The Dragon Bravo wildfire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park pressured the evacuation and closure of a portion of the park this previous weekend. Solely the North Rim — to not be confused with the extra frequented South Rim of the park — will stay closed for the rest of the 2025 season.
There are additionally mountain climbing path closures in impact for the North Kaibab Path, the South Kaibab Path and Phantom Ranch attributable to a release of chlorine gas associated to the fireplace that destroyed the North Rim Water Therapy Facility.
Fortunately, there have been no reported accidents or fatalities as a result of fireplace, however many buildings on the North Rim — together with the customer heart, the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and cabins — have been misplaced to the fireplace. This closure may even have an effect on hikers who could have a allow for the favored rim-to-rim hike whereas the North Rim closure is in impact.
This is a information on what to do when you have a visit deliberate to the Grand Canyon within the close to future.
The North Rim vs. the South Rim
Grand Canyon Nationwide Park is within the northwest nook of Arizona and has three entrances.
The South Rim entrance
The preferred and most visited entrance is on the South Rim entrance via the city of Tusayan, Arizona, about one hour north of Flagstaff. This location has the vast majority of the lodging and companies in and close to the park. It’s going to get you to Grand Canyon Village, which has a customer heart, leisure automobile campgrounds and a submit workplace; it additionally has historic lodges, resembling El Tovar Resort, Vibrant Angel Lodge & Cabins and Yavapai Lodge.
The East entrance
The east entrance on state Route 64 is accessible from the city of Cameron, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. This connects the overlook street (state Route 64) previous Desert View Watchtower and again towards Grand Canyon Village and all South Rim areas.
The North Rim entrance
If you’re on the South Rim, the North Rim is a five-hour journey by automotive — over 220 miles. The closest meals and gas companies exterior the North Rim entrance of the park are on the Jacob Lake Inn in Fredonia, Arizona. The North Rim is extra distant, and it has historically been open from Could 15 to Oct. 15 annually (climate allowing) and closed through the winter months attributable to street situations.
Is it protected to journey to Grand Canyon Nationwide Park?
Sure, it’s protected to journey to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon close to Tusayan and Grand Canyon Village, however the North Rim and state Route 67 at Jacob Lake into the North Park entrance are closed. The present advisory on the park web site states that “smoke is predicted to stay seen from the South Rim, and air high quality situations could fluctuate relying on fireplace conduct and wind patterns.”
The park’s web site lists closures for the North Kaibab Path, the South Kaibab Path and Phantom Ranch. If in case you have a hike deliberate (together with a rim-to-rim hike), we advise contacting the Backcountry Permit office for options and studying the foundations and restrictions on its web site. Summer time situations are at all times harsh within the canyon, and water availability could possibly be affected as a result of lack of the North Rim services.
The Nationwide Park Service is updating a number of emergency messages on its web site. We propose bookmarking the operations page, which particulars any updates, together with mountain climbing restrictions.
The NPS and Grand Canyon Conservancy have several webcams at key points along the South Rim. These cameras permit guests to verify visitors situations on the South Rim entrance station, admire the view of the canyon from numerous viewpoints and observe air high quality and visibility.
In case you plan to journey north of the Grand Canyon via Fredonia and onward to Kanab, Utah (towards Zion Nationwide Park), you’ll be able to verify street situations on Arizona 511. Presently, components of state Route 89A in northern Arizona are closed attributable to a second fireplace, the White Sage Fireplace.
When will the Grand Canyon’s North Rim reopen after the Dragon Bravo Fireplace?
As a result of harm to the NPS services on the North Rim, the NPS introduced that the North Rim location is closed via the top of the 12 months. As a consequence of climate situations, it will usually shut on or round Oct. 15 yearly. At the moment, it stays unknown if any campgrounds on the North Rim have been spared or will reopen within the 2026 season.
The NPS has a wildfire status link and advisories posted on its web site.
What to do when you have lodging or a campsite booked in Grand Canyon Nationwide Park?
The South Rim areas of the park at present stay unaffected by wildfires; nevertheless, the North Rim areas, together with the Grand Canyon Lodge and historic cabins operated by Aramark, have all been misplaced to the fireplace. A statement on the lodge website introduced that every one personnel are protected and company with future reservations will hear from them quickly. There may be additionally a hyperlink to the official NPS press release.
Campsite reservations on the North Rim are additionally canceled, and a press release on the Recreation.gov website directed company to have a look at Mather and Desert View campgrounds (on the South Rim) as options.
Will your bank card or journey insurance coverage cowl adjustments?
TPG has a comprehensive guide on bank cards that covers journey cancellation and interruption, together with what could be coated in a natural disaster.
Associated: 4 times your credit card’s travel insurance can help with travel woes, and 7 times it won’t
Backside line
If in case you have a visit deliberate to Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, double-check the placement of your reservation to see in case your journey is affected so you’ll be able to take applicable steps to reroute or rebook. The latest updates and advisories will probably be posted on the official website for the park. TPG will proceed to comply with the story and report on any updates.