Grand Canyon to Close North Rim to Overnight Visitors This Month
The North Rim will transition into day-use operations with no overnight accommodations or camping available on Oct. 16.
Nico De Pasquale Photography/Getty Images
The Grand Canyon’s North Rim will close to overnight visitors this month as the park prepares to usher in winter.
The North Rim will transition into day-use operations on Oct. 16 with no overnight accommodations or camping available, according to the National Park Service. Travelers who do plan to go are warned to bring enough of their own food and water to last the day.
A self-serve gas station will remain available as long as State Route 67 is open, but the NPS said the entrance gate on that road will close at sunset on Nov. 30 or after the first major snowstorm, whichever is first. After Oct. 31, visitors will only be able to access water at the North Rim Backcountry Information Center.
The NPS said the North Rim scenic roads to Point Imperial and Cape Royal will also temporarily close from Oct. 16 to Oct. 18 for road maintenance.
“All visitors traveling to the North Rim between now and Nov. 30 should be prepared for winter driving conditions on State Route 67 and throughout the park,” the NPS noted. “Snow, ice, and rain are common during this time of the year.”
The North Rim, which is much less visited than the popular South Rim, typically closes for winter and reopens in May. From the North Rim, travelers can visit gorgeous lookout points like Bright Angel Point and the Redwall Bridge.
In the winter, travelers can access the North Rim for backcountry camping with a backcountry permit, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
The South Rim is open year-round.
In the coming years, the Grand Canyon will get a bit harder to access in general as the NPS prepares for the construction of the Transcanyon Waterline. Several trails and campgrounds will be closed to the public as a result, implemented on a rolling basis through 2025.
Despite the North Rim closures, winter is still a great time to visit the Grand Canyon with lower prices and fewer crowds.
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