Community News

News Release: Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim to Open May 15 for 2016 Season

April 19, 2016

 Grand Canyon, Ariz. – The gate at the entrance to North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open on Sunday, May 15 at 7:30 am; and Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim, a Forever Resorts property, and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will commence their 2016 seasonal operations. Although the gate to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will not open until May 15, Arizona Department of Transportation will open Highway 67 at Jacob Lake at 1 pm on Friday, May 13.

 All services provided by the National Park Service, including the visitor center, Backcountry Information Center, and campground, as well as the Grand Canyon Association bookstore, will be available on May 15 at 8 am. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations including lodging, groceries, camper services, food services, and gas station, will also open May 15. Lunch will be served starting at 11:30 am, lodge check-in will begin at 4 pm, and seating for dinner will begin at 4:45 pm.

 Rangers will present the first scheduled program, Grand Canyon Geology, on the veranda of the Grand Canyon Lodge May 15 at 3 pm. All ranger programs are listed in "The Pocket Map" (North Rim: 2016 Season), available online at www.nps.gov/grca and at the North Entrance Station. In celebration of 100 years of the National Park Service, the North Rim of Grand Canyon will host several centennial events, available at https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.

The last day for most concessioner services and regularly scheduled ranger-led programs will be October 15, 2016. The National Park Service will continue its operations including the visitor center, bookstore, and Backcountry Information Office through October 31. November 1 through December 1 the North Rim will be open for day use only (no overnight parking) unless snow closes Highway 67 prior to that date. From November 1 through December 1 pay-at-the-pump gas and diesel will still be available and visitors will continue to have access to Point Imperial and Bright Angel viewpoints, as well as the North Kaibab Trailhead.

After October 31, camping will be available to those that walk or hike in (no car camping) at the North Rim Campground and yurt, provided a backcountry use permit has been obtained - these permits will continue to be available through the South Rim Backcountry Information Center and at the visitor Center at Pipe Spring National Monument located in Fredonia, Arizona.

The Kaibab Lodge located four miles north of the park boundary will have full service from May 15 to October 20. The North Rim Country Store, located across from the Kaibab Lodge will be open May 13 to October 28. Jacob Lake Inn, restaurant and gas station located 45 miles from the North Rim remains open year-round. The Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center at Jacob Lake will be open May 14 to October 18; from October 19 through December 1, that visitor center will be open on weekends from 8 am to 4 pm.

Advance overnight lodging reservations for North Rim facilities may be made by contacting Forever Resorts at 877- 386-4383 or by visiting their website at www.grandcanyonforever.com. For reservations from outside of the United States, please call 480-337-1320. Advance reservations for the North Rim Campground (May 15-October 31) must be made by calling 877-444-6777 or online at www.recreation.gov. For information on Grand Canyon Trail Rides please call 435-679-8665 or visit their website at www.canyonrides.com.

For North Rim trip-planning information, visit http://go.nps.gov/1ec1y9.