Places to see in Arizona

Grand Canyon Backcountry Updates

• Inner Canyon Pipeline Break - date posted May 25, 2012

  Due to a pipeline break in the inner canyon near Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon National Park, rangers are advising hikers to be prepared to access and treat or filter creek water below Supai Tunnel and above Phantom Ranch on the North Kaibab Trail. Potable water is currently not available at Roaring Springs or Cottonwood Campground on the North Kaibab Trail. Potable water is available on the North and South Rims, at locations along the Bright Angel Trail at Phantom Ranch, and at Supai Tunnel on the North Kaibab Trail. The National Park Service expects to have the pipeline repaired sometime early next week. For additional information, please contact the Backcountry Information Center. - 41 hours ago

• Drinking Water in the Cross-Canyon Corridor - date posted May 25, 2012

  Purified drinking water is available year-round at Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds and at Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailheads. The list below reflects seasonal changes and will be updated when water is turned on or off. North Kaibab Trailhead: water turned ON Supai Tunnel: water turned ON Roaring Springs Day Use Area: water turned OFF Cottonwood Campground: water turned OFF Bright Angel Campground: ON year-round (except when being repaired) Indian Garden: ON year-round (except when being repaired) Bright Angel Trail, Three-Mile Resthouse: water turned ON Bright Angel Trail, Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse: water turned ON Bright Angel Trailhead: ON year-round South Kaibab Trailhead: ON year-round Seasonal water stations are usually turned off for the winter sometime between Oct 10th and 30th dependent on location and associated temperatures. Water available (year-round) on the South Rim at the Backcountry Information Center in the lobby. Water available (year-round) on the North Rim outside the Backcountry Information Center. Additional water bottle filling stations can be found on the Go "Green" and Refill Your Water Bottles web page. Plan Ahead and Prepare: A backup method to treat water, should the pipeline break, must always be included as part of your first aid kit. Backcountry hikers should always carry extra water. - 41 hours ago

• Trails Update - date posted May 25, 2012

  SUMMER HEAT WARNING: Elevated hiking risk due to extreme summer heat. High temperatures at the bottom of the canyon in the shade range from 100°F to 115°F (35°C - 42°C). Low temperatures at the bottom of the canyon range from 70°F to 80°F (20°C - 25°C). Hikers entering the canyon in the middle of summer do so at their own risk. Keep hikes short and rest in the shade between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Better yet, start hikes early and plan on reaching your destination or exiting the canyon no later than 10 am. Flash flood and lightning risks remain elevated until the end of the monsoon season, usually in early September. Hike Smart! Visit www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hike-smart.htm for more info. Hikers without a permit can stop by the Backcountry Information Center to request a last minute permit. We are busy, and hikers may need to wait a couple of days before obtaining a permit. Last minute permits and waitlist numbers are issued by the Backcountry Information Center, located inside the park on both the South Rim and the North Rim. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily, year round, for walk-in visitors from 8 am to noon and 1-5 pm Mountain Standard Time. The North Rim Backcountry Information Center (located in the administrative building) is open daily mid-May to mid-October for walk-in visitors from 8 am to noon and 1-5 pm Mountain Standard Time. - 46 hours ago

• Road Conditions for Remote Trailheads - date posted May 21, 2012

  NORTH RIM Remote roads on the North Rim inside Grand Canyon National Park have been cleared. Swamp Ridge Road and Point Sublime can be accessed from US Forest Service roads or from inside the park. Trees still come down daily, so work will be on-going as we hear about falls. For Point Sublime Road, high clearance 4x4 is recommended. ------------------------------------------ It is not uncommon for trees to fall and block access to remote trailheads. When you encounter a road blocked by fallen trees, what should you do? Report the location and diameter of the tree to Grand Canyon park dispatch (928-638-7805) as soon as possible. The park will assign staff to clear the road. If an appropriate (not blocking the road and not damaging vegetation) place to park is available, park your vehicle and continue to the trailhead on foot. Do not drive off-road attempting to bypass the obstacle, doing so can cause resource damage. - 5 days ago

• Report from the North Rim - date posted May 15, 2012

  The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park opened for the summer season on May 15, 2012. - 11 days ago

• North Rim Yurt - date posted Apr 17, 2012

  The North Rim yurt is closed for reservations. The North Rim yurt, placed near the North Kaibab Trailhead, can be reserved from the Monday following Thanksgiving through April 15. The yurt accommodates six people and is outfitted with a table, chairs, and wood-burning stove. A portable toilet is nearby. Required permits are available through the Backcountry Information Center. For more information see www.nps/gov/grca/planyourvisit/winter-recreation.htm - 5 weeks ago

• Spring - Summer 2012 Backpacking Season - date posted Apr 5, 2012

  Visit www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/trail-closures.htm for information regarding the availability of permits for spring / summer 2012. - 7 weeks ago

• Public Health Alert - Rabies - date posted Apr 5, 2012

  A fox exhibiting abnormal behavior was euthanized in November 2011 near Phantom Ranch along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Earlier that month, another fox collected near Phantom Ranch tested positive for rabies. Rabies is considered a natural wildlife disease and will likely run its course. To reduce your risk of injury or illness from an animal encounter (fox, bat, elk, mountain lion, squirrel) please follow these simple guidelines: educate yourself and your children about proper behavior around animals, especially concerning to animals common to the area you will be visiting don't touch, pick-up, or approach wild animals stay together as a group keep food appropriately stored at all times never feed wildlife wild animals approaching humans is not normal - be aware of your surroundings and keep your distance consider sleeping inside a tent For more information read the Public Health Rabies Site Bulletin. - 7 weeks ago