It's been over a month since I've gotten out to do some exploring, and since it was my wife and my 8th anniversary, we decided to take the road less traveled and do a quick overnight in the FJ80.
Our destination, Toroweap, on the Arizona Strip at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, about a 6 hour (in 3FE speeds....) trip from Flagstaff.
The road to Toroweap is 60 miles one way of dirt, with no services except for a National Park Service Ranger station at the end. It's rugged, but nothing that even a stock cruiser of any genre would have problems with....actually, with the exception of tires, our Subaru could probably do it with a careful driver. O' well, this is for the views, not really the wheeling.
This part of the Grand Canyon is devoid of any touristas in new white sneakers, pastel golf shirts and cameras! Just the way I like it!
The Park Service has some primitive campsites (a fire ring and picnic table) with new Phoenix composting toilet facilities (Off the grid folks will know the brand name, and they're pretty nice!), but nothing else, and there was only one family from Italy within 200 yards of us.
We got in after dark, stopped to talk with the Ranger, Jim, who we found owned a 2004 Tacoma with a snorkle, OME lift, and ARB....half an hour of talking 'cruisers later we finally head to the campsite, pop the rooftop tent and fix some dinner.
About midnight we took a walk to the Canyon rim...no moon, so it's a big black void
....but the stars are incredible! 
The next morning we head back out on a couple of hikes and are treated to great views of the Canyon, unspoiled by the aforementioned tourists!
On the way back out the faithful FJ80 turns over 200K miles! Good to be on dirt when that happened!
Hope you guys enjoy the picks! If you're not from Arizona and want a family trip the the REAL Grand Canyon, I highly recommend this!
-H-
Our destination, Toroweap, on the Arizona Strip at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, about a 6 hour (in 3FE speeds....) trip from Flagstaff.
The road to Toroweap is 60 miles one way of dirt, with no services except for a National Park Service Ranger station at the end. It's rugged, but nothing that even a stock cruiser of any genre would have problems with....actually, with the exception of tires, our Subaru could probably do it with a careful driver. O' well, this is for the views, not really the wheeling.
This part of the Grand Canyon is devoid of any touristas in new white sneakers, pastel golf shirts and cameras! Just the way I like it!
The Park Service has some primitive campsites (a fire ring and picnic table) with new Phoenix composting toilet facilities (Off the grid folks will know the brand name, and they're pretty nice!), but nothing else, and there was only one family from Italy within 200 yards of us.
We got in after dark, stopped to talk with the Ranger, Jim, who we found owned a 2004 Tacoma with a snorkle, OME lift, and ARB....half an hour of talking 'cruisers later we finally head to the campsite, pop the rooftop tent and fix some dinner.
About midnight we took a walk to the Canyon rim...no moon, so it's a big black void
....but the stars are incredible! The next morning we head back out on a couple of hikes and are treated to great views of the Canyon, unspoiled by the aforementioned tourists!
On the way back out the faithful FJ80 turns over 200K miles! Good to be on dirt when that happened!
Hope you guys enjoy the picks! If you're not from Arizona and want a family trip the the REAL Grand Canyon, I highly recommend this!
-H-
