Grand Canyon trails set to reopen as Transcanyon Waterline work progresses
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Two popular trails on the South Rim at Grand Canyon National Park will reopen on April 15 following extended closures, according to a Thursday news release. The Havasupai Gardens Campground will also reopen.
The Bright Angel Trail, often used by hikers on rim-to-rim adventures, and the Tonto Trail have been closed since Dec. 1, 2023, as crews work to rebuild aging — and fragile — water pipelines that carry potable water for all facilities on the South Rim.
The $208 million Transcanyon Waterline Project started last year and is expected to be complete in 2027. Crews are replacing a 12½-mile water line that is prone to breaks. It was built in the 1960s.
During the 4½-month closure, water distribution lines were replaced throughout the Havasupai Gardens area and at the Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses. Now the water filling station at Havasupai Gardens is set to reopen on April 15, with the resthouses coming online by mid-May, the news release said.
Plateau Point Trail, from Havasupai Gardens to Plateau Point remains closed until June 20, 2024. Tonto Trail hikers will be able to use a detour to connect to the Bright Angel Trail until then.
Two raw water tanks for the South Rim are nearly complete, according to the National Park Service. A new water treatment plant, a helibase building and landing pads are under construction. Excavation has begun 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.
When the project is finished, the original 12½-mile waterline will be much shorter. The water intake at Roaring Springs will continue to provide water for the North Rim, but the intake for the South Rim is moving to Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch.
Since 2010, 85 major breaks in the Transcanyon Waterline have disrupted water delivery — a critical situation for visitors and about 2,500 year-round residents. The water is also used in the event of a fire — and the area has 800 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The park service notes that repairing a break often costs $25,000 or more.
The project is expected to meet water supply needs for the next 50 years.
“This huge undertaking is an example of the work taking place in national parks across the country to repair or replace vital infrastructure that provides visitors with safer and more enjoyable experiences,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “For too long, large scale needs in national parks could not be properly addressed due to a lack of funding. Bipartisan commitment from funding sources, including the Great American Outdoors Act and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, is truly making a difference and enabling the National Park Service to effectively tackle critical upgrades.”
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