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GCNP limited reopening
Posted: May 13 2020 3:42 pm
by hikeaz
The Grand Canyon National Park will open its South Rim entrance on Friday, May 15.
The park will open for incoming traffic from 6-10 a.m., though the park also recommends arriving no later than 9-9:30 a.m.
Once you enter the park, you're allowed to stay the full day but overnight accommodations are not available.
Commercial services within the park will remain closed, so make sure you bring enough food and water to be self-sufficient.
OPEN:
Viewpoints:
Pipe Creek Vista.
Shoshone Point.
Twin Overlooks.
Duck on a Rock.
Thor's Hammer.
No Name Point.
Navajo Point along East Desert View Drive. (Vehicles will be directed to turn around at Navajo Point.)
Picnic areas near:
Shoshone Point Pavilion.
Thor's Hammer.
BuggeIn Picnic area.
Will there be restroom facilities available?
Restroom facilities will be available by the South Entrance Grand Canyon National Park sign, picnic area east of Yaki Road, Shoshone Point and Buggeln picnic area.
Rim trail and all Canyon Trails are CLOSED as is the Cameron-side park entrance.
Re: GCNP is (slightly) reopening after covid.
Posted: May 13 2020 3:48 pm
by DixieFlyer
@hikeaz
It looks to me like the park is only open from May 15-18, and is only open for driving access to specified viewpoints. Hiking trails are not open.
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/gra ... points.htm
Re: GCNP is (slightly) reopening after covid.
Posted: May 13 2020 3:52 pm
by hikeaz
@DixieFlyer
i am surmising that they will 'ramp-up' the opening come Sunday, but after all this IS the federal government....
This park comment may be promising...."Additional access is planned for visitors over Memorial Day weekend, which includes extending entrance station hours and access to more roads,
hiking trails and viewpoints."
I can see the advertising on hiking masks at the Park..... "
uphill rated"!
Re: GCNP is (slightly) reopening after covid.
Posted: May 13 2020 8:07 pm
by wildwesthikes
I have an idea on how they could prevent traffic backups.
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: May 20 2020 2:14 pm
by joebartels
News Release Date: May 20, 2020 wrote:
Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim will be open May 22-25 for limited entry and recreational access.
The South entrance will be open from 4-10 a.m. for visitors to enter the park.
The entrance will close at 10 a.m. and visitors already inside the park can remain for day use access until sunset.
Entrances fees should be paid at automated fee machines or by purchasing a pass in advance at third-party vendors or online.
The following areas and services will be open for visitors:
• Day hiking on inner canyon trails.
• Limited food and beverage services at Market Plaza, Bright Angel Bicycles, El Tovar patio, and near hotels.
• Bicycle and wheelchair rentals at Bright Angel Bicycles.
• The Rim Trail and Greenway Trail system located outside of the residential area.
• East Desert View Drive is open until Navajo Point, where vehicles will turnaround.
With public health in mind, the following facilities and areas remain closed at this time:
• The East entrance on the South Rim and the Desert View Watchtower area.
• Visitor centers, museums, and shuttle buses.
• Lodging, restaurants, campgrounds on the rim, camper services and trailer village.
• Center Road and access through the South Rim residential housing area.
• The Colorado River, North Rim and Tuweep area.
Existing backcountry permits for hikers camping overnight will be honored;
however, no new overnight camping permits for the inner canyon will be issued.
When hiking below the rim, a method to treat water should be included with gear.
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/gra ... th-rim.htm
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: May 26 2020 5:13 pm
by hikeaz
Does anyone else hear the Hokey-Pokey being played in the background?
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/ ... update.htm
Buried 2 or 3 layers in their website is:
"Grand Canyon National Park will be Closed Tuesday, May 26, Wednesday May 27, and Thursday. May 28, 2020."
During the upcoming weekend, (May 29 through June 1) there
may again be limited South Rim access and operating hours. Details will be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
Really allows folks to
plan; huh?
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: May 26 2020 9:06 pm
by ShatteredArm
hikeaz wrote: ↑May 26 2020 5:13 pm
Really allows folks to
plan; huh?
They didn't notify those of us with permits until a little over a week before Memorial Day weekend... I'm not sure they even know what's going on, probably a lot of politics happening right now with public health vs. tourist $$$.
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: May 28 2020 5:14 pm
by hikeaz
Friday 5/29 - The south entrance to the South Rim will be open daily from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. for limited day use.
Visitors who enter the park by 2 p.m. will be able to remain in the park until sunset.
The Tuweep campground will also open for day use access (take 2 spares).
Day hiking on inner canyon trails and existing backcountry permits for overnight camping will be honored. NPS won’t be issuing any additional backcountry permits.
Next Friday, the Mather campground will reopen for existing reservations and the North Rim will open for day use.
Finally, lodging at the North and South rims will begin a phased reopening some time in June. TBD
There are currently no current plans to reopen the east (Cameron) entrance of the South Rim, the Desert View watchtower area and Desert View campground.
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: Jun 01 2020 3:14 pm
by hikeaz
Grand Canyon National Park Lodges to re-open starting June 5th.
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: Jun 01 2020 4:13 pm
by big_load
My Tucson buddy started his North Rim to Utah leg of the AZT on 5/23, and he just resurfaced. His report will be interesting.
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: Sep 02 2020 11:38 am
by louie
Anyone have any info on accessing South Bass Trail through Havasupai lands? Is the gate locked? Are they allowing access and if not is there a way to bypass tribal lands to get to the trail-head?
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: Sep 02 2020 12:05 pm
by hikeaz
louie wrote: ↑Sep 02 2020 11:38 am
Anyone have any info on accessing South Bass Trail through Havasupai lands? Is the gate locked? Are they allowing access and if not is there a way to bypass tribal lands to get to the trail-head?
Any
existing BC permits are being honored, so I would suppose the Tribe will be open to taking your $$. Until the park opens the (nicer than Pasture Wash) Boundary road (12th of never?) there is no viable 'work-around'. I would email the BCO if you want
their take on it. Pasture Wash Road was dry last W/E.
Hello to the censors!!
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: Sep 02 2020 12:05 pm
by nonot
gate is closed, you have to walk around the rez boundary. Park service is recommending to park near the gate and hoof it from there.
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: Sep 20 2020 7:36 pm
by louie
nonot wrote: ↑Sep 02 2020 12:05 pm
gate is closed, you have to walk around the rez boundary. Park service is recommending to park near the gate and hoof it from there.
So I was eyeballing the extra mileage from where the tribe has locked the gate and am thinking what maybe 3-5 miles? From looking at satellite photos there appear to be roads that break off from there that go north around the tribal lands and reconnect to pasture wash just north of Big Jim Tank, but no clue what the roads are like of if there is access.
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: Sep 20 2020 8:42 pm
by chumley
louie wrote: ↑Sep 20 2020 7:36 pm
there appear to be roads that break off from there that go north around the tribal lands and reconnect to pasture wash just north of Big Jim Tank
By foot, the so-called Boundary Road is fine for hiking, but there's no legal vehicular access to Pasture Wash that doesn't pass through the reservation.
Re: GCNP limited reopening
Posted: Sep 23 2020 7:12 am
by Grimey
Water restrictions and closure of North Rim campground:
https://ktar.com/story/3580515/bbroken- ... north-rim/