Infos zum Grand Canyon NP

Indian Garden Now Officially Called Havasupai Gardens

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The U.S. Board of Geographic Names voted unanimously (19-0) earlier this month in favor of the formal request submitted by the National Park Service on behalf of the Havasupai Tribe to change the name of Indian Garden (FID #6209) to Havasupai Gardens.
Earlier this year, the Havasupai Tribe passed Resolution 29-21 which provided a formal request to the National Park Service to change the name. Havasupai Gardens is along the Bright Angel Trail and is a frequent stop for day hikers and backpackers exploring the backcountry of Grand Canyon.
Originally called Ha’a Gyoh, the National Park Service (NPS) instituted policies that forced the Havasupai people from Ha’a Gyoh and in 1928, the last Havasupai resident, Captain Burro, was forcibly removed. Havasupai people continued to live and work within Grand Canyon National Park, despite the forced removal from the inner canyon.
“The eviction of Havasupai residents from Ha’a Gyoh coupled with the offensive name, Indian Garden, has had detrimental and lasting impacts on the Havasupai families that lived there and their descendants,” said Chairman Thomas Siyuja, Sr. “Every year, approximately 100,000 people visit the area while hiking the Bright Angel Trail, largely unaware of this history. The renaming of this sacred place to Havasupai Gardens will finally right that wrong.”
Efforts are already underway to update signage, website and other materials with the new name.
“The Grand Canyon National Park team was proud to work alongside the Havasupai Tribal Council in our joint effort to rename this culturally significant location at the Grand Canyon,” said Superintendent Ed Keable. “The Havasupai people have actively occupied this area since time immemorial, before the land’s designation as a National Park and until the park forcibly removed them in 1926. This renaming is long overdue. It is a measure of respect for the undue hardship imposed by the park on the Havasupai people.”
“Park employees kept noticing a Native man walking up and down the canyon walls to Indian Garden, and they began to call him Billy Burro. After all, he could hike up and down those walls just like a mule,” said Ophelia Watahomigie-Corliss, a member of the Havasupai Tribe and former Council member. “This man and his family were pushed out of Indian Garden, forced to leave the land they had farmed for generations so the national park could make it theirs. Billy Burro’s daily trail was turned into what is most of Bright Angel Trail today.”
“The people of the Havasupai Tribe have always called the vast Grand Canyon and the plateau lands south of it our homeland,” said Chairman Siyuja. “The Creator made the Havasupai People the guardians of the Grand Canyon, and this is a role that we take very seriously. We are a small tribe. But our voices and our spirits are large.”
The Burro family changed their name to Tilousi, which means “storyteller.” And for generations, the Burro-Tilousi family have fought to protect the history and culture of the Havasupai people.
“As a descendent of the Burro-Tilousi family I am glad to see that we will always remember and honor the true history of my family’s forced relocation due to the development of the Grand Canyon National Park,” said Carletta Tilousi, a member of the Havasupai Tribe and former Council member. “For that reason, honoring our ancestors and remembering our history is also very important to the Havasupai people. I hope this historic action will help other Tribes take similar steps and reclaim lands back by changing place names for historic and cultural preservation purposes.”
The Havasupai Tribe and NPS are currently planning a rededication ceremony in early Spring 2023.

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Grand Canyon National Park planning for a $208 million waterline repair

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The Transcanyon Waterline supplies water to the millions of people that visit the Grand Canyon National Park

A $208 million multi-year repair is planned for the Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water for the local community and millions of visitors to Grand Canyon National Park.

National Park Service officials said the repairs and upgrades on the waterline within the inner canyon and the South Rim will ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for at least the next 50 years and support 6 million annual visitors and some 2,500 year-round residents.

They said work planned for the coming months will focus on establishing construction infrastructure and staging areas in the Grand Canyon Village Area on the South Rim.

Park Service officials said the work should not cause any restrictions or closures this year that would impact visitors.

The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

Originally built in the 1960s, the 12 ½-mile waterline provides the potable water for all facilities on the South Rim and inner canyon facilities within the park.

Park Service officials said that since 2010, there have been more than 85 major breaks in the waterline with each repair often costing more than $25,000.

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Rockfalls reported on popular Grand Canyon trail

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National Park Service officials are warning hikers of possible rockfalls along some of the most popular trails within Grand Canyon National Park.

Backcountry Information Center staff reported three sizeable rockfalls along the Bright Angel Trail.

While the trail remains passable to hikers at this time, officials warn the rockfalls will likely continue on a “routine basis” in the coming weeks and months. The rockfalls are only expected to increase as temperatures rise and the snow melts.

The park is asking people to call Grand Canyon dispatch if they come across more rock falls within the canyon.

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Grand Canyon, other nearby parks delay openings due to snow

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If you’re thinking of traveling to high-altitude parks in Southern Nevada, Utah and northern Arizona, you may need to change your plans.

Record snow in the Southwest has resulted in delayed openings at Cedar Breaks, Great Basin and Grand Canyon national parks.

Cedar Breaks National Monument near Cedar City, Utah, is at 217% of normal snowpack for this time of year, according to a news release.

The national monument currently has 10 feet of snow with snow drifts over 30 feet covering State Route 148, the main road through the park. State Route 143 will also remain closed.

The monument’s Temporary Information Center will begin its summer visitor services on Friday, June 16. Until then, the park is only accessible for those with snowmobiles.

At Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada, record snowfall will likely delay the opening of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, Wheeler Peak Campground and several hiking trails, including the Alpine Lakes Loop, according to a park news release.

Several sites in the park where snowpack is measured saw record-breaking amounts of snow, with over 7 feet at one spot at 9,200 feet elevation that broke a snowpack record set in 1952.

The Bristlecone Parking Area, which serves as the gateway to the Alpine Lake Loop and other trails, is expected to reopen for summer around July 1. Traditionally, the parking area reopens after winter around Memorial Day.

While the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park typically opens on May 15, this year, due to record snow, the North Rim will reopen on June 2 to allow for safe plowing of State Route 67.

The North Rim Campground is expected to reopen on June 9, and Cape Royal and Point Imperial Roads will reopen July 1.

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Video: Rockslide closes Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon North Rim opening delayed

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The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park has received more than 250 inches of accumulated snow this winter. Due to heavy snow, the reopening of the North Rim has been delayed from mid-May until June 2, according to the National Park Service.

The announcement followed news that a rockfall and landslide had damaged both the North Kaibab Trail, as well as the North Rim pipeline making many areas unsafe or impassable for hikers. Until the damage can be fixed, hikers will not be permitted between Cottonwood Campground and the North Kaibab Trailhead for any reason. The trail closure is also expected to be lifted by June 2.

As the only maintained trail into the canyon on the north end of the popular rim-to-rim corridor, the North Kaibab Trail and rim closures will adversely affect travelers planning to visit the north rim, as well as rim-to-rim hikers and others hoping to enter the canyon from the north.

With approximately 7 miles of the rim-to-rim route along the North Kaibab Trail inaccessible, completing the iconic rim-to-rim canyon crossing will be impossible throughout the month of May.

If you had previously planned to visit the North Rim or attempt crossing rim-to-rim during the month of May, you'll need to seek out other routes or activities.

This video highlights areas affected by the closures and presents several alternative options, ranging from short introductory hikes into the canyon along the South Rim, as well as a number of strenuous rim-to-rim alternatives if your plan to cross the canyon has been interrupted by recent closures.

Park officials said the delayed opening is necessary to ensure that state Route 67 can be safely plowed.

"We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our neighbors and visitors with this delay as our partners and park staff work to open the North Rim roads, trails and facilities safely," said Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable.

Whether you plan to visit Grand Canyon this year or not, make sure to prepare adequately for any treks into the canyon and always respect the land, wildlife and your fellow travelers.

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North Rim opens with limited services available

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The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park has reopened today, June 2, for day use, with limited visitor services and water conservation measures due to a break in the North Rim water pipeline. The National Park Service recommends that visitors bring their own drinking water and food with them.

The North Rim General store, gas station and post office are open, along with Grand Canyon Conservancy's Park Store in the Visitor Center. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. A variety of park ranger programs are being offered daily. The backcountry information center, in the North Rim Administration Building, will be open 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m. daily.

North Rim scenic roads to Cape Royal and Point Imperial have reopened to the public, along with vehicle access to the Widforss Trailhead. Roads extending beyond the Widforss Trailhead are scheduled to reopen to the public on July 1.

The North Rim Campground, managed by the National Park Service, will reopen on June 9 with potable drinking water and toilets available. The shower and laundry facility remains closed at this time. The North Kaibab Trail between the North Kaibab Trailhead and Manzanita Rest Area will reopen on June 16.

Due to water conservation measures, overnight accommodations at Grand Canyon Lodge will not be available until the water pipeline has been repaired, approximately July 23, 2023.

Just north of the park boundary, visitor services are available at Kaibab Lodge and North Rim Country Store.

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Sixteen companies selected to provide guided river trips along the Colorado River

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Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable announced the National Park Service’s selection of 16 companies to provide guided interpretive multi-day whitewater trips on the Colorado River in the park. These trips last from three to eighteen days, starting at Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, continuing through Grand Canyon National Park, and ending at Pearce Ferry within Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The contracts have been sent to the selectees for signature and once signed, will be transmitted to Congress for a 60-day notice period as stipulated by law. After this period, the National Park Service will sign and award the contracts.

The 16 selectees are: Arizona Raft Adventures, LLC; Arizona River Runners, Inc.; Canyoneers, Inc.; Colorado River & Trail Expeditions, Inc.; Grand Canyon Expeditions Co.; Canyon Expeditions, Inc.; Grand Canyon Whitewater, LLC; Hatch River Expeditions, Inc.; Grand Canyon Raft Adventures; O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon, Inc.; Outdoors Unlimited River Trips; Wilderness River Adventures, LLC; Tour West, Inc.; Western River Expeditions, Inc.; Canyon Explorations, Inc.; and Grand Canyon Discovery, LLC.

These Concession Contracts will continue providing guided river trip services under new contract(s), which will be effective for ten years from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2033. The public is not expected to experience any changes or interruptions in service.

The current contracts earn gross revenues of approximately $46 million per year and operators serve approximately 22,000 passengers annually. Each contract has an assigned allotment of annual user days, which vary from contract to contract

Solicitation of concession business opportunities within national park sites and the selection of best proposals are routine processes for in the National Park Service, dictated by the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act (1998 Act). By law, all contracts are issued through a fully open and competitive process, awarding contracts to those with the best proposal.

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $27.5 Million for Grand Canyon National Park Shuttle Bus Fleet Replacement Project as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda

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The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has announced the award of $27.5 million to the National Park Service (NPS) for the Grand Canyon National Park Shuttle Bus Fleet Replacement project in Arizona. The project includes 30 new buses, including 10 new battery electric buses and 20 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, to replace the current aging fleet and the installation of charging infrastructure to support the new electric buses. An estimated 6 million people visit the park each year and use the free shuttle buses to access destinations throughout the Grand Canyon.

“Grand Canyon National Park is one of our most beloved national parks,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This grant, made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help ensure safe and reliable bus service for park visitors for decades to come.”

The project is one of seven to receive federal grants totaling $130.5 million under FHWA’s Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Transportation Projects Program. The grants announced today – which recognize transportation projects of national significance that serve Federal and Tribal lands – are part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild our infrastructure and deliver big wins for the American people.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of the Interior, Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding communities participated in an event today at the Grand Canyon South Rim to announce the grant award.

“With this National Park Service grant that is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we’re helping to deliver safe, sustainable and reliable transportation investments that help families and visitors explore the Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding communities,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “The new bus fleet will ensure millions of people can continue to visit the park and enjoy this natural wonder, while also providing climate-friendly connections to the regional transportation network and linking visitors and local residents to other destinations throughout the region.”

“To practice responsible stewardship of the Grand Canyon National Park, we must lead by example in the fight against climate change,” said Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva. “The $27.5 million grant from the USDOT is the first critical investment to update the Grand Canyon’s aging transportation infrastructure to be more sustainable and will support NPS’ climate action plan to lower our carbon emissions. I supported this federal funding to help ensure an accessible, efficient, and cleaner connection for global visitors and will continue to support investments to enhance the Park’s infrastructure as we work toward a sustainable future.”

“The Biden-Harris administration is taking an all-of-government approach to developing a clean energy economy where public lands play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Matt Strickler. “The Interior Department looks forward to continuing robust and collaborative partnerships with federal, local, Tribal and industry partners as we improve the park visitor experience and meet President Biden’s ambitious clean energy goals.”

“The necessary replacement of the outdated shuttle bus fleet is an opportunity to upgrade to cleaner, quieter electric buses,” said Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable. “This project will address transportation challenges related to maintaining an aging fleet, and the NPS goal to achieve sustainable transportation alternatives.”

The Departments of the Interior and Transportation have partnered for nearly 100 years, with what was then the Bureau of Public Roads. As the Bureau became modernized throughout the 20th century, major rehabilitation projects and new transit became possible at our nation’s most treasured sites, including at Acadia, Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, making the parks more accessible. In November 2021, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen the Departments’ coordination regarding infrastructure investments and the deployment of innovative technologies at National Park Service-managed sites.

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Grand Canyon National Park to move overnight backcountry reservations to Recreation.gov

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Grand Canyon National Park will move its overnight backcountry reservation system to Recreation.gov for reservations for 2024 and later permits. This move will help streamline the backcountry permitting process by allowing around 80% of backcountry permits to be directly reserved and paid for online.

The new system will provide applicants with greater control of their itinerary and campsite options. Applicants will no longer need to submit applications by fax and wait up to a month for the thousands of requests to be considered manually by park staff.

“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.” said Park Superintendent Ed Keable.

Backcountry use areas available online will include above rim areas, popular campgrounds along the main inner canyon trails of the Bright Angel and North Kaibab, and for the fall, winter and spring months, all areas between the Hermit Trail and the Grandview Trail off the South Rim, and the Clear Creek trail accessed from the North Kaibab trail. Remaining use areas and dates will be requested by working directly with staff at the Backcountry Information Center.

Backcountry reservations will initially be offered via an early access lottery on Recreation.gov. Application timeframes will remain unchanged, and reservations may be requested up to four months in advance. For example, lottery applications for January 2024 will be accepted from August 16 through September 1, 2023, and lottery applicants will have the month of September to make their reservations. On October 1, the rest of the public will be able to review and make reservations for any remaining campsites.

Through each lottery, up to 750 applicants will be awarded a date and time when they will be eligible to log in to their Recreation.gov account, check availability, and have an opportunity to reserve an itinerary and pay for their reservation.

Grand Canyon's Backcountry Permit Charge in the Recreation.gov system will be: $10 per permit or lottery application plus a nightly charge of $12 per person for all below rim areas and $4 per person for all above rim areas.

Refunds of nightly charges will replace Grand Canyon’s Hiker Credit system. To be eligible for a refund, partial or full cancellations will need to be made via Recreation.gov before the backcountry permit is printed and at least 30 days before the permit start date. This 30-day deadline is intended to encourage cancellations to occur in time for others to claim and make use of the cancelled space.

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North Rim resumes full visitor services beginning July 23

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The Grand Canyon Lodge will officially commence their 2023 seasonal operations on Sunday, July 23. Since June 2, limited visitor services have been available due to a break in the North Rim water pipeline that led to water conservation measures. The water pipeline was fully repaired and water conservation measures for the North Rim are no longer in effect.

The Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations, including lodging, food and beverage services, and shower and laundry, will also open July 23. The lodge dining room will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with reservations required for dinner service. The last day of the 2023 season for most commercial services will be October 15, 2023.

The National Park Service will continue its operations including the Backcountry Information Office through October 31. The park entrance gate on State Route 67, which provides vehicle access to the North Rim, will close at 5 p.m. on November 30, 2023, or after the first major snowstorm if prior to that date. Visitors exploring the North Rim, on, or after, October 16 should be self-suffecient and bring enough food and water for the day.

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Major flooding in Tusayan and Grand Canyon damages several homes, businesses

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There's major flooding in Tusayan, but the National Park Service says the Highway 64 south entrance into the Grand Canyon has reopened Tuesday night.

Tusayan is just outside the park's entrance.

People in the area say they've received emergency alerts on their phones, telling people in Tusayan and Grand Canyon Village to shelter in place.

Residents of Tusayan were advised to boil their drinking water as the groundwater may have been impacted by Tuesday's flooding. Tusayan Public Water System has since confirmed its operations were not affected by the flooding. Coconino County Emergency Management is monitoring the situation and sending resources to help out.

"Due to a reported two to three inches of rainfall in a short amount of time this afternoon, water up to three feet in depth has reached State Route 64 and most of the gateway community," Coconino County said in a news release.

There are advisories if you need to travel in the area.

"All unnecessary travel to and from the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is not recommended. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has closed State Route 64 south of Tusayan, all traffic from inside the National Park is being routed east on SR64 through Cameron," the county said previously, but the road has reopened.

At 9 p.m. on Tuesday, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office gave the following update:

"Approximately 70 students from the Grand Canyon Unified School District are sheltering on school property and are being returned home. No injuries have been reported at this time and Highway 64 has been cleared and is safe to travel at this time with limited access. The students from the Grand Canyon Unified School District are being reunited with their families. Crews will continue through the evening clearing and assessing any possible damage caused by the flooding."

More than a hundred residents and guests were displaced and relocated to wait out the flooding, CCSO says.

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Grand Canyon National Park announces Transcanyon Waterline construction-related closures

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The National Park Service is announcing the expected Transcanyon Waterline construction-related closures to Grand Canyon National Park trail and campground areas today.

Expected visitor use area closures include:

Rim Trail in front of Bright Angel Lodge with a detour going around the Lodge: Oct. 1-Nov. 17, 2023

Plateau Point Trail from the Tonto Trail junction to Plateau Point: Oct. 12, 2023-March 14, 2025

Bright Angel Trail approximately 1/2 mile from the Trailhead to Silver Bridge, including Havasupai Gardens Campground: Dec. 1, 2023-April 14, 2024

Bright Angel Trail from Havasupai Gardens to Silver Bridge: Dec. 2, 2024-March 14, 2025

Bright Angel Campground: Dec. 19, 2024-May 9, 2025

Silver Bridge: Sept. 15-Dec. 31, 2025

The construction areas and schedule are subject to change and visitors are encouraged to check the park’s website for the current operational status. Intermittent trail delays of up to 30 minutes in the vicinity of construction work may occur as necessary throughout the project.

Visitors will be able to use an upper portion of the Bright Angel Trail from the Trailhead to nearly 1/2 mile down the trail during the Dec. 1, 2023-April 14, 2024 closure period. The South Kaibab Trail will remain open for private river exchanges during Bright Angel Trail closures. Due to some of the Bright Angel Trail closures, mule rides will be suspended Dec. 1, 2023-April 14, 2024.

No hikers or other trail users will be allowed to pass through closure areas under any circumstances. The National Park Service emphasizes the importance of always staying on designated trails, and visitors should not attempt to go over or around a closure. Trail users should pay attention to directions from park rangers, volunteers, construction flaggers, and signs placed along the trail.

Camping reservation dates during the expected closures for Havasupai Gardens and Bright Angel Campgrounds are unavailable to reserve on Rec.gov. Visitors can contact the Backcountry Information Center at e-mail us for more camping and hiking information. Commercial use authorization (CUA) permit holders can contact the permits office for questions related to their CUA permit at e-mail us

The multi-year Transcanyon Waterline construction contract, funded from the Line Item Construction and the Grand Canyon Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) fee programs, was awarded March 14, 2023, to Stronghold Engineering, Inc. (SEI), of Perris, Calif. Since receiving the award, SEI has worked on support facilities at construction sites near Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim as well as conducted waterline surveys and completed other preparatory logistics to develop the sequencing and coordination needed for the large and complex project. More information about the construction closures and the Transcanyon Waterline project are available on the Transcanyon Waterline project webpage.

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North Rim Transitions to Day Use Operations Beginning October 16, 2023

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Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim will begin day-use operations on October 16, 2023. Grand Canyon Lodge will close and no overnight accommodations, including camping, will be available to visitors to the North Rim. Visitors exploring the North Rim on, or after, October 16 should plan to be self-sufficient and bring enough food and water for the day.

The following services will be available:

The self-serve gas station, including diesel, will be available for as long as State Route 67 is open. It will only accept credit and debit cards.

After October 31, water will only be available at the North Rim Backcountry Information Center.

The entrance gate on State Route 67, which provides vehicular access to the North Rim, will be closed at sunset on November 30, 2023, or after the first major snowstorm if prior to that date. The North Rim Scenic Roads to Point Imperial and Cape Royal will be closed temporarily from October 16-18 for road maintenance.

The North Rim Visitor Center, operated by the Grand Canyon Conservancy, will close on October 15 at 6 p.m. The North Rim Backcountry Information Center will close for the season on October 31, 2023. The General Store, as well as all retail, food and beverage services will close at 11 a.m. on October 16.

All visitors traveling to the North Rim between now and November 30 should be prepared for winter driving conditions on State Route 67 and throughout the park. Snow, ice, and rain are common during this time of the year.

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Grand-Canyon-Ranger appellieren: Keine Liebesschlösser mehr

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Parkwächter am Grand Canyon in den USA haben Liebespaare dazu aufgefordert, keine Schlösser mehr anzubringen. Sie stellen eine tödliche Gefahr dar.

Man kann sich gut vorstellen, wie romantisch es sein muss, im Grand Canyon (US-Bundesstaat Arizona) ein Liebesschloss anzubringen. Vor dem Hintergrund der atemberaubenden Landschaft mit seinen fünf Millionen Jahre alten Schluchten und Plateaus besiegelt man die eigene Liebe mit einem Schloss und wirft den Schlüssel in die Tiefe. Ein Akt für die Ewigkeit? Nein, sagen die Parkwächter des Naturwunders, sondern einfach nur Müll. Und den müssen am Ende des Tages die Ranger beseitigen.

Sie fordern Liebespaare jetzt auf, keine Schlösser mehr im Park anzubringen. "Liebe ist stark, aber nicht so stark wie unsere Bolzenschneider", schreiben sie auf den verschiedenen Social-Media-Seiten des Nationalparks. "Die Leute denken, ein Schloss an einem Aussichtspunkt zu hinterlassen, sei eine großartige Möglichkeit, ihre Liebe für jemanden zu zeigen. Das ist es nicht. Schlösser an unseren Zäunen zu hinterlassen, ist illegale Abfallentsorgung und eine Form von Graffiti."

Die Parkwächter entfernen alle zwei Jahre Hunderte Schlösser und Ketten an den verschiedenen Aussichtspunkten. Parksprecher Jeff Stebbins sagte jetzt der "New York Times", das Anbringen solcher Schlösser erfülle den Tatbestand des Vandalismus.

Viel schlimmer aber als das ständige Entfernen sind die Folgen für die Tiere. Denn der Brauch des Liebesschlosses beinhaltet auch, dass der Schlüssel von den Liebenden weggeworfen wird. Was für Menschen eine große Geste ist, kann für einige Tiere aber den Tod bedeuten – zum Beispiel für die ohnehin vom Aussterben bedrohte Kondore.

"Kondore sind neugierige Tiere, die ähnlich wie kleine Kinder fremde Dinge mit dem Schnabel untersuchen. Kondore lieben außerdem glänzende Sachen. Entdecken sie eine Münze, eine Verpackung oder ein glänzendes Metallstück wie einen weggeworfenen Schlüssel, könnten sie ihn fressen", schreiben die Ranger in ihrem Aufruf.

Dazu haben sie das Röntgenbild eines Kondors angehängt, der operiert werden musste. In Kropf und Verdauungstrakt haben sich unverdauliche Metallgegenstände angesammelt, die ohne menschliche Hilfe den Tod des Tieres bedeutet hätten.

Die Parkwächter appellieren: "Tragen Sie Ihren Teil dazu bei, diese schlechten Gewohnheiten nicht zu unterstützen, und informieren Sie andere darüber, was mit den Wildtieren passieren kann, wenn dieses Verhalten anhält."

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92-year-old becomes oldest person to cross the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim on foot

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A 92-year-old man has proved age is just a number by breaking the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to cross the Grand Canyon.

The Guinness World Records said the man, Alfredo Aliaga Burdio, came all the way from Berlin, Germany to complete his trek on October 15, 2023, becoming the oldest person to cross the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim on foot (male).

“I have hiked in the Grand Canyon many times in my life,” he said. "I came here with my wife, Ingrid, quite a few times and we did cross it from rim to rim several times."

Burdio's wife died in 2006 from ALS, the GWR says, and he wanted to revisit the place they traveled. Together with his daughter and nine-year-old grandson, Burdio set out once again to hike the canyon rim to rim.

Again in October of 2022, he crossed the Grand Canyon yet again with his son in just four days. The GWR says it was during this trip that he came up with the idea to attempt to break the record.

“I had read about the previous record holder, Mr. John Jepkema whom I admired immensely,” said Burdio. “I knew that I was only a few months younger than Mr. Jepkema had been and thought that I had a great shot at setting a new record the following year.”

In January of 2023, Burdio says he began training for what would be the hike of a lifetime by walking 8 miles every day.

Finally, nine months later, Burdio accomplished his mission and broke the record. The GWR says he was also greeted by the Tucson Fire Department during his trek, who awarded him a patch, making him an honorary member of the fire department.

The entire trip took Burdio 34 hours and 2 minutes, but his actual hiking time was 21 hours and 15 minutes according to the GWR.

Burdio says he is now looking forward to all 2024 has in store for him.

"My son-in-law already has a cabin for October 2024, when we want to see if we can go with my son’s family,” he said. “But I have to see how I am doing then. I am getting older.”

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Grand Canyon National Park, a historical look

Link zu einer Reihe alter Bilder aus dem Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park announces reopening of trails and campground April 15

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The National Park Service is announcing Havasupai Gardens Campground and the Bright Angel and Tonto Trails will reopen for public use April 15, 2024. The areas were closed Dec. 1, 2023, for Transcanyon Waterline project construction activities.

Plateau Point Trail, from Havasupai Gardens to Plateau Point remains closed until June 20, 2024. During this time, Tonto Trail hikers will be able to use a trail detour to connect to and from the Bright Angel Trail.

The water filling station will be available for use at Havasupai Gardens. The water filling stations at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses are projected to be available by mid-May.

During the 4 ½-month closure period, construction workers replaced the water distribution lines throughout the Havasupai Gardens area and at the Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses.

Work is still in progress at the construction sites at the South Rim and the inner canyon. To date, the contractor facilities and two raw water tanks are nearly completed. Construction of the new South Rim water treatment plant, helibase building and landing pads are in progress. Excavation is being conducted for the new Phantom Ranch water treatment plant.

Future construction-related trail and campground closures for the project include:

Plateau Point Trail from the Tonto Trail junction to Plateau Point: June 21, 2024-March 14, 2025

Bright Angel Trail from Havasupai Gardens to Silver Bridge: Dec. 2, 2024-March 14, 2025

Bright Angel Campground: Dec. 19, 2024-May 9, 2025

Silver Bridge: Sept. 15-Dec. 31, 2025

The construction areas and schedule are subject to change and visitors are encouraged to check the park's website for the current operational status. Intermittent trail delays of up to 30 minutes in the vicinity of construction work may occur as necessary throughout the project.

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North Rim of Grand Canyon to reopen May 15 for 2024 season

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The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open on Wednesday, May 15 at 6 a.m. to mark the official start of the 2024 season. Grand Canyon Lodge and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will also commence their 2024 seasonal operations on this date.

Visitor services, including the campground, Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore and the Backcountry Information Office will open at 8 a.m. Information on daily Park Ranger programs will be available at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk through October 15. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations, including lodging, groceries, retail, food and beverage services, shower and laundry and the gas station, will also open May 15. The lodge dining room will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with reservations required for dinner service. The last day of the 2024 season for most commercial services will be October 15, 2024.

The North Rim will be open for day use until November 30, or when winter conditions prevail. The Backcountry Information Office will remain open through October 31. Once Highway 67 is closed for the season, the North Rim is only accessible to the public via non-motorized travel.

Overnight lodging reservations for North Rim facilities may be made by contacting Aramark Destinations at 877- 386-4383 or by visiting their website at grandcanyonnorth.com. For information on mule rides into the Grand Canyon, please call Grand Canyon Trail Rides at 435-679-8665 or visit their website at http://www.canyonrides.com.

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Bright Angel Point Trail Closure to Begin June 21 on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

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This phase of the construction project is expected to be completed by November 2024.

Beginning Friday, June 21, the Bright Angel Point Trail on the North Rim leading to Bright Angel Point will be closed for construction. This closure is necessary for the protection of staff and visiting public during an extensive repair effort to the Bright Angel Point Trail.

The trail will be closed to all pedestrian traffic as National Park Service (NPS) personnel replace asphalt, move large rocks, and operate equipment in these areas. The NPS emphasizes the importance of always staying on designated trails, and visitors should never attempt to go over or around a closure.

This phase of the construction project is expected to be completed by November 2024. Schedules and closures may change or be delayed due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Visitors are encouraged to check the park’s website at: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm or stop at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk for current and specific information regarding trail closures.

The Bright Angel Point Trail is located a quarter mile from the Grand Canyon Lodge and is often the first scenic viewpoint visitors experience after their arrival at the North Rim. Other scenic viewpoints along the Transept Trail and North Rim Scenic Roads should remain open for the duration of the project.

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Modified Transcanyon Waterline construction closures begin October 21, 2024

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The National Park Service (NPS) is announcing modified closure dates of inner canyon trails and facilities to support the Transcanyon Waterline (TCWL) construction project.

New inner canyon closure dates are:

Bright Angel Trail north of Havasupai Gardens and the Silver Bridge that crosses the Colorado River, Oct 21, 2024-May 14, 2025

Bright Angel Campground, Nov 4, 2024-May 14, 2025

Plateau Point Trail from the Tonto Trail Junction north of Havasupai Gardens to Plateau Point, Oct. 12, 2023-May 14, 2025

These closures are necessary for the protection of staff and visiting public during an extensive TCWL construction effort along the Bright Angel Trail. Visitors will still be able to use the upper portion of the Bright Angel Trail, from the South Rim to Havasupai Gardens, and the Tonto Trail during the Oct. 21, 2024-May 14 closure period. The South Kaibab Trail will remain open for all hikers.

No hikers or other trail users will be allowed to pass through closure areas under any circumstances. The NPS emphasizes the importance of always staying on designated trails, and visitors should not attempt to go over or around a closure. Trail users should pay attention to directions from park rangers, volunteers, construction flaggers, and signs placed along the trail.

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