Rainbow Rim Trail, Kaibab NF?

[powderglut]

This place looks very cool to visit. Essentially the north rim with none of the NP rules. It appears to be pretty close to HRV rd, the place we will be visiting for about 5-7 days. Access is just south of Jacob lake where the North Rim access is usually closed until May 15. Are these forest service roads available to use prior to the official opening of the North Rim? Snow permitting?? 5 different points to camp on look amazing. Might just do a night and a day to see what is here. Anybody visited this area? Any opinions? http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/maps/RainbowRim-PrintMap.jpg
This place looks like it was created for riding a mt bike although we weren't planning on mt bikes this trip. It's now on my radar, to maybe do this on another trip with bikes, along with Gooseberry Mesa and the southwest corner of Utah. Dang!!! So many places to visit. Might have to add Parunweap and Canaan mt for the next trip too.

 

[Bob]

Road is closed a Jacobs Lake. You can access up to Big Springs (Ryan Road) from BLM road 95 way back towards Kanab. Access to Snake Gulch, Sowatts Point area. Or you have to stay lower, more out west. It gets higher elevation and you hit snow on the roads... no locked gates that I can remember. Don't know if you can access back to the Park from there. They do get snow and it lingers into late May...

 

[powderglut]

Thanks Bob. My Arizona Strip map says the route out of Fredonia is Forest Service rd 22 to Big Springs. Must be BLM rd 95. I may wait on this trip for warmer times. We leave Steamboat in the spring, to get away from snowy environment. I thought this might be fairly easy to get to from HRV rd and the over to Jacobs lake. Closed road at AZ67 has me thinking too much extra driving. I think we'll head to Spencer Flats (Escalante) which is original plan and save Rainbow Rim for another day.