Many Facilities on Grand Canyon’s North Rim to Close for Season on October 15, 2012

Many Facilities on Grand Canyon’s North Rim to Close for Season on October 15, 2012
Date: September 19, 2012
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958

Grand Canyon, Ariz. - The staff on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will begin to shut down most visitor services and facilities on Monday, October 15; but the North Rim will remain open to visitors through November 25 or until snow closes Highway 67 leading into the park.

Reservations for the Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim, operated by Forever Resorts, will be accepted through the night of October 15. All other concessioner-related visitor services, with the exception of the gift shop and gas station, will close at the end of the day on October 15. The last meal served at Grand Canyon Lodge will be breakfast, which ends at 10 a.m. on October 16. The final day for mule rides on the North Rim will be October 15. Self service gas and diesel fuel will continue to be available in the park through November 25 or until Highway 67 closes.

Starting October 16, one loop of campsites with limited services, such as portable toilets, will be available for a $12 fee on a first-come, first-served basis. Water will only be available outside the National Park Service administrative office. Both entrance and campground fees will be collected through November 25 or until snow closes Highway 67.

Regularly scheduled ranger-led programs will be offered through October 15. The National Park Service's North Rim Visitor Center hours of operation will be reduced to 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. seven days per week beginning October 16. The Backcountry Permit Office hours of operation will be reduced to Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. starting November 2. Both the Backcountry Permit Office and the North Rim Visitor Center will remain open through November 25 or until snow closes Highway 67.

The North Rim will close for the season at 8 a.m. on Monday, November 26. Hikers and cross country skiers will still be able to enter the North Rim of the park throughout the winter months, providing backcountry permits have been obtained through the park's South Rim Backcountry Information Center or at the Visitor Center at Pipe Spring National Monument, located in Fredonia, Arizona. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open year-round and can be reached by calling (928) 638-7875, Monday through Friday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST. Permit requests can be faxed year-round to (928) 638-2125. Backcountry information can be found on the park's Web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm.

The Kaibab Lodge, located four miles north of the park boundary, will have full services through October 31. The Kaibab Lodge will close for the season after breakfast November 1. The North Rim Country Store, also located outside of the park boundary across from the Kaibab Lodge, will remain open until noon November 1, weather permitting.

Jacob Lake Inn, restaurant and gas station, located 45 miles from the North Rim developed area, remains open year-round. The Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center at Jacob Lake will have reduced hours starting mid-October.

Arizona Department of Transportation officials will try to keep Highway 67 open through the end of November, but a major storm with heavy snowfall could close the road earlier. After October 15, visitors should be prepared for winter driving and travel conditions and are encouraged to call Arizona Highway information at (888) 411-7623 in advance of their trip to check on the status of Highway 67. Visitors to the area are reminded that Highway 89A remains open year round.

The South Rim and Inner Canyon facilities also remain open year-round.

Visitors can contact the North Rim Visitor Center at (928) 638-7864 for additional information on North Rim operations. For additional trip planning information, visit the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/grca or call the park's main information line at (928) 638-7888.