Plan your Grand Canyon vacation!  Check back here often to find out what's new at Grand Canyon National Park.  For a more detailed schedule of daily events at the Grand Canyon you may click here to visit our Grand Canyon Schedule Calendar.  For complete listings of services, activities, tours and events, visit the official Grand Canyon National Park website.

Endangered Species Day 2012  posted 5/01/2012

Location:  Grand Canyon National Park, 8:00am - 9:00pm
Free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Shannan Marcak at 928.638.7958.

Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people young and old to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions that people can take to help protect our nation's disappearing wildlife and last remaining open space.  Grand Canyon National Park is home to at least seven endangered species.  Grand Canyon is celebrating Endangered Species Day in conjunction with Celebrate Wildlife Day on Saturday, May19, 2012.

Endangered Species Day, May 18, 2012 Calendar of Programs:

Special Program: 11:00am
Mather Point Amphitheatre
Sentry Milk-Vetch (Endangered Plant)
By Lori Makarick, Vegetation Program Manager, and Jan Busco, Horticulturist

Evening Program, 7:30pm
Shrine of Ages Auditorium
Grand Canyon Endangered Species
By Park Guide Jack Howell

Celebrate Wildlife Day, May 19, 2012, Calendar of Programs:

Activities for Kids
10:00am - 4:00pm
Grand Canyon Visitor Center

Special Programs and live animal viewing throughout the day.

Evening Program, 7:30pm
Shrine of Ages Auditorium
Desert Bighorn Sheep
By Zen Mocarski, Information and Education Manager, AZG&F Region 3

Special Indoor Programs, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Grand Canyon Visitor Center Auditorium

10:00am - Native Fish - Emily Omana Smith - Fisheries Biologist
12:00pm - Bison Management in Grand Canyon - Martha Hahn - Chief of Science & Resource Management
2:00pm - Wildlife Adaptations - Zen Mocarski - Information and Education Program Manager AZG&F Region 3
4:30pm - Mexican Spotted Owl - Aida Sovie - Wildlife Biologist

Special Outdoor Programs, Saturday,  May 19, 2012

11:00am - Mather Point Amphitheatre - Ravens - Erin Whittaker - Park Ranger
1:00pm - Visitor Center Courtyard - Squirrel Olympics - Garciela Avila - Environmental Education Specialist
3:00pm - Mather Point Amphitheatre - Raptors - Pat Brown - Park Guide

Special Evening Program, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Shrine of Ages Auditorium
7:30pm - Evening Program: Desert Bighorn Sheep - Zen Mocarski - Information and Education Program Manager AZG&F Region 3

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North Rim To Open May 15, 2012  posted 5/01/2012

The Grand Canyon's North Rim to open May 15 for the 2012 Summer Season.

With the opening of highway 67 on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open for the 2012 Summer Season, and the Grand Canyon Trail rides will commence their summer operations.  For lodging availabilities you can visit our Grand Canyon Inn website or call 1.800.635.9203 for reservations information.

The first scheduled ranger program, Grand Canyon Geology, will be on the back porch of the Grand Canyon Lodge at 3pm followed by a program about the California Condor at 4:30pm.  The first evening program will be held on May 15, at 8pm in the Lodge Auditorium.  All ranger programs will be listed in "The Guide" (North Rim: 2012 Season), a free publication distributed at the North Entrance Station, the North rim Visitor Center, other contact stations in the park, and online at www.nps.gov/grca once it is available.

The last day for most concessioner services and regularly scheduled ranger-led programs will be October 15, 2012.  the National Park Service will continue its operations including the North Rim Visitor Center and Bookstore, as well as the Backcountry Permits Office through November 25, unless snow closes Highway 67 prior to that date.  During this shoulder season, campsites with limited services such as portable toilets, will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. 

While Highway 67 closes seasonally, US Highway 89A to Jacob Lake, typically remains open as weather permits for businesses and visitors to the area.

The North Rim, which lies at the southern end of the Kaibab Plateau at approximately 8,500 feet in elevation, is only open during the summer and offers spectacular canyon views.  Points of interest include Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Point Sublime, North Kaibab Trail, and Bright Angel Point.  the South Rim, which sits at approximately 7,200 feet in elevation, is open year round.

For a copy of the park's free Trip Planner, please call 928.638.7888 or write, Trip Planner, Grand Canyon National Park, PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 USA.  The Trip Planner is also available on the internet at http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/upload/trip-planner-grca.pdf .  "The Guide" for the North Rim will be available online by May 15.  Please check back with the Valle Travel Stop website for updates.

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2012 Grand Canyon Field Institute Class Schedules Available  posted 5/01/2012

Trip Planner (contains active links).  Backcountry Trip Planning Included.  A handy source of information & maps.

How will you experience the Canyon?  read the 2012 Trip Planner before you visit the park.  Contains useful information and essential maps.  this pdf "newspaper" contains active links that can connect you to more detailed information.  The Trip Planner is formatted to print on standard letter-size paper.  Click here for download.

2012 Spring South Rim Guide, March 1, 2012 - May 23, 2012
The South Rim Village.  Shuttle Route and Road Map is included.  Click here for download.

2012 Season North Rim Guide
Contains maps, schedules and information.  North Rim lodging and camping along with most other visitor services within the park are open from mid-May to mid-October.  Reserve lodging and campsites as far ahead as possible.  Click here for download.

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Exciting New Exhibits  posted 5/01/2012

Exciting new exhibits installed at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center (South Rim).

Grand Canyon National Park recently completed installation of new interpretive and orientation exhibits at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center located near Mather Point, on the South Rim.  The exhibits include opportunities for interactive trip lanning, a large map of the Canyon that allows users to view video footage from locations around the Park, and exhibits highlighting the cultural and natural history of the Canyon.

According to Grand Canyon Chief of Interpretation Judy Hellmich-Bryan, "These new exhibits build on the park's new interpretive orientation film, and on improvements completed last year in the Mather Point and visitor center plaza area, to make the Grand Canyon visitor Center an educational and inspiring first stop for visitors."

In addition to the more traditional exhibits:  Grand Canyon history and river enthusiasts will enjoy seeing the Glen - an historic boat from the park's museum collection, which is part of an exhibit highlighting the past efforts to preserve Grand Canyon and the Colorado River from the construction of a series of dams.  For those who like things a little more high-tech, the exhibits also include a Science on a Sphere component that uses technology developed by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration to project 360-degree global imagery that tells the story of the development of the Canyon.

The exhibits, which cost approximately $2.2 million to design, fabricate and install, were designed by EDX of Seattle, Washington, and fabricated and installed by Color-Ad of Manassas, Virginia.  The exhibits were funded through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which allows recreation fees collected in a park to be used to enhance the park's visitor services.

To learn more about the Grand Canyon Visitor Center's new exhibits, please contact Grand Canyon Chief of Interpretation judy Hellmich-Bryan at 928.638.7760.

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Grand Canyon Field Institute Classes South Rim  posted 5/01/2012

2012 Grand Canyon Field Institute Schedule of Classes
Topics include geology, ecology, history, archaeology, photography and more.  The Grand Canyon Field Institute offers guided educational tours at Grand Canyon National Park led by expert instructors while backpacking, camping, hiking, and whitewater rafting.  Click here for a pdf version of the 2012 Schedule of Classes!

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Bicycle Rentals & Guided Tours  posted 5/01/2012

Bicycle rentals and guided bicycle tours available on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

Bicycle rental services, located by the Visitor Center (South Rim) as well as guided daily bicycle tours will be provided by Bright Angel Bicycles.  There will also be a "grab and go" food and beverage service targeted toward hikers, bikers, and pedestrians.

These services will be available from approximately may 15 through October 15 (weather permitting).

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2012 Grand Canyon Star Party  posted 5/01/2012

June 16-23, 2012 (Both Rims of Park)

For eight days in June, park visitors will explore the wonders of the night sky on Grand Canyon national Park's South Rim with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, and on the North Rim with the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix.

Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their expertise and will offer free nightly astronomy programs and free telescope viewing.

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Kolb Brothers Exhibit Continues  posted 5/01/2012

The Amazing Kolb Brothers exhibit continues through the month of May, 2012, and is free and open to the public from 9am - 5pm daily.  To view this unparalleled exhibit, visit Kolb Studio, located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.  For further information contact Helen Ranney ( hranney@grandcanyon.org ) or call 928.863.3877.

The Amazing Kolb Brothers - A Grand Life at the Grand Canyon.

The Kolb Brothers are legend at the Grand Canyon for their pioneering spirits and treasure trove of photographs.  Ellsworth and Emery arrived at the South Rim in the dawning years of the 20th Century, long before the Grand Canyon was designated a national park.

Stories of their adventures, their family, and their enduring photography business on the rim are told for the first time in exhibit form and displayed in their historic studio.

Presented by the Grand Canyon Association, Northern Arizona University's Cline Library Special Collections and Archives, and Grand Canyon National Park.  Additional funding is provided by Pink Jeep Tours, Las Vegas and Sedona, and Ms. Penny Schultz.

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South Rim Visitor Center Re-Modeling  posted 4/01/2012

The South Rim Desert View Visitor Center (on the South Rim by Mather Point.).  Stop by the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and the Books and More bookstore across the Plaza.  outdoor exhibits provide information about Grand Canyon National Park and what to do when you arrive.  Watch the film, "Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder," in the theater.  The movie is 20 minutes long and starts on the hour and the half hour.  From the Visitor Center, it's just a short walk, or shuttle ride, to Mather Point for a spectacular view of the Canyon.  Many visitors choose to park their vehicles in one of the four lots that surround the Visitor Center, then use the free shuttle buses to get around the Village and out to the scenic overlooks.

Download the South Rim Transit Map by clicking here.  It shows Grand Canyon Village shuttle bus routes, bus stops, points of interest and parking lots.

Please be aware that during March and April, 2012, areas in and around the Visitor Center will be undergoing construction.  Remodeling of the Visitor Center interior and installation of new exhibits will take place between March 20th and April 7.  During the construction process, portions of the Visitor Center may be closed, but there will always be rangers on duty to answer questions.  Outside, on the Plaza, a new bicycle rental facility is under construction.  This building is adjacent to parking lot 4 and is in the same location as the temporary structure used by the pilot bicycle rental operation (in operation during the 2010 and 2011 summer seasons.)

The recently improved Mather Point and the Rim Trail are open.  You may walk to the canyon rim by following the signed pedestrian paths leading from the Visitor Center Area to the Rim Trail.  You may still see workers completing construction projects and cleaning up areas.

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2012 Grand Canyon Star Party  posted 4/01/2012

June 16-23, 2012 (Both Rims of Park)
For eight days in June, park visitors will explore the wonders of the night sky on Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and on the North Rim with the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix. 

Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their expertise and will offer free nightly astronomy programs and free telescope viewing.

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Annual Solar Eclipse Viewing, May 20th  posted 4/01/2012

On Sunday, May 20th, visitors to either rim will experience an annular eclipse of the sun, with ranger-assisted viewing opportunities starting at 5:28 pm.  On the South Rim, NASA astronomers will also offer lectures prior to the eclipse and will join with visiting amateur astronomers to share their telescopes with the public, both during the eclipse and again that night.  Check bulletin boards and visitor centers for details.

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Celebration Wildlife Day, May 19, 2012  posted 4/01/2012

In conjunction with Endangered Species Day, Friday, May 18, 2012.

Special Program:  11:00am

Mather Point Amphitheatre
Sentry Milk-Vetch (Endangered plant)
By, Lori Makarick, Vegetation Program Manager and Jan Busco, Horticulturist

Evening Program, 7:30pm
Shrine of Ages Auditorium
Desert Bighorn Sheep by Zen Mocarski, Information and Education Manager, AZG&F Region 3

Family friendly Activities at Grand Canyon Visitor Center.  Join the rangers and other partners at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center to learn more about the park's wildlife and endangered species.  Family friendly activities take place from 10am - 4pm

• Wildlife Tracks

• Face Painting

• Telemetry

• Bird Outing

• hummingbird Activity

• Owl Pellets Discovery

• Scavenger Hunt

Special indoor and outdoor programs, interactive exhibits, educational demonstrations and live animal demonstrations throughout the day at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.  For more information about the 2012 event, contact Stephanie Sutton at 928.638.7783.

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National Junior Ranger Day 2012  posted 4/01/2012

Dates: 04/28/2012
Times: 9am - 6pm
Location: Grand Canyon Village (South Rim)

Hey kids!  Attend a park ranger program and receive special recognition as part of this national event.  Look for signs at National Park Service Visitor Centers.  Throughout the year, children ages four and older can pick up a free Junior Ranger book from any visitor center.  Have fun learning about the Grand Canyon, complete activities, attend a park ranger program, and earn a badge and certificate.  Junior Ranger programs are also available at Phantom Ranch, North Rim (summer only), and more than 250 national parks, seashores, and monuments nationwide.  This program is generously supported by the Grand Canyon Association.

For more information, Contact Shannan Marcak, GRCA_Information@nps.gov 928.638.7958

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History Exhibit:The Amazing Kolb Brothers  posted 4/01/2012

History Exhibit, Those Amazing Kolb Brothers, continues through the month of April at the Kolb Studio, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, daily, 9am - 5pm daily.

The life and times of Grand Canyon's Pioneering photographers Ellsworth and Emery Kolb, told by photographs and stories.  This exhibit is free and open to the public.  Further information can be found at:  http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/art-exhibits.htm

The Kolb brothers are legend at the Grand Canyon for their pioneering spirits and treasure trove of photographs.  Ellsworth and Emery arrived at the South Rim in the dawning years of the 20th century, long before the Grand Canyon was designated a national park.  Stories of their adventures, their family, and their enduring photography business on the rim are told for the first time in exhibit form and displayed in their historic studio.

Presented by the Grand Canyon Association, Northern Arizona University's Cline Library Special Collections and Archives, and Grand Canyon National Park.  Additional funding is provided by Pink Jeep Tours Las Vegas and Sedona, and Ms. Penny Schultz.

For further information, contact Helen Ranney, hranney@grandcanyon.org 928.862.3877

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Annular Solar Eclipse Viewing, May 20th  posted 3/01/2012

Sunday, May 20, 2012:  A late-afternoon Annular Eclipse of the Sun, and an evening South Rim Star Party.

Grand Canyon National Park lies in the path of a rare annular eclipse of the sun, late in the afternoon of May 20, 2012.  The western 2/3 of the country will see at least a partial eclipse prior to the sunset, but here at Grand Canyon we will see the moon pass fully between us and the sun, leaving only a ring of sun visible around it.  (Unfortunately, at this point in its elliptical orbit, the moon will be too far away to entirely block our view of the sun, so this will not be a total eclipse.)

Timing of the eclipse:
5:28pm - partial eclipse begins
6:34pm - annular eclipse begins
6:39pm - annular eclipse ends
7:32pm - sun sets while still partially eclipsed
After dark: a public Star Party until at least 11pm (Village shuttle buses run until 10pm)

To view the eclipse with National Park Service rangers:
Check posted signs upon arrival in the park for location of assisted viewing activities.  On the South Rim, astronomers sponsored by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will be sharing their solar telescopes with the public both during the eclipse, and after dark for a one-night "Star Party."

On both rims, at posted ocations, rangers will use pinhole cameras and/or "reverse projection" to show additional images of the eclipsed sun, and will have a limited number of solar viewing cards to share.

To view the eclipse on your own:
You can watch the eclipse unfold from any Grand Canyon viewpoint that offers a clear view of the western horizon (since the annular portion of the eclipse occurs within an hour of sunset).  Any of the more famous sunset locations will do.

NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITH THE NAKED EYE OR THROUGH SUNGLASSES, CAMERA VIEWFINDER, OR ANY FORM OF UNFILTERED MAGNIFICATION!

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Interpretive Ranger Programs, South Rim Spring 2012 Program Schedule  posted 3/01/2012
"Glimpses of the Past."  Join a ranger for a walk on a paved trail and see the remains of an ancestral Puebloan village at the Tusayan Museum, 3 miles west of Desert View.  During your visit this year, the National Park Service encourages you to participate in one of the programs listed below.  All programs are free of charge.  All outdoor programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather or when lightning danger is present.  Children must be accompanied by an adult on all programs.

Download:
South Rim Spring 2012 Program Schedule
(230 Kb PDF file)  March 1, 2012 - May 23, 2012
Includes the South Rim and Desert View / Tusayan ruin, and inside the canyon at Indian Garden and Phantom Ranch.  Also included is a listing of special events.

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Exhibit: Those Amazing Kolb Brothers  posted 3/01/2012
Continuing this month at Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is the History Exhibit:  Those Amazing Kolb Brothers -- The life and times of Grand Canyon's pioneering photographers Ellsworth and Emery Kolb, told by photographs and stories.  This exhibit runs every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and is free and open to the public.

The Kolb Brothers are legend at the Grand Canyon for their pioneering spirits and treasure trove of photographs.  Ellsworth and Emery arrived at the South Rim in the dawning years of the 20th century, long before the Grand Canyon was designated as a national park.  Stories of their adventures, their family, and their enduring photography business on the rim are told for the first time in exhibit form, and displayed in their historic studio.

Presented by the Grand Canyon Association, Northern Arizona University's Cline Library Special Collections and Archives, and Grand Canyon National Park.  Additional funding is provided by Pink Jeep Tours Las Vegas and Sedona, and Ms. Penny Schultz.

For additional information, please contact Helen Ranney ( hranney@grandcanyon.org ) 928.863.3877, or you can visit the event page for this exhibit at the Grand Canyon National Park official website by clicking here.

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Archaeology Day 2012,  Evening Program by Shonto Begay: Saturday, March 24  posted 3/01/2012
This year's Archaeology Day Celebration on March 24th will feature a special Evening Program keynote address by Master Artist-in-Residence Shonto Begay.  This event will take place from 7:30pm to 9pm at the Shrine of Ages Auditorium, South Rim Village and will be free and open to the public.

Shonto will discuss how his Navajo heritage and the rich culture of the Navajo reservation has influenced his contemporary paintings and his environmental and social justice activism.

Shonto Begay was born on a Navajo reservation sheep camp to his mother, a traditional rug weaver of Tonalea storm patterns, and his father, a respected medicine man.  In addition to being a prolific painter, lecturer and author, Shonto is a spokesperson for environmental rights.  He uses acrylic paint on canvas to convey memories and his concerns about the environment and encroaching development.

Shonto's impressionistic brushstrokes depict moments in time.  From images of hogans to the government boarding school he was forced to attend, to paintings of hitchhikers and mesas that seem to go on forever, his art balances the harsh realities of reservation life with the amazing beauty found among its people, canyons and mesas.

A professional artist since 1983, Shonto spends his time painting and speaking to audiences of all ages.  His art has been shown in more than 50 shows in galleries and museums, including The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe, the American Indian Contemporary Art's Museum in San Francisco, and the Phoenix Art Museum.

The March 24th program will be held at Shrine of the Ages, 7:30pm, and is free and all-ages friendly.  For more information, please contact Rene A. Westbrook ( GRCA_Information@nps.gov ) 928.638.7324.  You can also learn more by visiting the event page at the official Grand Canyon National Park website by clicking here.

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Archaeology Day: Saturday, March 24  posted 1/31/2012
At the Grand Canyon Visitor Center - 11:00am - 4:00 pm, with special evening program at the Shrine of Ages at 7:30pm.  All Archaeology Day activities and programs are free of charge.  (South Rim)

Grand Canyon Visitor Center
Visitor Center Activities:
Join the rangers at the Visitor Center to learn more about people who lived here long ago.  Family friendly activities take place from 11:00 am to 4:00pm including:  making clay pinch pots; making split-twig figurines; "Sifting for artifacts"; coloring an archaeological puzzle.

Grand Canyon Visitor Center

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Evening Program, Saturday March 24th  posted 1/31/2012
Dine Artist Shonto Begay

The park's Master Artist-in-Residence (March 19-31, 2012) Shonto Begay, will present the recent work that he has created at Grand Canyon in an evening program artist talk.  A professional artist since 1983, Shonto spends his time painting and speaking to audiences of all ages.  His art has been shown in more than 50 shows in galleries and museums.  His impressionistic brushstrokes depict moments in time.  Shonto's art balances the harsh realities of reservation life with the amazing beauty found among its people, canyons and mesas.

This free evening program takes place in the Shrine of the Ages auditorium at 7:30pm on Saturday, march 24, 2012.  Shrine of the Ages is located at Parking Lot A near Park Headquarters.

Cover of January 2012 Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine.  Photo by Betsey Brunner.

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2012 Grand Canyon History Symposium  posted 1/06/2012
January 26-29, 2012, Shrine of the Ages, Grand Canyon Village South Rim.

The Grand Canyon Historical Society is pleased to announce the 3rd Grand Canyon History Symposium, a gathering of professional and avocational historians who will speak about historical topics specific to Grand Canyon National Park.  The goals of the symposium are to increase the knowledge and understanding of the history pertaining to the Grand Canyon and adjacent areas, and to promote communication and sharing among canyon historians, writers and enthusiasts.  The third symposium builds on the success of the immensely popular symposiums held in 2002 and 2007/

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Those Amazing Kolb Brothers  posted 11/30/2011
Exhibit Opens December 19, 2011
Kolb Studio on the South Rim

At first glance, Kolb Studio is just a house perched on the rim of the Grand Canyon, but if you look behind the doors or see it from the Bright Angel Trail after a long hike from the river, you realize it is much more than that.

Kolb Studio is the place where the Kolb Brothers created a lasting legacy of adventure, family love, and amazing Grand Canyon photography that will last as long as the Canyon itself.

Open Daily 8:00am - 6:00pm (winter hours)

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2012 Grand Canyon Star Party  posted 11/30/2011
Grand Canyon's 22nd Annual Star Party will be held on both South and North Rims from June 16-23, 2012.

For eight days in June, park visitors will explore the wonders of the night sky on Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and on the North Rim with the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix.

Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their expertise and will offer free nightly astronomy programs and free telescope viewing.  Visitors will have the chance to view the planet Saturn along with a wide assortment of star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae by night, and the sun and planet Mercury by day.  Grand Canyon is one of the best night sky observing sites in the United States because it has some of the darkest skies and cleanest air in the country.  Participants will experience spectacular views of the universe!  Everyone dress warmly, since temperatures drop quickly after sunset - even during the summer months.

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South Rim Winter 2011-12 Programs  posted 11/30/2011
During your visit this year, the National Park Service encourages you to participate in various programs.  All programs are free of charge.  Children must be accompanied by an adult on all programs.

All outdoor programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather or when lightning danger is present.

Click here for the South Rim Winter 2011-12 Program Schedule (43Kb PDF file) December 1, 2011 - February 29, 2012.  Includes the South Rim and Desert View / Tusayan Ruin

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