Grand Canyon’s North Rim begins seasonal closures; park remains open for day use

GRAND CANYON — The staff on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will begin to shut down most visitor services and facilities on Oct. 16. The North Rim will remain open to visitors through Dec. 1 or until snow closes Highway 67 leading into the park.

Regularly scheduled ranger-led programs will be offered through Oct. 15. The Visitor Center will close for the season beginning Oct. 20. Reservations for the Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim, operated by Forever Resorts, will be accepted through the night of Oct. 15.

All other concessioner-related visitor services, with the exception of the gift shop and gas station, will close at the end of the day on Oct. 15. The last meal served at Grand Canyon Lodge will be breakfast, which ends at 10 a.m. on Oct. 16. The final day for mule rides on the North Rim will be Oct. 15. Self-service gas and diesel fuel will continue to be available in the park through Dec. 1 or until Highway 67 closes.

Between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31, a limited number of campsites at the North Rim Campground will be offered for a $12 fee on a first-come, first-served basis. The Backcountry Office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. Visitor entrance and campground fees will be collected through Oct. 31.

Starting Nov. 1 through Dec. 1, or until snow closes Highway 67, the park will remain open for day use. Self-service gas will be available and visitors will have access to Point Imperial and Bright Angel Point, as well as the North Kaibab Trailhead. Inner Canyon users with a valid backcountry permit will be allowed to park overnight at the North Kaibab Trailhead.

A limited number of campsites, at the North Rim Campground will be available to hikers with an advanced reservation. No overnight parking or car camping will be allowed. A backcountry permit is required and will be available through the South Rim Backcountry Information Center and the Visitor Center at Pipe Springs National Monument in Fredonia, Arizona. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open year-round and can be reached by calling 928-638-7875.

The North Rim will close for the season at 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 1. Hikers and cross country skiers will still be able to enter the North Rim of the park through the winter months, providing backcountry permits have been obtained.

The Kaibab Lodge located four miles north of the park boundary, will have full service through Oct. 20 and will close on Oct. 21. The North Rim Country Store, also located outside the park boundary across from the Kaibab Lodge will remain open until noon on Nov. 1, weather permitting.

Jacob Lake Inn, restaurant and gas station, located 45 miles from the North Rim developed area, remains open year-round. The Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center at Jacob Lake will be closed starting Oct. 16. For more information call 928-643-7298.

Arizona Department of Transportation officials will try to keep Highway 67 open through Dec. 1, but a major storm with heavy snowfall could close the road earlier. After Oct. 15, visitors should be prepared for winter driving and travel conditions and are encouraged to call Arizona Highway information, at 888-411-7623, in advance of their trip to check on the status of Highway 67. Visitors to the area are reminded that Highway 89 remains open year-round.

The South Rim and Inner Canyon facilities also remain open year-round.

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2 Comments

  • Dirt October 2, 2014 at 2:13 pm

    Headline is misleading and incorrect.

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic October 4, 2014 at 5:54 am

      How so, Dirt? I’m not sure I understand …
      ST. GEORGE NEWS | STGnews.com
      Joyce Kuzmanic
      Editor in Chief

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