Grand Canyon TC Waterline Closures 2023-2026

[chumley]

The following closures are scheduled for the construction of the transcanyon pipeline over the next two+ years.
All of BA Trail will be closed most of this winter (23-24), and the lower half of BA plus BA campground closed again most of next winter too (24-25) (I'm unsure of other Phantom Ranch facilities). Plateau Point Tr will be closed for the full duration of the project.

Check with the park website for updates or changes to this schedule: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Please be mindful of these closures when planning your hike or backpacking trips:

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: Nov. 16, 2023-April 4, 2024

• 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.
... No hikers or other trail users will be allowed to pass through closure areas under any circumstances.

[azbackpackr]

I notice the closures carefully avoid intruding on commercial river season hiker exchanges. Private boaters will have to do their exchanges via Hermit or other rim to river trail. (Best option IMO is Granite Rapid camp layover two nights, hikers do the exchange via Monument Creek/Hermit Trail. Works very well. Laying over at Hermit river camp is crappy, compared to Granite/Monument.) As for that time when one bridge is closed, hiker exchanges are best done at Pipe Creek anyway, and don't bother crossing any bridges. A lot of private boaters don't know that, unfortunately. I found that out the hard way when I tried to set it up one time.

[hikeaz]

Hiker and runner advisory: from Monday Oct. 16, through Friday Oct. 20, 2023.
Heavy-lift helicopters will be delivering construction equipment and supplies for the Transcanyon Waterline project —to Havasupai Gardens, Phantom Ranch, and various other locations along Bright Angel Trail. Hikers and runners using Bright Angel Trail may experience intermittent trail delays. There will be a total of 70 flights this week.

[big_load]

Hikers and runners using Bright Angel Trail may experience intermittent trail delays.

Or falling equipment and supplies.

[hikeaz]

I was at I.G. when the copter dropped a whole set of outhouses. Too bad fires are banned in GC.

[chumley]

Closures went into effect yesterday.
Current map as drawn by nps:

[Pivo]

Visitors won’t be able to stay overnight in hotels at Grand Canyon National Park after a series of breaks in the only pipeline that serves the popular tourist destination.
The restrictions will run throughout the Labor Day holiday when hotels are near or at capacity, Grand Canyon spokesperson Joelle Baird said Wednesday. It's an unprecedented move, even for a water line that has experienced frequent failures, including four recent significant breaks.

https://www.ksut.org/2024-08-28/breaks- ... otel-stays

[big_load]

It's not surprising. It seemed like there was a repair every couple hundred feet between Phantom Ranch and Ribbon Falls. It can't be much different the rest of the way.

[hikeaz]

News Release — Additional Water Restrictions Implemented at the South Rim
Beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will implement additional water restrictions and conservation measures.
Crews have repaired the broken section of the Transcanyon Waterline; however, due to a mechanical issue at Havasupai Gardens, pumping has not yet resumed to the South Rim. Until the mechanical issue is resolved and water in storage tanks reaches sustainable levels, the South Rim will remain under heightened water restrictions and conservation measures.
Under the additional water restrictions, the following changes will take effect:
Residents and visitors are required (?) to reduce flushing in homes and hotels.
Camper Services, (showers/laundry) operated by Delaware North, will close beginning Saturday, Aug. 9.
Water spigots in Mather Campground will be turned off Saturday, Aug. 9. Restrooms will remain operational.

[hikeaz]

Starting Wednesday, 12/17/25 visitors can reserve overnight accommodations at SOUTH RIM park lodges, including:

El Tovar
Bright Angel Lodge
Maswik Lodge
Yavapai Lodge
Trailer Village

For now, the park will keep enhanced water restrictions until the tanks reach safe levels, then return to normal conservation practices.

For TRAIL-RELATED waterline closures keep reading...

Grand Canyon National Park is announcing Transcanyon Waterline (TCWL) construction closure-related work for 2026.
Rockfalls occurred along a section of the River Trail in August, causing a 50-foot section of the trail to collapse and triggered the need for additional assessments and work to rebuild the trail.
Expected visitor-use area closures include:
Plateau Point Trail north of the Tonto Trail junction to Plateau Point: Oct. 12, 2023-June 30, 2026
River Trail east of River Resthouse to South Kaibab Trail junction: Oct. 21, 2024-June 30, 2026
Silver Bridge: Oct. 21, 2024-June 30, 2026
The North Kaibab Trail is currently closed north of the Clear Creek Trail junction due to damage from the 2025 Dragon Bravo fire. TCWL construction activities are planned along the North Kaibab Trail in 2026 between Cottonwood Campground and the Roaring Springs Pumphouse.
Trail users will need to use Black Bridge through June 30, 2026, to cross the Colorado River.
The Bright Angel Trail is open from the South Rim trailhead to Pipe Creek Beach for use up and down the trail; there will be no access to Phantom Ranch via the River Trail.
The River Resthouse near the end of the Bright Angel Trail is open.
Hikers may continue to traverse between the Bright Angel Trail and the South Kaibab Trail via the Tonto Trail.