After a summer plagued by wildfires and evacuation, parts of the Grand Canyon’s sturdy North Rim are once again open to visitors, but the timing is complicated.
The gradual reopening, which began on October 1, coincided with the first day of federal closures, which hit thousands of National Park Service (NPS) employees, leaving many of the parks with minimal or impossible staff.
The partial reopening follows the Lightning Dragon Bravo Fire, which swept the highlands in July and destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, several cabins and visitor centers.
“This is the first of several phased reopenings planned for North Rim and we are grateful for the patience of the public who are working diligently to restore access,” Grand Canyon National Park Principal Ed Cable said in a press release. The NPS added, “Safety concerns related to the impact from Dragon Bravo Fire and continued recovery efforts will leave all other areas of North Rim closed in the near future.”
The newly reopened Parklands include Highway 67, which has access to W1 Road (around Mile Marker 11), Cape Royal Road (providing access to Point Imperial and Cape Royal Overlook), FirePoint and Swan Pridge.
Trails such as North Kaibab, Widfors, Transept and Kenpatrick, south of Cape Royal, remain closed due to safety hazards and continued recovery efforts. Additionally, North Rim Campgrounds are closed throughout the season. Visitors are often seen looking for a sturdy wilderness across trails like Cape Final and Roosevelt Point.
The impact of government closures
The federal closure added a layer of complexity to the already complicated reopening of the northern edge.
According to the Grand Canyon Conservancy, the park’s official nonprofit partner, “The Grand Canyon is open and accessible. Park trails, observation decks, trails, etc.” However, visitors to the park should note that all NPS-operated buildings are closed (including NPS-operated visitor centres, museums and information desks in the more popular South Rims of the canyon). Travelers should check the NPS North Rim status page before visiting for the latest conditions.
Admission fees are not collected during the expiration of funds. Loss of operating revenue during the already expensive recovery phase can prove challenging for protected land. According to a contingency plan issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 9,300 of the 14,500 NPS employees were attacked by agents. This means that minimal staffing is available to oversee maintenance, emergency situations and enforcement. Previous shutdowns demonstrate many issues that can arise from shortages, including risks, neglected infrastructure, and cultural and natural resource damage in high-use parks.
Is the Grand Canyon Hotel closed?
Grand Canyon Lodge, a commercial concession operator in South Rim, issued an alert indicating that the lodge, restaurants, gift shops and services remain open to guests during the shutdown, with the park’s entrance and roads open.
Given the scope of closures and post-fire reconstruction, full operation on the North Rim is unlikely to resume before 2026. And a slow, stable recovery is underway. The quiet rims of the Grand Canyon are beginning to come back to life.
Related: Guide to the Grand Canyon’s First Timer