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GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Utahns looking to travel south for the Pioneer Day holiday weekend can now expect to have full access to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon after crews repaired a damaged water pipeline.
Grand Canyon National Park is opening the Grand Canyon Lodge beginning Sunday, while all other amenities like overnight lodging, food and beverage services, and shower and laundry will also be available. Most of these commercial services are expected to remain available though Oct. 15.
The North Rim had partially opened on June 2 with "limited visitor services" because of a water pipeline break. The Arizona Republic reported that the North Rim, which typically opens in mid-May, had a delayed opening due to record winter snowfall and the pipeline break, resulting in only drinking water and toilets being available at the North Rim Campground for over a month.
Arizona's 2023 water year is on pace to be one of the state's best since 1895, as it experienced the same type of cold and wet winter as Utah and other states in the Southwest. It received an average of 9.1 inches of water statewide between October 2022 and the end of June, putting it on track to be its 27th wettest water year in 128 years of data collection.
The above-normal precipitation led to "substantial" rockfall and landslides at the North Rim's North Kaibab Trail. Park officials said it reopened last month after crews completed repair work on the trail.
More overnight backcountry reservations go online
The update comes a little less than a week after park officials announced that they are moving their overnight backcountry reservation online starting with trips taken in 2024. The move is meant to "streamline" the park's backcountry permitting process and make about 80% of the park's backcountry permits available in advance through Recreation.gov, said Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable.
Applicants have had to submit their applications by fax and wait for park staff to consider all requests manually. The outdated process usually took up to a month before people knew if they had secured a permit, according to park officials.
"Moving our backcountry permits to Recreation.gov has many important advantages for the public and our staff. We are pleased to be able to offer this improved system that will allow for improved visitor planning and experience," Keable said in a statement last week.
The park will move to a lottery system to address the high demand. Between Aug. 16 and Sept. 1, people can register to win a January 2024 reservation. About 750 applicants will be given a date and time when they can reserve overnight backpacking should they win the lottery, park officials said.
There's a $10 fee per permit for lottery application. There's also a nightly charge of $12 per person for below-rim permits and $4 per person for all above-rim permits for those who get a permit.
Park officials say they expect the change will make it easier for people to access reservations for above-rim areas, as well as areas along the Bright Angel, Clear Creek, Grandview, Hermit and North Kaibab trails during times when they are available.
More details about the changes can be found on the park's website.
