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Flux RSS * GRAND CANYON :
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2008 Spring/Summer Permits - date posted May 9, 2008 - 09-05-2008
Visit www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/trail-closures.htm for information regarding the availability of permits for May-Aug 2008.
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Drinking Water in the Cross-Canyon Corridor - date posted May 9, 2008 - 09-05-2008
Purified drinking water is available at Bright Angel Campground and Indian Garden Campground. As always, the South Kaibab Trail is dry - no water of any kind.
The list below reflects seasonal changes and will be updated when water is turned on or off.- North Kaibab Trailhead: water turned off
- Supai Tunnel: water turned off
- Roaring Springs Day Use Area: water turned on
- Cottonwood Campground: water turned on
- Bright Angel Campground: on year round (except when being repaired)
- Indian Garden: on year round (except when being repaired)
- Bright Angel Trail, 3-mile Resthouse: water turned on
- Bright Angel Trail, 1.5-mile Resthouse: water turned on
- Bright Angel Trailhead: water turned on by mid-May
- South Kaibab Trailhead: water turned on by mid-May
Plan Ahead and Prepare: A backup method to treat water, should the pipeline break, must always be included as part of your first aid kit.
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Nankoweap Trail - date posted Apr. 18, 2008 - 18-04-2008
The photos posted online were taken April 2008 and show conditions of the Nankoweap Trail in the Supai Formation. Historically this section of the trail has been ledgy and exposed. Recent weathering has caused continued slight deterioration. Access to the Nankoweap trailhead by Forest Road 610 will not be possible until sometime in late May. Check with the North Kaibab Ranger District (928-643-7395) or the Backcountry Information Center prior to attempting to reach remote north-side trailheads.
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Hiking Podcast Updated - date posted Apr. 18 2008 - 18-04-2008
The Backcountry Information Center has updated the Hiking Podcast with two April 2008 updates: one for the Corridor Trails and one for the non-corridor trails. Visit the Grand Canyon Podcast Directory (www.nps.gov/grca/photosmultimedia/podcasts.htm) for more information or to subscribe. Additionally the updates can be heard on the Backcountry Audiocast page (www.nps.gov/grca/photosmultimedia/bc_audiocasts.htm). Transcripts of the updates are posted on the Backcountry Audiocast page.
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Hermit Trailhead (and Boucher Trailhead) Construction Closure Information - date posted Apr. 17, 2008 - 18-04-2008
Major construction involving the Hermit Road and Rim Trail west of Grand Canyon Village will impact access to the Hermit trailhead beginning April 1, 2008 and lasting through project completion, tentatively scheduled for fall 2008. All backcountry permit holders hiking into the canyon via the Hermit Trail are required to use an alternate trail to complete their hike. Hikers will not be allowed to hike out via the Hermit Trail. Access to Hermit trailhead will be limited to free early morning shuttle buses (drop-off only). Visit www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/trail-closures.htm for more information and shuttle bus schedules.
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South Kaibab Trailhead Access - date posted Apr. 17, 2008 - 18-04-2008
Hikers must access the South Kaibab Trailhead by shuttle bus. A special "hiker express" shuttle leaves the Bright Angel Lodge and then picks up passengers at the Backcountry Information Center before going on to the South Kaibab Trailhead. Visit the Shuttle Buses page (www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses.htm) for schedules and more info.
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North Kaibab Trail Closed to Private Stock - date posted Apr. 17, 2008 - 18-04-2008
The North Kaibab Trail is open to hiker traffic but closed to all private stock use. This closure does not affect commercial rides. Private stock use is still allowed on Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails (overnight use requires a permit). Unfortunately, in February 2008 a freeze-thaw related rock fall occurred damaging the 3rd bridge north of Phantom Ranch. The National Park Service trail crew was able to remove the debris and to stabilize the bridge. However the North Kaibab Trail will remain closed to all private cross-canyon stock use until the bridge can be more fully repaired. There is currently no expected completion date for these repairs.
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North Rim Closure - date posted Apr. 17, 2008 - 18-04-2008
Highway 67 to Grand Canyon's North Rim will open for the season on May 15. All services provided by the National Park Service including the Visitor Center, Grand Canyon Association bookstore, backcountry permit reservations, and campground will be available on May 15th at 12:00 noon. The North Rim campground is still available for winter camping and is accessible via inner canyon trails from the South Rim or by cross-country skiing and snowshoeing - a 50 mile trip from Jacob Lake. To camp at the North Rim before May 15, visitors will need a backcountry permit from the Backcountry Information Center on the South Rim.
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Road Conditions for Remote Trailheads - date posted Apr. 17, 2008 - 18-04-2008
South: Access to remote south side trails such as the South Bass has eased considerably as unimproved dirt roads have dried out.
North: The north side of the canyon is a different story and dirt roads over there remain closed by a combination melting snow and mud. Thunder River and Bill Hall trailheads are accessible (however permits for popular areas such as Deer Creek are hard to come by). The North Kaibab Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest expects access to the Indian Hollow trailhead to open sometime in the next couple of weeks, with Monument Point opening a week or so later. Access to the Nankoweap trailhead by Forest Road 610 and to the North Bass trailhead via the Swamp Ridge Road will not occur until sometime in late May. Check with the North Kaibab Ranger District (928-643-7395) or the Backcountry Information Center prior to attempting to reach remote north-side trailheads.
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Tanner Trail Open - date posted Apr. 17, 2008 - 18-04-2008
The Tanner Trail on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is open. The trail was closed from mid-October 2007 to mid-March 2008 due to rock fall damage. The damage occurred approximately one mile below the trailhead and included about 1500 linear feet of trail and numerous switchbacks. Because of the steepness of slope, extent of damage, and unstable rock, the trail had remained closed until all repairs could be made. Trail crews were required to rebuild a section of trail, and install stone steps and retaining walls before the trail could be reopened.
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Conditions Along Inner Canyon Trails - date posted Apr. 17, 2008 - 18-04-2008
Spring has come to the rim of Grand Canyon and the icy, slick conditions prevailing in the upper sections of many trails are finally starting to improve. While a few vestiges of last winter's snowpack remain, significant melting has occurred and the Backcountry Information Center is no longer recommending the use of instep crampons or other types of traction devices. Hikers can, with care, walk around the few remaining segments of old ice. So, unless winter stages some kind of comeback this spring, the recent icy problems that have plagued the trails for most of the winter have passed into memory until next winter. Check with the Backcountry Information Center for current trail conditions prior to departure.
Springtime also brings with it the dangers of hypothermia. An up-to-date weather forecast, warm sleeping bag, good quality rainwear, synthetic insulation that will keep you warm even when wet, a warm hat, and perhaps a tent are all standard for canyon hiking during the cool months. Current Grand Canyon weather information can be found on the Weather Conditions page (www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weather-condition.htm).