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The list below reflects seasonal changes and will be updated when water is turned on or off.

• North Kaibab Trailhead: water turned ON
• Supai Tunnel: water turned ON
• 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, Three-Mile Resthouse: water turned ON
• Bright Angel Trail, Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse: water turned ON
• Bright Angel Trailhead: ON year-round
• South Kaibab Trailhead: ON year-round

Seasonal water stations are usually turned off for the winter sometime between Oct 10th and 30th dependent on location and associated temperatures.

Water available (year-round) on the South Rim at the Backcountry Information Center in the lobby. Water available (year-round) on the North Rim outside the Backcountry Information Center. Additional water bottle filling stations can be found on the Go "Green" and Refill Your Water Bottles web page.

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. Backcountry hikers should always carry extra water.

The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park opened for the summer season on May 15, 2012.

NORTH RIM

The Point Sublime road is currently open and accessible from Highway 67 within the park. The W4 Road and the W1 Road to the W4 intersection have been cleared of debris. The road from Highway 67 to Point Sublime is in very rough shape, worse than last year. High clearance four-wheel-drive strongly recommended.

Point Sublime is NOT accessible from the Forest Service boundary north of Kanabownits. The road north of Kanabownits has NOT been cleared of debris, and thus the Swamp Ridge road remains inaccessible at this time.

The Saddle Mountain Trailhead (access to Nankoweap from the Kaibab Plateau) has several logs laying halfway across the road. Vehicles can get around the logs, but passage is narrow. Wide vehicles may have some difficulty reaching the trailhead.

Hikers considering traveling dirt roads to remote trailheads should contact the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest at 928-643-7395, the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest on the South Rim at 928-635-4061 or the Backcountry Information Center for current conditions.

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• Report the location and diameter of the tree to Grand Canyon park dispatch (928-638-7805) as soon as possible. The park will assign staff to clear the road.
• If an appropriate (not blocking the road and not damaging vegetation) place to park is available, park your vehicle and continue to the trailhead on foot.
• Do not drive off-road attempting to bypass the obstacle, doing so can cause resource damage.

The North Rim yurt is closed for reservations.

The North Rim yurt, placed near the North Kaibab Trailhead, can be reserved from the Monday following Thanksgiving through April 15. The yurt accommodates six people and is outfitted with a table, chairs, and wood-burning stove. A portable toilet is nearby. Required permits are available through the Backcountry Information Center. For more information see www.nps/gov/grca/planyourvisit/winter-recreation.htm

All South Rim trails are now passable without crampons or shoe traction devices. Use caution as small pockets of ice may still exist but they can be safely bypassed on one side of the trail or another.

North Kaibab Trail: from the top to Supai Tunnel there is snow in patches, but nothing major, clear for most of the way.

The Hiker Express Bus which serves the South Kaibab Trail departs the Backcountry Information Center in April at 6am, 7am, and 8am.

The Western Red Buds (Cercis occidentallis) at Indian Garden are blooming. We will post an update as soon as possible when conditions change.

Hikers without a permit can stop by the Backcountry Information Center to request a last minute permit. We are busy, and hikers may need to wait a couple of days before obtaining a permit.

A fox exhibiting abnormal behavior was euthanized in November 2011 near Phantom Ranch along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Earlier that month, another fox collected near Phantom Ranch tested positive for rabies. Rabies is considered a natural wildlife disease and will likely run its course. To reduce your risk of injury or illness from an animal encounter (fox, bat, elk, mountain lion, squirrel) please follow these simple guidelines:

• educate yourself and your children about proper behavior around animals, especially concerning to animals common to the area you will be visiting
• don't touch, pick-up, or approach wild animals
• stay together as a group
• keep food appropriately stored at all times
• never feed wildlife
• wild animals approaching humans is not normal - be aware of your surroundings and keep your distance
• consider sleeping inside a tent

For more information read the Public Health Rabies Site Bulletin.

The road out to Tuweep is passable.

Travelers should carry:

• Extra water, food, and gasoline;
• Good tires, including at least one usable spare;
• Parts, tools, and knowledge to handle vehicle and tire repairs including tire plugs and a portable air compressor.

Summer storms in the southwest are often accompanied by potentially deadly lightning. Visitors walking and hiking in the park are reminded that if they can hear thunder, they should consider ending outdoor activities. If the sound of thunder follows a lightning flash within 30 seconds, seek shelter inside a building or vehicle. If this is not possible, move well away from high points such as ridges and the edge of the canyon. Do not seek shelter beneath tall trees.

For more on how to be "lightning smart" read the Lightning Danger Site Bulletin.

Hikers should make every effort to obtain recent confirmation of water availability and become familiar with routes to the river before starting any hike. Contact the Backcountry Information Center for recent water reports.

Water available (year-round) on the South Rim at the Backcountry Information Center in the lobby and at Hermits Rest (near the other public amenities). Water available (year-round) on the North Rim outside the Backcountry Information Center.

Additional water bottle filling stations can be found on the Go "Green" and Refill Your Water Bottles web page.

1. An early morning Hikers? Express goes to the South Kaibab Trailhead from Bright Angel Lodge shuttle bus stop, the Backcountry Information Center, and Grand Canyon Visitor Center daily, year-round. Parking is available at the Backcountry Information Center.
2. The Kaibab/Rim Route shuttle provides transportation between the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, the Yavapai Geology Museum, the South Kaibab Trailhead, Yaki Point, and rim viewpoints.

The Hermits Rest Shuttle between South Rim Village and Hermit Rest and the Hermit trailhead is operational Mar. 1 to Nov. 30. The bus runs every 30 minutes between 4:30am and 9:30am, every 15 minutes between 9:30am and sunset, and every 30 minutes between sunset and one hour after sunset. The Hermit Shuttle is free.

Weather dependent, Hermit Road is open to all private vehicles Dec 1 to Feb 28. Be aware that in wintertime inclement weather can cause Hermit Road to close with little notice as storms move through the area. Always check with the Backcountry Information Center regarding the wintertime status of Hermit Road.

Grand Canyon National Park has started work on a Backcountry Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. The park's existing Backcountry Management Plan was completed in 1988 and needs to be updated to comply with current National Park Service laws and policies and the park's 1995 General Management Plan.

Development of a revised plan provides an opportunity to look at alternative management strategies for protecting park resources and values while providing for a variety of visitor experiences within the backcountry. Once completed, the revised Backcountry Management Plan will guide management decisions regarding the park's backcountry and wilderness resources into the future.

Learn more about this planning effort at www.parkplanning.nps.gov/grca (click on Backcountry Management Plan).