, and offer "pull through" for your car. Restrooms are clean, wash sinks and potable water available. Very limited cell service. Camping areas are very quite, amazing views of the stars at night. Definitely pack bug spray! Stayed the first week of October, right before the season ends - temperature was perfect. Aspens were just turning so the drive in was super pretty. Saw lots of deer, foxes, ground squirrels. I recommend booking way in advance for tent sites as this is a very popular area. Camp store has coffee, wine/beer, snacks, ice, firewood, and other camping supplies for sale. Laundry and showers are available but you must pay for them. Showers are coin operated. North rim offers stunning views of the Grand canyon and has several handicap/ stroller compatible trails that are short walks and paved. Again, cannot stress how amazing the views are - not specifically from the campground; but the surrounding...