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Grand Canyon National Park welcomes almost 5 million visitors each year. The South Rim of the Canyon is the most accessible and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The North Rim is generally open from mid-May through mid-October and closes due to the winter storms. As the South Rim is so busy during the summer months, parking and traffic congestion can be a problem, so the Park offers a free shuttle system in the Grand Canyon Village area to alleviate traffic. Grand Canyon National Park offers museums, guided tours, mule trips, backcountry hiking, river trips, ranger programs, art exhibits and a regular calendar of events and presentations throughout the year. Save time by purchasing your gate pass
with us! The Valle Travel Stop, located adjacent |
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to complement your Grand Canyon Vacation Located just 23 miles south of Grand Canyon National Park, we invite you to stay at the Grand Canyon Inn, dine in our Grand Canyon Inn Restaurant (serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily), and relax at our Grand Canyon Inn Cocktail Lounge. One Stop Does It All!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NPS Releases New North Rim Sunrise Video posted 04/20/2013
Grand Canyon National Park: Sunrise on the North
Rim (Time-lapse)
When the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park opens for the
season on May 15th, sunrise will be at 5:22 a.m. and sunset at
7:28 p.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Grand Canyon to Recognize National Park Week with Earth Day Celebration and Fee-Free Entry posted 04/15/2013 Grand Canyon National Park will kick off
National Park Week with a weekend of Earth Day activities and
then will join national park units around the country in waiving
entrance fees on April 22 - 26, 2013.
The fee-free celebration of National Park Week begins the next
day. Visitors who arrive at the Grand Canyon April 22 - 26 will
be allowed to enter the park free of charge. Those who plan to
spend time in the park beyond April 26 will need to pay the
regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purified drinking water is usually available year-round at
Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds and at Bright Angel
and South Kaibab trailheads.
Seasonal water stations are usually turned off for the winter
sometime between Oct 10th and 30th dependent on location and
associated temperatures. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Annual Turbidity in Water Caused by Spring Snow Melt at Grand Canyon posted 04/10/2013 Each year in the spring (April - June) water
turbidity increases in the drinking water within Grand Canyon
National Park. This increased turbidity is caused by snow melt
and spring rains recharging the aquifer, as well as by increased
water flows through rock formations to the point of supply for
Grand Canyon National Park's water supply system supplied from
Roaring Springs. As water flows through these rock formations,
very small particles of inorganic material are dissolved from
the rock and are held in suspension in the water. This suspended
inorganic material is too small to be removed by the centrifugal
separation process used at Roaring Springs and remains in the
potable water. These particles of dissolved rock and minerals
appear in the potable water as a slight tint or a noticeable
cloudiness. The extent of the turbidity is directly proportional
to the amount of snowmelt and rainwater that flows through the
rock formations.
Turbidity has no health effects but can interfere with the
disinfection processes practiced at Grand Canyon National Park
and may provide a medium for microbial growth. For those
reasons, The National Park Service routinely increase the
chlorine residual of the drinking water and increase
microbiological water sampling and testing throughout this
spring period of increased turbidity to insure that the drinking
water is adequately disinfected. The increased chlorine dosage
and the enhanced microbiological monitoring and testing is
maintained until the turbidity drops to the normal values of
less than 1.0 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit - used to
measure the extent or degree of cloudiness), usually by late
June or early July. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purified drinking water is usually
available year-round at Bright Angel and Indian Garden
Campgrounds and at Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailheads.
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Clear Creek
Natural History Backpack The Clear Creek Trail is a wending 10-mile trail that takes hikers from the relative hustle and bustle of Phantom Ranch on the canyon floor to its namesake Clear Creek, a delightful desert stream fed by springs and a seasonal waterfall that have filtered through a vertical mile of rock to nourish this lush oasis. During the moderate-intensity backpack, participants will learn about the canyon's incredible biologic and geologic history. Side hikes from a base camp beside Clear Creek will provide ample opportunity to discuss flora, fauna, geologic processes and the life-giving water sources that sustain the amazing biodiversity of Grand Canyon. Though the focus will be on natural history, no hike would be complete without discussing those who came before, from ancestral Puebloans to pioneers. A series of evening tales will highlight the lives of these hardy forebears. The class will begin and end on the South Rim and use the historic South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails to get in and out of the canyon, respectively. Two nights of camping along picturesque Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch will bookend the multiday foray to Clear Creek itself. Comparable backpacking experience is required of all participants. Itinerary:
* * * Havasu Canyon
Natural History Backpack Of the numerous indigenous populations that have been drawn to the Grand Canyon, only the Havasupai people continue to thrive beneath the lofty rims of the grandest of canyons. Like the largely rim-dwelling Hualapai people nearby, the Havasupai's centuries-old connection to the Grand Canyon is a fascinating story. Against a backdrop of towering waterfalls and lush vegetation, participants will not only learn about the culture of our Havasupai hosts, they will also explore the geologic and ecologic history of the Grand Canyon itself. The class will begin with an eight-mile backpack through an impressive series of telltale rock strata to the inner-canyon village of Supai. After a brief visit, participants will continue several miles down the trail to the campground at the base of picturesque Havasu Falls. From this base camp, subsequent days will be spent hiking, swimming and sharing the beauty of this storied locale. Participants will learn about the history and ways of their host tribe, and study the numerous plants, birds and other animals found in this amazingly diverse riparian drainage. The final day will include a retracing of steps back to the South Rim for closing discussions and departure. Itinerary:
* * * Take a Load Off:
Mule-Assisted Backpacking With a little help from four-legged friends, participants in this class descend into the heart of the Grand Canyon for a two-night camping adventure beside picturesque Bright Angel Creek. This class begins with a thorough morning orientation after which camping gear is taken to the nearby mule corral for next-day delivery to the canyon floor. The afternoon is spent on an educational walking tour along the breathtaking South Rim. On the second day of class, participants hike seven miles down the South Kaibab Trail, enjoying a combination of sweeping views and intriguing facts about geology, ecology and human history. Because pack mules are hauling the bulk of the group's camping gear and food, participants can devote more time and energy to uncovering the canyon's secrets. Upon retrieving their camping gear at historic Phantom Ranch, the class will set up camp for a two-night stay at Bright Angel Campground. For the remainder of the day and all of the next, the focus will be on learning about the geologic formation of the canyon from the inside out. The diverse flora and fauna of the canyon, and the human inhabitants it has sustained for millennia, will also be discussed at length. Destinations will likely include the refreshing pools of Phantom Creek, ancient archaeological sites and the tranquil shoreline of the Colorado River. The class will return to the South Rim via the 10-mile Bright Angel Trail, which reveals its own array of biotic communities and geologic wonders. Itinerary:
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Hosted each year by the Grand Canyon Association, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art is an annual event that includes 6 days of art-related events followed by a 3-month long exhibition in Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The exhibit opens with a reception on September 21, 2013 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, which is free and open to the public. The Celebration of Art features 26 artists from around the country who engage in a plein air competition and exhibition. Park visitors have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting light and shadow, amazing land forms, and vibrant colors of this vast landscape. Each artist brings a completed studio piece with them and then creates more artwork on the South Rim, on the North Rim, at Phantom Ranch and at Indian Garden during the "Plein Air at the Canyon" and Quick Draw events that take place in the historic district of Grand Canyon Village. During the auction that follows the Quick Draw event on September 20, 2013, park residents and visitors have the opportunity to bid on the work and to bring a piece of the Grand Canyon home. Proceeds from this event will support the goal of funding an art venue at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This permanent home will ensure that future generations of park visitors will be able to view the stunning art collection in the Grand Canyon National Park Museum and Grand Canyon Association collections. Plein Air at Grand Canyon - Along the Rim, Saturday, September 14 - Saturday, September 21. Plein Air at Grand Canyon is a week-long event, open to the general public, that provides an opportunity to observe over 20 artists painting at various locations along the North and South Rims, at Phantom Ranch and at Indian Garden in Grand Canyon National Park. Throughout the plein air event select artists will conduct live painting demonstrations showcasing their unique style and technique and answering questions from the crowd. Quick Draw Auction - North Lawn of El Tover, Friday, September 20th. 9:00am to 12:00pm Watch as artists paint for two hours from empty canvas to finish, followed by an exciting auction of the final pieces! Grand Opening Reception - Kolb Studio, Saturday, September 21, 2013 - Monday, January 20, 2014. Gallery is open to the public to view and purchase paintings from the event.
5th Annual Celebration
of Art Artists.
Below are some examples of artwork created for last year's Grand Canyon Celebration of Art.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 Grand Canyon Star Party posted 04/01/2013 Grand Canyon's 23rd Annual Star Party will be held on both South and North Rims from June 8-15, 2013. 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.
On the South Rim, events will include a slide show nightly at 8:00pm, followed by telescope viewing behind the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Parking is available in lots 1 through 4, and the Village Route shuttle bus runs every half-hour until 11:00 pm. To make sure you get a seat at the slide show, arrive a few minutes early. On the North Rim, telescopes will be set up on the porch of the lodge every evening, with some possibility of daytime scopes available as well. Bulletin boards at the Visitor Center will list additional events such as star talks and special slide show programs in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium The event is free (other than paying the park entrance fee of $25 per vehicle and good for 7 days of coming and going to either rim.) To save time at the gate, you may purchase your entry pass at the Valle Travel Stop! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Amazing Kolb Brothers, A Grand Life at the Grand Canyon exhibit continues through April in Kolb Studio, located in the historic Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. Open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm, this exhibit is free and open to the public, and an essential part of any visit to 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. 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. It 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Enjoy Grand Canyon's Earth Day Celebration Weekend - April 19-21, 2013 posted 03/25/2013
Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day with a weekend of activities April 19-21, 2013. The weekend will include a film about conservationist Aldo Leopold, a keynote presentation by author Mary Ellen Hannibal, and a day of fun and educational activities. Everyone is invited to take part. A free screening of the film Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time will kick off the weekend on Friday, April 19, at 5:30pm in the Grand Canyon Visitor Center theatre. This award-winning, one-hour documentary recounts the life and legacy of Aldo Leopold and explores the many ways in which his land ethic and philosophy shaped conservation and the modern environmental movement. On Saturday, April 20, at 7:30pm, Grand Canyon's Green Team is proud to host environmental author Mary Ellen Hannibal, who will be talking about recent studies of landscape connectivity as well as her new book "The Spine of the Continent." Hannibal's free presentation will explore the critical nature of wildlife corridors which include natural habitats found within national parks along the Rocky Mountains and into the Southwest. She will also review the history of America's native wildlife habitats and share what scientists are doing to combat the gradual loss of these important lands along the spine of the continent. On Sunday, April 21, the weekend will culminate in an open-house style event at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center plaza from 10am to 2pm. Agencies and organizations from throughout northern Arizona will join park staff, partners, and concessioners in offering educational activities, demonstrations and games, samples, and information on local and national environmental initiatives. From demonstrations of composting and grinding coffee using a bicycle-powered generator, to informational handouts and samples of sustainable foods, there will be activities for all ages. "Grand Canyon became a Climate Friendly Park in 2010, and the community here is continually working to decrease its environmental footprint. Earth Day is an excellent opportunity for park staff, concessioners and partners to share their hard work in making Grand Canyon a greener more sustainable place to live, work and play," said Superintendent Dave Uberuaga. All of the weekend's activities are family friendly and free of charge. Grand Canyon National Park's 2013 Earth Day celebration is a collaborative effort between the National Park Service; Xanterra South Rim, LLC; Grand Canyon Railway; Delaware North Companies; Bright Angel Bicycles; U.S. Forest Service; Arizona Public Service; Flagstaff Artist's Coalition,; Arizona Department of Environmental Quality; Willow Bend Environmental Education Center; Keep Arizona Beautiful; Grand Canyon Trust; Sierra Club; Clean Cities of Arizona; Grand Canyon Wildlands Council; and the park's cooperating association and fundraising partner, Grand Canyon Association. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bright Angel Trail has small, occasional patches of ice. Over-the-shoe traction devices optional. South Kaibab Trail and Hermit Trail have no snow or ice. Grandview Trail and Tanner Trail might have some small ice patches. Over-the-shoe traction devices suggested just in case. North Kaibab Trail (between Roaring Springs and the trailhead) has issues with rock fall, debris on the trail, and sections that are slumping away. Trail damage was caused by a warm winter storm in late January 2013 where rain accelerated snow melt and led to rock falls and mud slides. The trail is open and passable, but hikers should plan for degraded trail conditions and loose rock until mid-May when the National Park Service trail crew is expected to complete repairs. Keep in mind that winter conditions can cause additional issues, anyone hiking the trail must be prepared to assess the conditions they see and determine their own course of action based on risk and their skills. Be aware the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is currently closed to vehicle access. Access to Bill Hall / Thunder River Trails is currently okay, however we recommend hikers check on road conditions prior to their hike. North Bass Trailhead and Point Sublime are usually not accessible by car until late May / early June, in a heavy snow year access may be even later. Over-the-shoe traction devices available for purchase at various locations in the park (including at the Backcountry Information Center). Hikers without a permit can stop by the Backcountry Information Center to request a last minute permit. Last minute permits and waitlist numbers are issued by the Backcountry Information Center, located inside the park on the South Rim. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily, year round, for walk-in visitors from 8am to noon and 1-5pm Mountain Standard Time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join park rangers at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center to learn more about people who lived here long ago. Family-friendly activities take place from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Try your hand at making clay pinch pots and split-twig figurines; sift for artifacts and plant corn, beans and squash. There will also be cultural dance and handicraft demonstrations throughout the day, and a special evening program at 7:30pm at the Shrine of Ages Auditorium.
Special Evening Program All activities and programs are free of charge.
Activities for Kids at Visitor
Center:
Regularly Scheduled Ranger Programs - Saturday March 23 (With a focus on Archaeology)
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Purified drinking water is usually available year-round at Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds and at Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailheads. Seasonal water stations are usually turned off for the winter sometime between October 10th and 30th depending 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Canyon National Park Recently Celebrated Black History Month and Healthy Parks Healthy People with Darryl Haley posted 03/15/2013
On Friday, February 22, Grand Canyon National Park and special guest Darryl Haley kicked off a weekend celebration of Black History Month and Healthy Parks Healthy People. This groundbreaking event was a part of the Grand Canyon Diversity Council's effort to increase diversity and inclusivity in Grand Canyon National Park. Haley is a former New England Patriot, Ironman Triathlete, and world-renowned fitness trainer. He also hosts WHUR's (Howard University Radio) Fitness Friday on the Steve Harvey Morning Show. Haley participated in the celebration in order to experience the Grand Canyon first-hand and to spread the word that there are a wide range of opportunities for people of varying fitness levels to experience their national parks. On Friday, Haley was introduced to the park by participating in a ranger-led walk along the Rim Trail. On Saturday, he joined a hike down the Bright Angel Trail, 3.2 miles and 3,800 feet to Indian Gardens for an overnight stay. Throughout their adventure the group shared their views on diversity and inclusion, national parks, fitness and health, as well as exchanging personal stories. On Monday, Haley concluded the weekend's events and his personal experience at Grand Canyon with a public presentation at the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium. Black History Month is celebrated each year in February and commemorates the lives and accomplishments of African Americans. The National Park Service Healthy Parks Healthy People program promotes the fact that all parks are cornerstones of health, for people and the environment, and encourages everyone to seek the benefits of physical and mental health, healing, and social well-being in their national parks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Work began September 2012 and is currently in progress. Construction will be ongoing through April 2013. For more information visit www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/const.htm Significant progress has been made on the Bright Angel (BA) Trailhead rehabilitation project. Reconstruction of two masonry walls, one near Kolb Studio and one along the BA Trail has been completed. In addition, the accessible trail from Village Loop Road to the southwest BA trailhead, the identity sign at the southwest trailhead, the shade shelters, and paving of the parking lot between the BA cabins and the southwest trailhead have also been completed. The two restroom buildings are substantially complete; and the overall project is on schedule. Completion is currently expected by mid-May, 2013. The next major milestone is completion of the underground burial of utilities and a critical tie-in to the Kolb Studio. Remaining site work includes site grading, setting boulders, and paving of the concrete plaza and asphalt Rim Trail. Beginning Tuesday, March 12, the southwest BA trailhead (located near the mule corral) will once again be open to all hiker and mule access. Towards the end of the week, the northeast BA trailhead (located near Kolb Studio) will be closed in order to complete the burial of utilities, and to reclaim the path, which was modified to accommodate mule traffic. Fencing will be erected and detour signs posted, directing all BA Trail access to the southwest trailhead, near the corral. The closure of the northeast trailhead is anticipated to be in effect through mid-April. Access will be maintained to Kolb Studio from the Rim Trail to the east. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are pleased to announce that the Grand Canyon Inn has opened for the 2013 season and is again accepting reservations. During our off-season winter hiatus, we completely remodeled all the bathrooms in the Inn. We look forward to accommodating you and being a part of your Grand Canyon Vacation this year! For more information and to make a reservation, please visit our Grand Canyon Inn website at www.grandcanyoninn.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The new South Rim Village Transit Map for Spring 2013 (March 1 - May 22) is now available. To download a printable pdf document, you may click here. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interpretive Ranger Programs South Rim Spring Schedule Available posted 03/05/2013 Grand Canyon Ranger Programs: The current program schedule may be downloaded below. All programs are free of charge. All outdoor programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather or when lightning danger is present. Spring months at Grand Canyon may bring a variety of weather conditions. It is still possible to receive snow, and you may encounter icy walkways and trails. Please dress for the weather and consider over-the-shoe traction devices for your comfort and safety. Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult on all programs. Download the South Rim Spring 2013 Program Schedule by clicking here. March 1 - May 22, 2013. Includes the South Rim Village and Desert View / Tusayan Ruin, and inside the canyon at Phantom Ranch and Indian Garden. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Canyon Condor" Puppet Show Returns to the Grand Canyon posted 03/05/2013
The National Park Service and Great Arizona Puppet Theater are proud to again present Canyon Condor, a fun and educational puppet show. Free performances will be offered daily, March 11-16, at 1pm in the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Canyon Condor is the story of "Boo," a California condor who hatches and grows up at the Grand Canyon. Through story and song, Boo and the audience learn about the four stages a condor goes through before becoming an adult scavenger, and the importance of condors to the Grand Canyon ecosystem. The hour-long puppet show was written and produced by Nancy Smith of Great Arizona Puppet Theater (GAPT) especially for Grand Canyon National Park. GAPT was established in 1983 and specializes in puppet shows that educate children and celebrate the rich culture, heritage, and ecology of Arizona. Funding for this event is provided by the park's cooperating association and fundraising partner, Grand Canyon Association. For more information, please contact Judy Hellmich-Bryan, Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education, at 928-638-7760 or via e-mail. To learn more about GAPT, please visit http://www.azpuppets.org/ . ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Usually the Grand Canyon Inn is closed for the winter season, but this year all bathrooms in the Inn are being remodeled. Rooms are available now (until March 6) on a walk-in basis only for a very special rate of $49.99! No other discounts may apply to this special off-season rate. You may call 1-800-635-9203 with any questions but please, no reservations. Take advantage of the opportunity to lodge only 23 miles from the South Rim and spend more time at the Grand Canyon! As always you can purchase your Park Entry Pass at the Valle Travel Stop, located just across the street from the Grand Canyon Inn. The Grand Canyon Inn will officially re-open for the season on March 7, 2013. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Saturday, March 23, 2013, Grand Canyon National Park will host its sixth annual Archaeology Day celebration, commemorating Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. Special programs, activities and demonstrations will be held at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center throughout the day, with a special evening program at the Shrine of the Ages. Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month was created 30 years ago to inform the public about archaeology in the state of Arizona. In Grand Canyon National Park alone, over 4,300 archaeological sites have been recorded to date, and archaeologists estimate that the park may have as many as 50,000 - 60,000 sites. Some of the artifacts found in the park date back almost 12,000 years, testimony to the vast extent of the human history of the area. That history lives on as the descendents of those ancient peoples continue to utilize the area today. Grand Canyon National Park's Archaeology Day is intended to help park visitors learn more about those who lived here long ago and to gain a greater understanding of the work that archaeologists do and what can be learned from their research. The event will feature opportunities for visitors to try their hands at making clay pinch pots and split-twig figurines; creating rack art using scratch art paper; sifting for artifacts; and planting corn, beans and squash seeds - traditional foods of the park's native peoples. Additionally, there will be cultural demonstrations of Hopi Kachina carving and basket making, as well as Navajo hoop dances and a weaving demonstration. All activities are free of charge and family friendly and will take place between the hours of 10am and 4pm at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Archaeology Day will conclude with a special evening program by Ellen Brennan, Grand Canyon National Park's Cultural Resource Program Manager, entitled "My Eyes Were Opened: Historical Memory and the Canyon's Traditionally Associated Tribes." This program will begin at 7:30pm at the Shrine of Ages Auditorium located on the South Rim near Parking Lot A. Activities for Kids at Shrine of Ages Auditorium Join the rangers at the Shrine of Ages to learn more about people who lived here long ago. Family-friendly activities take place from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Rock Art on Bright Angel Trail Special Archaeology Programs on March 23 & 24, 2013. 10am & 2pm, Friday, March 23 11am, Saturday, March 24 1:30pm, Saturday, March 24 3:30pm, Saturday, March 24 Regularly Scheduled Ranger
Programs - Saturday March 24 9:30am Rim Walk, Verkamp's Visitor Center Ethnobotany with Ty Karlovetz, Park Guide 11am Mather Point Talk, Mather Point Amphitheater with Becky Beaman, Park Guide 11am & 1:30pm Tusayan Ruins Walk, Tusayan Museum 2pm Porch Talk, Verkamp's Visitor Center with Jennifer Onufer, Park Ranger Evening Program Saturday March 24, 2012 Navajo 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 Ages Auditorium at 7:30pm on Saturday March 24, 2012. Shrine of the Ages is located at Parking Lot A near Park Headquarters. Additional Programs During March (Archaeology Month), Shrine of the Ages Auditorium, 7:30pm. Wednesday, March 21 Friday, March 23 Saturday, March 31 Why do we celebrate Archaeology Day at Grand Canyon National Park? Native people have lived in the Grand Canyon area for thousands of years and have left behind clues about their lives. The oldest artifacts are from the Paleo-Indian period and are nearly 12,000 years old. Did you know that Grand Canyon has over 4,300 archaeological resources with nearly 5% of the park surveyed? This gives us just a glimpse into the vast human history of the area. Hands-On activities for all ages will take place at Grand Canyon Visitor Center from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, March 24th. Join a ranger to make a split-twig figurine, similar to artifacts that have been found in remote caves of the Grand Canyon. These split twig figurines may resemble a deer, or perhaps a bighorn sheep, and are thought to be a hunting talisman. You could also make a pinch pot out of clay and compare your work to thousand year old pots which were used for cooking, serving or storing food. Obtaining and preparing food used to take a lot more time for people of the past than it does for us today. If you want to pretend to be a modern archaeologist, you can participate in the artifact sifting activity. When you find bits of evidence, perhaps you can discover what they are and what they were used for. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introductory
Backpack A Grand Canyon hike from rim to river spans millions of years in geologic time and takes hikers from a high-altitude forest to desert lowlands in very short order. Along the way there is much to intrigue the curious traveler. Big views, ancient fossils, amazing plants, archaeological sites and pioneer structures are all in plain view, and provide a wide range of topics for your expert instructor to address. Our introductory backpack begins with a thorough orientation, pack check and afternoon stroll along the scenic South Rim. The following day includes a 4.5 mile descent of the Bright Angel Trail to the towering cottonwood trees of Indian Garden Campground, home for a two-night camping adventure. A sunset visit to nearby Plateau Point with its commanding view of the Inner Gorge will cap the group's inaugural day below the rim. The following day will feature a backpack-free day hike to the sandy beaches of the Colorado River for a glimpse at the forces that carves this marvel of a canyon. Depending on group hiking strength and weather, an optional visit to historic Phantom Ranch (several miles upriver) may also be an option. The final day of class includes a return to the South Rim on the Bright Angel Trail at each hiker's own pace and a proud look back at the canyon that doubled as class room and playground for three splendid days. Itinerary: Day 3 - Exploratory
day hike to Colorado River and Phantom Ranch * * * Take a Load Off:
Mule-Assisted Backpacking With a little help from four-legged friends, participants in this class descend into the heart of the Grand Canyon for a two-night camping adventure beside picturesque Bright Angel Creek. This class begins with a thorough morning orientation after which camping gear is taken to the nearby mule corral for next-day delivery to the canyon floor. The afternoon is spent on an educational walking tour along the breathtaking South Rim. On the second day of class, participants hike seven miles down the South Kaibab Trail, enjoying a combination of sweeping views and intriguing facts about geology, ecology and human history. Because pack mules are hauling the bulk of the group's camping gear and food, participants can devote more time and energy to uncovering the canyon's secrets. Upon retrieving their camping gear at historic Phantom Ranch, the class will set up camp for a two-night stay at Bright Angel Campground. For the remainder of the day and all of the next, the focus will be on learning about the geologic formation of the canyon from the inside out. The diverse flora and fauna of the canyon and the human inhabitants it has sustained for millennia, will also be discussed at length. Destinations will likely include the refreshing pools of Phantom Creek, ancient archaeological sites and the tranquil shoreline of the Colorado River. The class will return to the South Rim via the 10-mile Bright Angel Trail, which reveals its own array of biotic communities and geologic wonders. Itinerary: Day 4 - Ascend Bright Angel Trail to the rim and wrap-up session * * * Hermit to Bright
Angel Natural History Backpack The 26-mile Hermit Trail to Bright Angel Trail loop is one of the more popular hikes for experienced backpackers looking to get away from the crowds. This splendid route is home to a treasure trove of desert streams, big views, stunning geologic formations and botanical wonders. This class will incorporate wide-ranging topics and interpretive points of interest to weave the story of the canyon's past, present and future. Participants will learn about ecosystem dynamics and functions, and a variety of resource-management issues pertaining to this vast landscape, focusing primarily on the biotic communities of the inner canyon. After a thorough orientation, the class will descend the historic Hermit Trail and then use the Tonto Trail to proceed upcanyon on subsequent days. Campsites will include picturesque Hermit Creek, Monument Creek and Indian Garden Campground. Side hikes will descend through the two-billion-year-old Vishnu Schist en route to the fabled Colorado River, where Hermit and Granite Rapids bear testament to the power and significance of this iconic southwestern waterway. A final sunset at Plateau Point with a commanding view of the inner canyon will provide a dramatic finale to this classic journey through the grandest of chasms. On the final morning the class will ascend the historic Bright Angel Trail for a wrap-up session and farewells. Itinerary: Day 1 - Introductions and orientation For further information on gear lists, syllabi, fees, and information, visit the Grand Canyon Field Institute online at https://www.grandcanyon.org/learn/grand-canyon-field-institute ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013 Grand Canyon Star Party posted 03/01/2013 Grand Canyon's 23rd Annual Star Party will be held on both South and North Rims from June 8-15, 2013. 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2013 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art (South Rim) will be held from September 14, 2013 through January 12, 2014. Hosted each year by the Grand Canyon Association, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art is an annual event that includes 6 days of art-related events followed by a 3-month long exhibition in Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The exhibit opens with a reception on September 21, 2013, from 11am to 1pm, which is free and open to the public. The Celebration of Art features 26 artists from around the country who engage in a plein air competition and exhibition. Park visitors have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting light and shadow, amazing land forms, and vibrant colors of this vast landscape. Each artists brings a completed studio piece with them and then creates more artwork on the South Rim, on the North Rim, at Phantom Ranch and at Indian Garden during the "Plein Air at the Canyon" and Quick Draw events that take place in the historic district of Grand Canyon Village. During the auction that follows the Quick Draw event on September 20, 2013, park residents and visitors have the opportunity to bid on the work and to bring a piece of Grand Canyon home. Proceeds from this event will support the goal of funding an art venue at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This permanent home will ensure that future generations of park visitors will be able to view the stunning art collection in the Grand Canyon National Park Museum and Grand Canyon Association Collections. For more information about the 2013 Celebration of Art, please visit the official Grand Canyon National Park website. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Amazing Kolb Brothers, A Grand Life at the Grand Canyon, Exhibit will continue to be hosted by Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park through the month of March 2013. This exhibit is open daily 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 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. At first glance, Kolb Studio is just a house perched on the rim of 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. It 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. Kolb Studio was once the home and business site of the Kolb Brothers, pioneering photographers and filmmakers at the Grand Canyon. This rambling, Victorian-era building (1905) has been restored to its original splendor, and currently houses an exhibit of artifacts and historic Grand Canyon photography by the Kolb Brothers. During your visit, be sure to visit Kolb Studio and shop in the bookstore, located in the Village Historic District at the Bright Angel trailhead. The exhibit is open through Tuesday, September 3, 2013. This exhibit is presented by the Grand Canyon Association, Cline Library, and Grand Canyon National Park. Additional funding is provided by the Babbitt Foundation, Pink Jeep Tours Las Vegas & Sedona, and Ms. Penny Schultz. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Park Road Conditions & Closures As of this update, all South Rim Roads are open, but there may be a few icy places on Desert View Drive. Please drive with caution. Additional snowstorms or freezing conditions may result in future road closures that can happen with little or no advance notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Canyon National Park Tourism Creates over $467 Million in Economic Benefit posted 03/01/2013 According to a peer-reviewed report released by the National Park Service, Grand Canyon National Park's 4.3 million visitors spent $467,257,000 and supported 7,361 jobs in Arizona in 2011. "Grand Canyon National Park is one of the 22 national parks in Arizona. These national parks are exceptional places - the jewels in America's crown where we relax, get exercise and learn about America's story," said Dave Uberuaga, Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent. "And the people who live and work in communities near these national parks are invested in the parks. Whether they visit a park, own or work at a business that serves local or long distance visitors or provides services for a park or park employees, the money visitors spend on national park trips has a positive impact on local economies, the economy of Arizona, and on our national economy." This week the National Park Service also released its 2012 visitation numbers showing an increase of 3.8 million over the previous year for a total of 282.8 million visitors to the National Park Service's 398 parks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Canyon National Park to Host Archaeology Day on March 23, 2013 posted 02/25/2013 On Saturday, March 23, 2013, Grand Canyon National Park will host its sixth annual Archaeology Day celebration, commemorating Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. Special programs, activities and demonstrations will be held at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center throughout the day, with a special evening program at the Shrine of the Ages. Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month was created 30 years ago to inform the public about archaeology in the state of Arizona. In Grand Canyon National Park alone, over 4,300 archaeological sites have been recorded to date, and archaeologists estimate that the park may have as many as 50,000 - 60,000 sites. Some of the artifacts found in the park date back almost 12,000 years, testimony to the vast extent of the human history of the area. That history lives on as the descendents of those ancient peoples continue to utilize the area today. Grand Canyon National Park's Archaeology Day is intended to help park visitors learn more about those who lived here long ago and to gain a greater understanding of the work that archaeologists do and what can be learned from their research. The event will feature opportunities for visitors to try their hands at making clay pinch pots and split-twig figurines; creating rack art using scratch art paper; sifting for artifacts; and planting corn, beans and squash seeds - traditional foods of the park's native peoples. Additionally, there will be cultural demonstrations of Hopi Kachina carving and basket making, as well as Navajo hoop dances and a weaving demonstration. All activities are free of charge and family friendly and will take place between the hours of 10am and 4pm at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Archaeology Day will conclude with a special evening program by Ellen Brennan, Grand Canyon National Park's Cultural Resource Program Manager, entitled "My Eyes Were Opened: Historical Memory and the Canyon's Traditionally Associated Tribes." This program will begin at 7:30pm at the Shrine of Ages Auditorium located on the South Rim near Parking Lot A. Additional special evening programs focusing on archaeology topics will be held throughout the month of March. For more information, call Supervisory Park Ranger Libby Schaaf at 928-638-7641. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As of this update, all South Rim Roads are open, but there may be snow-packed and icy places. Please drive with caution. Additional snowstorms or freezing conditions may result in future road closures that can happen with little or no advance notice. Call 928-638-7496 for current park road condition information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darryl Haley To Help Grand Canyon Celebrate Black History Month & "Healthy Parks Healthy People" posted 02/20/2013 This weekend, Darryl Haley, former New England Patriot, Ironman Triathlete, and world-renowned fitness trainer, will be joining Grand Canyon National Park's Diversity Council in celebrating Black History Month and enjoying the Grand Canyon as a place to have fun, learn something, and get healthy at the same time. On Friday, February 22, 2013, Haley will join an hour-long, ranger-led walk along the Rim Trail which will begin at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center (Located on the South Rim) at 3pm. Then, on Monday, February 25, Haley will share his health and fitness expertise and his Grand Canyon experiences during an evening program at 7pm at the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium. Both programs are free of charge and are open to the public. Through his experiences at Grand Canyon, Haley, a health and fitness enthusiast who hosts WHUR's (Howard University Radio) Fitness Friday on the Steve Harvey Morning Show, hopes to show that parks are places diverse audiences can and should enjoy, and that there are a wide range of opportunities for people of varying fitness levels to experience and recreate in their national parks. Black History Month is celebrated each year in February and commemorates the lives and accomplishments of black Americans. The National Park Service Healthy Parks Healthy People program promotes the fact that all parks are cornerstones of health for people and the environment and encourages everyone to seek the benefits of physical and mental health, healing, and social well-being in their national parks. For more information about these special park events, please contact the park's Diversity Program Manager Mariah Cisse at mariah_cisse@nps.gov or 928-638-7375. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Canyon Goes High-Tech In Order To Reach Students Nationwide posted 02/15/2013 Do you live hundreds or thousands of miles away from Grand Canyon? Why not let Park Rangers bring Grand Canyon to your classroom? Recently, the park unveiled its new, high tech, Virtual Studio for Kids. The new studio replaces a temporary one that had been in use since 2006. Improvements include the addition of green-screen technology and an integrated system that allows for high definition, live, multi-camera video production. In addition, schools now have the option of connecting via Skype or through a dedicated IP address, allowing for flexibility for those who would like to take advantage of the programs offered. Using the studio, environmental education rangers at Grand Canyon National Park offer five different, free, curriculum-based, interactive classroom presentations, each appropriate for a different age range. Topics include ecology, geology and human history. Teachers can choose the particular presentation they want for their students and can even sign up for several different presentations, but each presentation requires its own timeslot of about an hour. In addition to the virtual fieldtrips, lesson plans, pre- and post-assessments and other materials have been developed for each of the presentations to help build background knowledge on the topic of study before students even "meet" the rangers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Canyon National Park Soon To Be 94 Years Strong! posted 02/10/2013 On Tuesday, February 26, Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate the anniversary of its designation as a nation park 94 years to the day after An Act to Establish the Grand Canyon National Park in the State of Arizona was signed into law. "Protection of this spectacular landscape actually started long before Grand Canyon became a national par," said Grand Canyon Superintendent Dave Uberuaga. "People started trying to protect the canyon as early as the 1880s; and its first official protection and recognition came in the 1890s when it was set aside as a national forest reserve by President Benjamin Harrison." Harrison wasn't the only President to take an interest in the Canyon's protection. In the early 1900s, after saying of the canyon, "Leave it as it is. You cannot improve it. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it. . .", President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Grand Canyon a national game preserve. Two years later, after passage of the Antiquities Act, he established it as Grand Canyon National Monument. Arizona achieved statehood four years later in 1912, just five years before Grand Canyon was designated a national park in 1919. "On February 26, the National Park Service will host the park's 94th birthday with cake and a small ceremony at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. . .," continued Uberuaga, ". . .but it might surprise people to know that for years, the U.S. Forest Service hosted Grand Canyon's birthday celebrations. The Forest Service administered Grand Canyon from the time it became a forest reserve until it became a national park. This place really does have a fascinating and sometimes complicated history." Everyone is invited to join in the park's birthday celebration. A small ceremony will be held at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center on the South Rim of the canyon at 11am on Tuesday, February 26. Birthday cake will be served immediately afterward. Cake will also be served at the Verkamp's Visitor Center in Grand Canyon Village. The Grand Canyon in 277 river miles long, averages 10 miles across, and its walls rise almost a mile above the Colorado River. Designated a national park on February 26, 1919, Grand Canyon National Park is now a World Heritage Site, as well. Visitation to the park in 1919 was just under 38,000 and in 2012 was almost 4.5 million. Grand Canyon National Park is one of 22 national park units in the state of Arizona which collectively contribute over $700 million in economic benefits to the State. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Application Now Open for Grand Canyon's Artist-in-Residence Program posted 02/10/2013 Grand Canyon National Park's Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program is now accepting artist applications for the upcoming North and South Rim AiR seasons. The artist opportunities are for May - October 2014 on the North Rim, and for October 2013 - September 2014 on the South Rim. The Grand Canyon AiR program welcomes applications and proposals from professional artists working in all genres and traditions. In exchange for three weeks in residence, the artists are required to present three, family-friendly, one-hour programs of their own design while at the Canyon, and one program in their home community after their residency. Artist accommodations are provided for free. There is no stipend for the artists at this time. This year's AiR application can be found at the WESTAF cafe web site. Artists must register with the CaFE program in order to access the application. This service is free and allows access to many other artist opportunities. Artists will use the CaFE site to upload their work samples and answer specific questions about their projects. We will only accept electronic applications this season. There is a $30 per rim application fee, accepted through the CaFE site. This year we have created two identical but separate Calls for Artists - one for the North Rim and one for the South Rim. Artists are welcome to apply to both programs. Artists should be aware that this year's application will close automatically at midnight on March 1, 2013. To learn more about Grand Canyon's Artist-in-Residence program including the park's themes, please visit the AiR web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca/supportyourpark/air.htm . If you have additional questions about the AiR program or the application process, please contact the park's AiR Coordinator Rene Westbrook at 928-638-7324. Finally, you can learn the schedule of events for the current AiR by calling the South Rim AiR Hotline at 928-638-7616 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Bass / FR 328 road conditions are near impassable (even with 4-wheel drive). Bright Angel Trail is snowpacked and icy to 3-mile Resthouse. South Kaibab Trail is snowpacked and icy to Skeleton Point. North Kaibab Trail has about 20 inches of hardpack/settled snow extending from the trailhead to near Roaring Springs. The trail has been hiked and packed sufficiently so that no snowshoes or post hole-ing on the trail is required. However, because the snow is so packed, there is a greater slipping danger. Traction devices are HIGHLY recommended. (Be aware the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is currently closed to vehicle access. Access to Bill Hall / Thunder River Trails is currently okay, however we recommend hikers check on road conditions prior to their hike. North Bass Trailhead and Point Sublime are usually not accessible by car until late May / early June, in a heavy snow year access may be even later. During this time of year expect trails to be snow-packed and/or icy. Over-the-shoe traction devices are strongly recommended and available for purchase at various locations in the park (including at the Backcountry Information Center). It is not uncommon for Hermit Road (access to Hermit and Boucher trails) and Desert View Drive (access to Grandview, New Hance, and Tanner trails) to close intermittently throughout the winter due to ice on the road. Call 928-638-7496 for updated road conditions. Finally, remember to have extra supplies in your vehicle in the unlikely event that roads are closed or snowed in when you hike out. If in doubt, back out. Be safe, plan accordingly, and enjoy your winter hike. Hikers without a permit can stop by the Backcountry Information Center to request a last minute permit. Last minute permits and waitlist numbers are issued by the Backcountry Information Center, located inside the park on the South Rim. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily, year round, for walk-in visitors from 8am to noon, and 1-5pm Mountain Standard Time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Transcanyon Pipeline is undergoing repairs above Cottonwood immediately adjacent to the North Kaibab Trail. The tank at Phantom Ranch was filled before the repairs began, however backpackers should be prepared to boil or otherwise treat creek water to serve their needs. During pipeline repair and trail rehabilitation, backcountry users are asked to use caution when in the vicinity. Hikers should expect delays and detours and should be prepared to follow any direction provided by workers in the area. Purified drinking water is usually available year-round at Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds and at Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailheads. Seasonal water stations are usually turned off for the winter sometime between October 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. 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2013 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art (South Rim) is scheduled to run from September 14, 2013 through January 12, 2014. Hosted each year by the Grand Canyon Association, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art is an annual event that includes 6 days of art-related events followed by a 3-month long exhibition in Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The exhibit opens with a reception on September 21, 2013, from 11am to 1pm, which is free and open to the public. The Celebration of Art features 26 artists from around the country who engage in a 'plein air' competition and exhibition. Park visitors have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting light and shadow, amazing land forms, and vibrant colors of this vast landscape. Each artist brings a completed studio piece with them and then creates more artwork on the South Rim, on the North Rim, at Phantom Ranch, and at Indian Garden during the "Plein Air at the Canyon" and Quick Draw events that take place in the historic district of Grand Canyon Village. During the auction that follows the Quick Draw event on September 20, 2013, park residents and visitors have the opportunity to bid on the work and to bring a piece of Grand Canyon home. Proceeds from this event will support the goal fo funding an art venue at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This permanent home will ensure that future generations of park visitors will be able to view the stunning art collection in the Grand Canyon National Park Museum and Grand Canyon Association collections. Please check back on our site for further updates, artist information, and program schedules. You may click the thumbnail graphics below to view larger photos.
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Wilderness First
ResponderRecertification Taught by expert instructors from the Wilderness Medicine Institute (a program of the National Outdoor Leadership School), this class teaches participants the standards for urban and wilderness care situations, and emphasizes decision making and injury prevention. Some of the topics covered include CPR, dehydration and heat-related injuries, shock, spine and head trauma, musculoskeletal injuries, wound management, environmental emergencies and common expedition problems. Most of the instruction takes place in a classroom setting or in nearby wooded areas. A practical exam will be conducted in a remote area of the park during a simulated rescue operation. Free group camping throughout the event is provided for all participants, and free Wi-Fi is available at various locations in the immediate area. This three-day skills-based class is for individuals who are current Wilderness First Responders with a valid certification through WMI, SOLO, NOLS, WMA, or WPT. Those with expired certifications are required to take the full 80-hour Wilderness First Responder in order to recertify. Notes:
For further information on program details, fees, and itinerary, please visit the Grand Canyon Field Institute (nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park) at https://www.grandcanyon.org/learn/grand-canyon-field-institute * * * Women's Phantom
Ranch Natural & Cultural History Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, a maverick architect in a male-dominated field, planned and constructed a number of her signature structures while employed by the Fred Harvey Company and Santa Fe Railway from 1902 to 1948. During her tenure, Colter built a tourist facility at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. She called this quaint complex of rustic buildings in the most unlikely of settings Phantom Ranch. This class will examine the legacy of Colter, the construction of Phantom Ranch and the long cultural history of Bright Angel Canyon, which reaches back for millennia before the arrival of the modern tourist. Of course, no visit to the canyon floor would be complete without an overview of the amazing geology and ecology encountered throughout this journey. This class will thus feature lively discussions on a wide variety of natural history topics. Participants will hike down the South Kaibab Trail and ascend via the Bright Angel Trail. Cabin, mule duffel service, and most meals at Phantom Ranch are included. Itinerary:
For further information on the hike, fees, gear list, and syllabus, please visit the Grand Canyon Field Institute (nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park) at https://www.grandcanyon.org/learn/grand-canyon-field-institute ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013 Grand Canyon Star Party posted 02/01/2013 The Grand Canyon's 23rd Annual Star Party will be held on both the South and North Rims of Grand Canyon National Park from June 8-15, 2013. 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 volunteers 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. On the South Rim, events will include a slide show nightly at 8:00pm, followed by telescope viewing behind the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Parking is available in lots 1 through 4, and the Village Route shuttle bus runs every half hour until 11:00pm. To make sure you get a seat at the slide show, arrive a few minutes early. On the North Rim, telescopes will be set up on the porch of the lodge every evening, with some possibility of daytime scopes available as well. Bulletin boards at the Visitor Center will list additional events such as star talks and special slide show programs in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium. The even is free (other than paying the park entrance fee of $25 per vehicle which can be purchased at the Valle Travel Stop, good for 7 days of coming and going to either rim.) No reservations are needed except for astronomers wishing to share their telescopes, who register through the astronomy clubs sponsoring the event. Come for a night, or for the whole 8-night event. Explore the Grand Canyon by day, and the universe by night! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Rim Road Conditions. As of this update, South Rim roads are open. Roads are snow-packed and icy in places. Please drive with caution. Additional snowstorms or freezing conditions may result in future road closures that can happen with little or no advance notice. Call 928-638-7496 for current park road condition information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Historic artifacts and an exhibit of the photography of the famous Kolb Brothers continues through the month of February at Kolb Studio, on the South Rim of of Grand Canyon National Park. Open from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily, this exhibit is free and open to the public. The Kolb Brothers are legend at the Grand Canyon for their pioneering spirits, daredevil exploits to secure the perfect picture, and of course their vast treasure trove of historic photographs. Ellsworth and Emery arrived at the South Rim in the dawning years of the 20th century to establish Kolb Studio, long before the Grand Canyon was designated a national park. Stories of their adventures, family, and their enduring photography business on the South 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 & Sedona, and Ms. Penny Schultz.
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The Transcanyon Pipeline is currently undergoing repairs above Cottonwood immediately adjacent to the North Kaibab Trail. The tank at Phantom Ranch was filled before the repairs began and it is expected that this water will serve critical concession needs through Friday. However, backpackers should be prepared to boil or otherwise treat creek water to serve their needs. Repairs to the pipeline itself are expected to be completed on Friday, February 1. Repairs to the trail and rehabilitation of the surrounding area may take several weeks. During all of the repairs and rehabilitation, backcountry users are asked to use caution when in the vicinity. Hikers should expect delays and detours and should be prepared to follow any direction provided by workers in the area. Purified drinking water is usually available year-round at Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds and at Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailheads. Seasonal water stations are usually turned off for the winter sometime between October 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. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Friday, February 1, 2013, the National Park Service will begin accepting applications for noncommercial river trip permits to raft the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. The permits will be for specific launch dates within calendar year 2014. Each year in February, a main lottery is held to assign launch dates for river trips occurring the next year. Public notifications regarding main lotteries are made by both e-mail and news release. In addition to the annual main lottery, follow-up lotteries are held as needed throughout the remainder of the year to reassign canceled and/or left-over river trips. For more information about the 2014 River Trip Permit Lottery, please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to make an advance reservation to camp in the Grand Canyon, the Backcountry Information Center will need at least three week's notice. If your planned hike is less than three weeks, come in person to the Backcountry Information Center and request a walk-in permit. Availability of last-minute permits is dependent on the season. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open year-round. The North Rim office is closed until mid-May. Permits for the North Rim and the Arizona Strip are available at Pipe Springs National Monument or the BLM Interagency Visitor Center in St. George, Utah. January and February: A construction crew is replacing an electrical line at Bright Angel Campground; there will be daytime noise and roughly half the campground is closed off. Permits are still available. Upper portions of trails are now snow-packed and icy. Over-the-shoe traction devices are strongly recommended. Access to South Bass Trailhead may not be possible when snowpack exists, from late December through mid-March. Permits for most areas are available. March: Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds are full the last three weeks; some availability between the 1st and 10th. Many sites in threshold and wild use areas are full the last three weeks. Typically spring arrives this month, and the trails tend to shake free from winter's icy grip. April: Spring is a delightful time of year for overnight hiking, and consequently most corridor, threshold and wild use areas are at capacity. May: Corridor campgrounds are full. Hiking outside the Corridor is generally not recommended due to extreme heat, especially later in the month. June: Submit a written permit request starting February 1st. Hiking outside the Corridor is not recommended due to the extreme heat. July: Submit a written permit request starting March 1st. Generally, reservations are available after the weekend of the fourth. Hiking outside the Corridor is not recommended. It's extremely hot!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Canyon National Park will join national park units around the country in offering fee-free entry for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Entrance fees will be waived for all visitors who arrive in the park on Monday, January 21. Visitors who enter (or re-enter) the park before or after January 21 will be charged the regular entrance fee. Park visitors are reminded that the fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours, or use of concessions. Park entrance stations will have park passes such as Interagency Senior, annual and Access Passes, as well as the new Active Military Passes, available for those who wish to acquire them. Grand Canyon's South Rim sits at approximately 7,000 feet. As a result, visitors should be prepared for winter weather and driving conditions, and should bear in mind that road closures and temporary suspension of shuttle service may occur with little or no notice as winter weather passes through the area. This year additional Grand Canyon fee-free days will occur during National Parks Week (April 22-26), on National Park Service's Birthday (August 25), on National Public Lands Day (September 28), and over the Veterans Day Weekend (November 9-11).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On January 15, 2013, at 10:30am, the National Park Service will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Science and Resource Management building on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park across the street from Park Headquarters. Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga and other special guests will dedicate the new state of the art facility which is on track to receive a Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. When open next month, the new Science and Resource Management building will have numerous displays and readily available scientific information and will be available and used as an outreach opportunity for the public, visitors from local and distant schools, as well as volunteers and researchers that are members of the scientific community coming to learn of and study Grand Canyon's scientific relevance. This new 8,800 square foot building will include 16 offices, 15 large and 21 small cubicle offices, a large conference and training room, two science labs, a weather station, and a visitor lobby. Science and Resource Management staff is anxiously awaiting the dedication and opening of the new facility and will be on-hand to provide public tours throughout the day. The staff is currently co-located in antiquated facilities constructed in the 1960s and 1980s which were built to house maintenance and warehouse operations. The new facility provides professional space adjacent to a network of trails and nearby shuttle bus stops that will allow employees to walk, bike, or ride the park shuttle bus to and from work.
January 15th dedication of new
Science & Resource Management building.
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Bright Angel Trail is snowpacked and ice to 3-mile Resthouse. South Kaibab Trail is snowpacked and icy to Skeleton Point. North Kaibab Trail has about 20 inches of hardpack/settled snow extending from the trailhead to near Roaring Springs. The trail has been hiked and packed sufficiently so that no snowshoes or post hole-ing on the trail is required. However, because the snow is so packed, there is a greater slipping danger. Traction devices are highly recommended. (Be aware the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is currently closed to vehicle access.) Access to Bill Hall / Thunder River Trails is currently okay, however we recommend hikers check on road conditions prior to their hike. North Bass Trailhead and Point Sublime are usually not accessible by car until late May / early June, in a heavy snow year access may be even later. During this time of year expect trails to be snow-packed and icy. Over-the-shoe traction devices are strongly recommended and available for purchase at various locations in the park (including at the Backcountry Information Center). It is not uncommon for Hermit Road (access to Hermit and Boucher trails) and Desert View Drive (access to Grandview, New Hance, and Tanner Trails ) to close intermittently throughout the winter due to ice on the road. Call 928-638-7496 for updated road conditions. Finally, remember to have extra supplies in your vehicle in the unlikely event that roads are closed or snowed in when you hike out. If in doubt, back out. Be safe, plan accordingly, and enjoy your winter hike. Hikers without a permit can stop by the Backcountry Information Center to request a last minute permit. Last minute permits and waitlist numbers are issued by the Backcountry Information Center, located inside the park on the South Rim. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily, year round, for walk-in visitors from 8am to noon, and 1-5pm Mountain Standard Time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Grand Canyon Field Institute Schedule of Classes for 2013 is now available! Topics covered during the classes and guided educational tours include geology, ecology, history, archaeology, photography and more. The Institute offers guided educational tours at Grand Canyon National Park led by expert instructors while hiking, backpacking, camping, and whitewater rafting. Learning and lodging opportunities are also available. The Grand Canyon Field Institute and Xanterra South Rim, LLC, offer fun and informative Learning & Lodging Programs that combine lodging, meals, and two days in the field with an instructor. To download a printable pdf file of the Grand Canyon Field Institute 2013 Class Schedule, please click here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interpretive Ranger Programs Winter 2012-2013 Schedule Available posted 01/01/2013 Grand Canyon Ranger Programs. During your visit this year, the National Park Service encourages you to participate in the programs listed in the schedule below. All programs are free of charge. All outdoor programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather or when lightning danger is present. Winter months at Grand Canyon can bring snow and ice. You may find walkways and the Rim Trail with icy conditions. Please dress for the weather and consider over-the-shoe traction devices for your comfort and safety. Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult on all programs. The South Rim winter 2012-2013 Program Schedule runs from December 1, 2012 - February 28, 2013. Includes the South Rim and Desert View / Tusayan Ruin. [No programs are given in the inner-canyon during the winter season.] Please click here to download a pdf file of the South Rim Winter 2012-2013 Program Schedule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013 Grand Canyon Star Party! posted 01/01/2013 Grand Canyon's 23rd Annual Star Party will be held on both South and North Rims from June 8-15, 2013. 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. On the South Rim, events will include a slide show nightly at 8:00pm, followed by telescope viewing behind the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Parking is available in lots 1 through 4, and the Village Route shuttle bus runs every half-hour until 11:00pm. To make sure you get a seat at the slide show, arrive a few minutes early. On the North Rim, telescopes will be set up on the porch of the lodge every evening, with some possibility of daytime scopes available as well. Bulletin boards at the Visitor Center will list additional events such as star talks and special slide show programs in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium. Bring a flashlight to make your way safely to the telescope area; red flashlights are best but a white flashlight pointed down and turned off when you get to the telescopes works too. Although many telescopes come down after 11:00pm, on nights with clear, calm skies, some astronomers will continue to share their telescopes well into the night. The event is free (other than paying the park entrance fee of $25.00 per vehicle, which can be purchased early at the Valle Travel Stop, good for 7 days of coming and going to either rim.) No reservations are needed except for astronomers wishing to share their telescopes, who register through the astronomy clubs sponsoring the event. Come for a night, or for the whole eight-night event! Explore the Grand Canyon by day, and the universe by night!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Winter South Rim Village Transit Map Available! posted 01/01/2013 The Winter (2012-2013) South Rim Village Transit Map has been released and is now available for download! To download a large pdf file, please click here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After going on hiatus during the 2012 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art exposition, The Amazing Kolb Brothers exhibit returns to Kolb Studio, located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, from now through September 3rd of next year. You are invited to visit Kolb Studio to learn more about the life and times of Grand Canyon's pioneering photographers, Ellsworth and Emery Kolb as told through photographs, stories, and artifacts. The exhibit is open from 9am to 5pm daily and is free and open to the public. 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. 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. It 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. This exhibit is presented by the Grand Canyon Association, Cline Library and Grand Canyon National Park. Additional funding is provided by the Babbitt Foundation, Pink Jeep Tours, and Ms. Penny Schultz.
Below is a sampling of the exhibit. Click the thumbnail images to view larger photographs.
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Expect hazardous winter driving conditions and road closures in the Park. As of 7:00pm Saturday, December 29: Hwy 64 east between S Entrance Road and Desert View, also known as Desert View Drive remains closed due to icy road conditions. Hermit Road is also closed. Call 928-638-7888 for current road condition updates. This line is answered by a person during business hours. (If a person does not answer, follow the prompts to hear current recorded weather and road information.) South Rim Road Conditions As of this update, access into the park is available via Hwy 64/South Entrance Road into the South Rim Entrance Station. The section of Highway 64 east between South Entrance Road and Desert View Drive on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, also known as Desert View Drive remains closed due to snow and ice. Hermit Road, also known as West Rim Drive is also closed and will remain closed until further notice. All park roads are snow-packed and icy. Additional snowstorms or freezing conditions may result in future road closures that can happen with little or no advance notice.
You may also view the Arizona Department of Transportation Road Conditions and Closures Map: http://www.az511.com/adot/files/traffic/ to learn where statewide road closures are. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winter slammed into Northern Arizona on December 13th, dumping a foot of snow at 7,000 feet (Flagstaff and South Rim of Grand Canyon), 18 inches at 8,000 feet (North Rim Visitor Center) and 24 inches at 9,000 feet (North Rim entrance station). This is the first significant precipitation at the park since the end of monsoon rains in late August. All trails are snow-packed for the top mile. Over-the-shoe traction devices are strongly recommended and available for purchase at various locations in the park (including at the Backcountry Information Center). It is not uncommon for Hermit Road (access to Hermit and Boucher trails) and Desert View Drive (access to Grandview, New Hance, and Tanner trails) to close intermittently throughout the winter due to ice on the road. Your best source for road updates is to call (928) 638-7888. This line is updated with road closure information, just follow the prompts to hear the recorded information. During business hours this line is answered by park staff. Finally, remember to have extra supplies in your vehicle in the unlikely event that roads are closed or snowed in when you hike out. With winter finally setting in, it will not be long until ice develops along the upper stretch of most trails. If in doubt, back out. Be safe, plan accordingly, and enjoy your winter hike. Hikers without a permit can stop by the Backcountry Information Center to request a last minute permit. Last minute permits and waitlist numbers are issued by the Backcountry Information Center, located inside the park on the South Rim. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily, year round, for walk-in visitors from 8am to noon and 1-5pm Mountain Standard Time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Canyon 2013 South & North Rim Artists-in-Residence Announced posted 12/10/2012 Grand Canyon National Park's Artist-in-Residence program is pleased to announce its South Rim (SR AiR) selected artists for the October 2012 - September 2013 season, and the North Rim (NR AiR) selections for the May - October 2013 season. The Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program welcomes not only artists who work in the long-honored traditions of representational landscape photography and painting, but also encourages the involvement of artists working in new or experimental mediums. While in-residence, the SR AiRs have the opportunity to live in the historic upstairs apartment of Verkamp's Visitor Center and Museum Store, perched on the rim. The NR AiR space is in a historic and rustic two-room cabin the cool shade of the Ponderosa pines. A panel of professional artists and administrators along with National Park Service (NPS) representatives selected artists from a pool of 112 applicants on the South Rim, and 110 on the North. The selected artists reflect a broad range of genres and traditions which speak the various issues facing the park. The SR AiR program is honored to be hosting the following artists for the October 2012 - September 2013 season:
The NR AiR program is honored to be hosting the following artists for the May-October 2013 season: (Exact dates for North Rim artists have not yet been determined, but will be posted when set.)
Each artist will present a minimum of three public outreach programs, presentations or performances of their own design while in residence. Except for select programs presented to local school students on the South Rim, these programs are free, family-friendly and open to the public. For information on these programs please check-in at the Visitor Center desk or call 928-638-7616. Both programs will be accepting new artist proposals for February 1 to April 1, 2013. For complete application process details, as well as selected artist information including bios, work samples, links to their websites, and program information, please visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/supportyourpark/air/htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Work began September 2012, and is currently in progress. Construction will be ongoing through April 2013. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/const.htm The next major milestone is the construction of the Rim Trail and Bright Angel walls which began on Monday, November 26. Fencing will be erected and detour signs posted, directing all Bright Angel Trail access to the northeast access point, just west of Kolb Studio; the southwest trailhead (near the corral) will be closed. This closure is anticipated to be in effect through December, weather permitting, and will be signed to help visitors access the Bright Angel Trail and surrounding area. An alternative route for mule access has been provided and coordinated with the concessioner, Xanterra South Rim, LLC, and the National Park Service trail crew; mule riders will also be utilizing the northeast trailhead near Kolb Studio, via a portion of the Rim Trail. Temporary provisions have been added to sections of this alternative route (soil and stop bars) to facilitate mule traffic on steep paved areas and over steps as outlined on the detour map. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After going on hiatus during the 2012 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art exposition, The Amazing Kolb Brothers exhibit returns to Kolb Studio, located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, from now through September 3rd of next year. You are invited to visit Kolb Studio to learn more about the life and times of Grand Canyon's pioneering photographers, Ellsworth and Emery Kolb as told through photographs, stories, and artifacts. The exhibit is open from 9am to 5pm daily and is free and open to the public. 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. 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. It 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. This exhibit is presented by the Grand Canyon Association, Cline Library and Grand Canyon National Park. Additional funding is provided by the Babbitt Foundation, Pink Jeep Tours, and Ms. Penny Schultz. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After heavy rains, usually during the summer (July and August) and winter (December through March) months, expect impassable backcountry roads. If clear skies abound after the rain, then it is often just a matter of days until the sun dries everything out. Sometimes, heavy rain can lead to flooding, which can cause erosion of the roadbed and can delay access. Other considerations for visitors travelling on remote backcountry roads include high clearance, such as may be needed on Forest Road 328 to South Bass Trailhead (limestone ledges) and on the final approach to Toroweap overlook (sandstone knobs and ledges). Finally, consider elevation of the road that you be travelling on, especially during the winter months. Roads in the 6,500 to 8,000 foot range may be impassable due to a snowpack, where lower elevations roads (below 6,000 feet) will see deteriorated road conditions due to rain. Always check road conditions with the Backcountry Information Center before heading out to remote trailheads, tell someone where you are going and when you will be back, and be adaptable and prepared for the worst. High clearance, four-wheel drive is usually recommended for roads to remote trailheads. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2012 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art Exhibit and Sale will close its doors on November 25th. Make sure you don't miss this year's stunning exhibition! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Native American Heritage Celebration, November 14, 2012 posted 11/10/2012 Grand Canyon National Park is proud to host the 2012 Native American Heritage Celebration on November 14, 2012. All programs / activities will take place at the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Schedule of Events:
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North Zone Interagency Fire Managers have completed ignitions of both the Range and Thompson Prescribed Fires (Rx). Approximately 2,300 acres were treated in the Range burn unit and approximately 3,800 acres were treated in the Thompson unit. Fire managers employed both hand and aerial ignitions in both units. Goals and objectives were met. Initial post-treatment observations indicate that goals and objectives for both fires were met. In addition to maintaining the natural role of fire in a fire-adapted ecosystem, these fires:
Some Closures Lifting: Moderate smoke impacts to Highway 67 remain a possibility. Daytime visitors may see light smoke along the roadway. Overnight closures of the entrance road are possible as smoke settles in the evening. Drivers should use their headlights, watch for and obey traffic signs and personnel, and remain alert to the possibility of fallen trees, especially during and after wind events. The Arizona Trail has re-opened from Forest Road 610 to the Point Sublime (w1) Road. The length of the Arizona Trail through Grand Canyon National Park is once again open. Hikers may continue to see smoke and smoldering logs and should remain vigilant to the dangers of falling trees particularly during wind events. The Range Road (also known as the w1a road) remains closed at this time. If conditions allow, safety personnel expect to re-open the Range Road sometime next week. Smoke Will Decrease: Smoke from the Range and Thompson Rx is expected to gradually decrease now that ignitions are complete, but will remain visible to some extent until a major rain or snow event occurs. Smoke may be seen along Hwy 67 as well as from Hwy 89A and various locations on both the North and South Rims. Smoke is expected to continue to rise as temperatures warm during the day and to settle again at night as temperatures cool, including into the canyon and North Rim development. The National Park Service and US Forest Service would like to thank park visitors and community members for their patience and understanding during management of these two fires. Temporary road closures significantly enhanced both firefighter and visitor safety; and smoke impacts during prescribed fires can be managed and mitigated to a far greater extent than those created by a wildfire. The two agencies would also like to thank the Arizona Deparment of Environmental Quality for their extended commitment to collaboratively planning these fires. For updates on the Thompson prescribed burn and the status of the road, please follow @GrandCanyonNPS on Twitter, or call (928) 638-7819. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Canyon National Park To Waive Entrance Fees for Veterans Day Weekend 2012 posted 11/03/2012 In honor of those that serve and have served in the United States military, National Park units around the country, including Grand Canyon National Park, will be offering everyone fee-free entry during the Veterans Day weekend. The fee-free designation applies to the entire weekend, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 10-12. Visitors who arrive on November 10, 11 or 12 will be allowed to enter the park free of charge. Those who plan to enter (or re-enter) the park after November 12 will be charged the regular entrance fee. Park visitors are reminded that the fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours, or use of concessions. Park entrance stations will have park passes such as Interagency Senior, Annual and Access Passes, as well as the new Active Military Passes, available for those who wish to acquire them. For more on what there is to see and do in Grand Canyon National Park, please visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/grca . for more on National Park Fee Free days, go to www.nps.gov.findapark/feefreeparks.htm .
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The 2012 Grand Canyon Association Celebration of art continues this month with its grand finale and closure on November 25th. The exposition is on display at Kolb Studio, located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and is free and open to the public. Hosted each year by the Grand Canyon Association, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art is an annual event that includes 6 days of art-related events followed by a month-long exhibition in Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The Celebration of Art features thirty artists from around the country who engage in a plein air competition and exhibition. Park visitors have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting light and shadow, amazing land forms, and vibrant colors of this vast landscape. Each artist brings a completed studio piece with him and then creates more artwork on site during the "Plein Air on the Rim" and Quick Draw events that take place in the historic district of Grand Canyon Village. During the auction that follows the Quick Draw event [held on September 14, 2012], park residents and visitors had the opportunity to bed on the work and to bring a piece of the Grand Canyon home. Proceeds from this event will support the goal of funding an art venue ate the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This permanent home will ensure that future generations of park visitors will be able to view the stunning art collection in the Grand Canyon National Park Museum and Grand Canyon Association Collections. For more information, contact Kathy Duley ( kduley@grandcanyon.org or (480) 277-0458) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013 Grand Canyon Star Party posted 11/01/2012 Grand Canyon's 23rd Annual Star Party will be held on both South and North Rims from June 8-15, 2013. 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 nigh 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.
Telescopes ready for night
sky viewing. On the North Rim, telescopes will be set up on the porch of the lodge every evening, with some possibility of daytime scopes available as well. Bulletin boards at the Visitor Center will list additional events such as star talks and special slide show programs in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium. Bring a flashlight to make your way safely to the telescope area; red flashlights are best but a white flashlight pointed down and turned off when you get to the telescopes works too. A red flashlight can be made by covering any flashlight with red cellophane or painting the lens with red nail polish or even a red magic parker. Although many telescopes come down after 11:00pm, on nights with clear, calm skies, some astronomers will continue to share their telescopes well into the night. The event is free (other than paying the park entrance fee of $25.00 per vehicle, which can be purchased early at the Valle Travel Stop, good for 7 days of coming and going to either rim.) No reservations are needed except for astronomers wishing to share their telescopes, who register through the astronomy clubs sponsoring the event. Come for a night, or for the whole 8-night event. Explore the Grand Canyon by day, and the universe by night! For more information contact Park Ranger Marker Marshall. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Rim Prescribed Fires posted 10/31/2012 North Zone Interagency Fire Managers have treated approximately 1,700 acres of the Range prescribed fire (Rx) unit since ignitions began on Saturday, October 27. Fire managers plan to continue ignitions today and tomorrow if environmental conditions remain favorable. Approximately 2,300 total acres may be treated. This prescribed fire is helping to reduce the build-up of dead and down vegetation on the forest floor, reducing the risk of extreme fire behavior along the North Rim's primary egress route, and protecting and enhancing Mexican spotted owl habitat. Additionally, fire managers may begin ignitions on the Thompson Rx unit as early as Friday, November 2. Approximately 2,000 acres will be treated to help create defensible space along the park boundary and protect endangered and threatened species habitat near the boundary. Ignitions are anticipated to occur over a period of four to five days if environmental factors are favorable. Closures: Highway 67 (the North Rim park entrance road) has been closed at the park boundary the past two nights due to heavy smoke. The closure has started at 7pm each evening and ended the day mid- to late-morning when the smoke has lifted and visibility improves. Moderate to heavy smoke impacts to Highway 67 are anticipated to continue throughout the Range Rx. Daytime visitors should be prepared for poor visibility as well as possible delays and intermittent closures of the entrance road. Continued overnight closures of the entrance road are also possible. Drivers are advised to use their headlights, to watch for and obey traffic signs and personnel, and to remain alert to the possibility of fallen trees that have been weakened by fire. The Range Road (also known as w1a road) and the Arizona Trail, from its junction with the w1 road (also known as the Point Sublime Road) north to its intersection with the Highway 67, are closed and expected to remain closed throughout the Range Rx. During Daylight hours, public safety officers are checking the trail closures approximately once per hour and are prepared to shuttle hikers to the next available access point. Additional Arizona Trail closures may be implemented during the Thompson Prescribed fire. Smoke: Smoke from the Range Rx is visible along Hwy 67 and Hwy 89A as well as from various locations on both the North and South Rims. During the day, smoke is expected to rise as temperatures warm and settle as temperatures cool in the evening. Smoke is also expected to settle into the canyon at night and may also settle in the North Rim development, House Rock Valley, Marble Canyon and Page areas. Smoke impacts have the potential to be heavy in the inner canyon. For updates on the Range prescribed burn and the status of the road, please follow @GrandCanyonNPS on Twitter, or call (928) 638-7819.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Canyon Orientation Film Is A Winner! posted 10/20/2012
Grand Canyon National Park's interpretive orientation film, Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder, which debuted on April 18, 2011, recently won two prestigious awards: the National Association of Interpretation (NAI) First Place Award for Interpretive Media in the Long Video category, and an Aurora Platinum Best of Show Award in the Nature / Environment category. The 22-minute film takes visitors on a rim to river and dawn to dusk journey through the Grand Canyon. Using aerial photography, computer graphics, and on-location filming, visitors are taken places they might not otherwise have the opportunity to go during an average visit to the park. The film not only provides visitors with opportunities to form connections to the canyon's natural and cultural resources, but exposes viewers to some of the management issues facing the park, allowing them to develop a sense of stewardship. The NAI Interpretive Media Awards competition promotes excellence in the delivery of natural, cultural, and historical non-personal interpretive services. Entries are judged on a variety of topics by professional interpreters and media developers. Evaluative criteria include whether the video's message is relevant and serves a clear purpose, whether it catches and retains interest and is easy to follow, and whether it tells a compelling story while remaining suitable to its intended audience. The Aurora Awards are an independent and international film and video competition for commercials, cable programming, and documentaries, as well as instructional, industrial, and corporate videos. According to the park's Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education, work on the project began in February of 2008, spanned three years, and cost just under one-half million dollars. "Seeing it debut was thrilling, but to have it recognized by these organizations for its value as an interpretive and orientation tool is a tremendous honor and really makes all of the hard work worth it." The film was produced and directed by Joshua Colover of Aperture Films, Ltd., narrated by well-known actor Peter Coyote, written by Robert Goldberg, and includes an original score by Hillary Thomas. Funding was provided through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which authorizes parks to reinvest a portion of the entrance and use fees they collect in projects that will enhance on-site visitor services. To learn more about the park's interpretive orientation film, Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder, and its development, please contact the park's Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education, Judy Hellmich-Bryan at (928) 638-7760.
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Earth Science Week 2012 To Be Celebrated at Grand Canyon National Park posted 10/10/2012
Grand Canyon National Park invites the public to join in its celebration of Earth Science Week (ESW) and National Fossil Day during the week of October 14-20, 2012. Earth Science Week promotes understanding and appreciation of the Earth sciences and their relevance to our daily lives. National Fossil Day, a part of Earth Science Week, fosters a greater appreciation of the scientific and educational value of fossils and promotes public stewardship of fossils sites. Grand Canyon is an ideal place to celebrate ESW, as it is a natural classroom and laboratory for the earth sciences and is one of the world's most famous geologic landscapes. The Park's commemoration of Earth Science Week will include a variety of special programs:
In addition to the event's special programs, there will be daily geology programs at 3pm, the park's regularly scheduled even programs will relate to the Earth sciences, and kids will be able to participate in the National Park Service's Junior Paleontologist program. This year's keynote presentation, "Eddie McKee: A Grand Life," will take place on Friday, October 19, at 7pm in the Shrine of the Ages auditorium. Author and geologist Sarah Andrews will share stories about Grand Canyon's second park naturalist. Eddie McKee was a legendary geologist and naturalist who worked at Grand Canyon from 1929 to 1940. McKee's contributions to the understanding of Grand Canyon were immense. He researched and wrote a variety of technical and popular geology publications; compiled the first checklists of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles found in Grand Canyon; and helped establish the Grand Canyon Association, the park's cooperating association and fundraising partner. Keynote speaker Sarah Andrews worked for McKee at the US Geological Survey starting in 1974. McKee mentored Andrews who was then a budding geologist. Andrews has worked as a geologist in both the public and private sector, and is currently the author of forensic geology mysteries. Andrews is a fellow of the Geological Society of America and has received awards for her contributions to the public understanding of geology from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. In honor of Earth Science Week and National Fossil Day, the Grand Canyon Association, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, will be offering a 10% discount (25% for members) on select geology and fossil books and other merchandise. Proceeds from sales benefit the educational, scientific, historical and research efforts of the National Park Service. For additional information, please contact Allyson Mathis, Science and Education Outreach Coordinator, at (928) 638-7923, or Stephanie Sutton, Supervisory Park Ranger (Interpretation) at (928)638-7783.
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The 2012 Celebration of Art Exhibition & Sale continues through the month of October at Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. This event is free and open to the public. Hosted each year by the Grand Canyon Association, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art is an annual event that includes six days of art-related events followed by a month-long exhibition in Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The Celebration of Art features thirty artists from around the country who engage in a plein air competition and exhibition. Park visitors have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting light and shadow, amazing land forms, and vibrant colors of this vast landscape. Each artist brings a completed studio piece with them and then creates more artwork on site during the "Plein Air on the Rim" and Quick Draw events that takes place in the historic district of Grand Canyon Village. During the auction that follows the Quick Draw even on September 14, 2012, park residents and visitors have the opportunity to bid on the work and to bring a piece of Grand Canyon home. Proceeds from this event will support the goal of funding an art venue at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This permanent home will ensure that future generations of park visitors will be able to view the stunning art collection in the Grand Canyon National Park Museum and Grand Canyon Association Collections. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The history exhibit The Amazing Kolb Brothers: A Grand Life at the Grand Canyon is returning to Kolb Studio, set to re-open on Friday, November 30, 2012. 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. It 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. This exhibit is presented by the Grand Canyon Association, Cline Library, and Grand Canyon National Park. Additional funding is provided by the Babbitt Foundation, Pink Jeep Tours Las Vegas and Sedona, and Ms. Penny Schultz. Below is a sampling of the exhibit. Click the thumbnail images to view larger photographs.
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The Grand Canyon Field Institute is offering a variety of classes and multi-day guided hikes through the month of October. Hiking trips range from novice to expert. For more specific information about reservations, fees and difficulty levels, please visit their website at http://www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute/classes_calendar.asp?category=gcfi . Hermit
to Bright Angel Geology Backpack The 26-mile Hermit Trail to Bright Angel Trail loop is one of the more popular hikes for experienced backpackers looking to get away from the crowds. This splendid route is home to a treasure trove of desert streams, big views, stunning geologic formations and botanical wonders. This class will incorporate wide-ranging topics and interpretive points of interest to weave the story of the Canyon's past, present and future. Geologic points of interest are plentiful along this route, and lend themselves well to discussions on canyon formation theories, depositional environments, erosional processes, and fossil creation and distribution. After a thorough orientation, the class will descend the historic Hermit Trail, and then utilize the Tonto Trail to proceed up-canyon during subsequent days. Campsites will include picturesque Hermit Creek, Monument Creek and Indian Garden Campground. Side hikes will descend through the two-billion-year-old Vishnu Schist en route to the fabled Colorado River where Hermit and Granite rapids bear testament to the power and significance of this iconic Southwestern waterway. A final sunset at Plateau Point with a command view of the inner canyon will provide a dramatic finale to this classic journey through the grandest of chasms. On the final morning the class will ascend the historic Bright Angel Trail for a wrap-up session and farewells. Itinerary: ***** Rim To
Rim Natural History Backpack The rim-to-rim journey across the Grand Canyon is considered one of the quintessential hikes in North America - and for good reason. The North Kaibab and Bright Angel trails combine to exploit a rarified cross-canyon thoroughfare, one that harbors many delights for the experienced backpacker. Roaring Springs, Ribbon Falls, Phantom Ranch and Plateau Point are but a few of the treasures awaiting those who take part in this moderate-intensity backback. Topics will include geology, archaeology, pioneer and Native American history, and a discussion of the varied biotic communities that can be found along this 24-mile route. After being shuttled to the North Rim, the class will spend its first night at the North Rim Campground. During the precipitous descent into the canyon, participants hike from an aspen-clad forest to the banks of a desert stream in a few short hours. Nights are spent at Cottonwood, Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds respectively. The final day of class includes a 4.5-mile hike to the top via the historic Bright Angel Trail, each hiker traveling at his or her own pace. Note: recent, comparable backpacking experience is a prerequisite of all GCFI rim-to-rim backpacking classes. Itinerary: Day 6 Continue up the Bright Angel Trail to the rim and wrap up session. ***** Rim To
Rim Geology Backpack Boasting one of our planet's most spectacular and accessible geologic cross-sections, Grand Canyon routinely draws geology buffs of all stripes. And one of the best opportunities to take it all in is to cross the canyon along the fabled rim-to-rim route; one of the quintessential hikes in North America. This class will do just that. Along the way, participants will examine the canyon's rich geological story, from ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks to recent debris flows. Discussions will include the structural geology, stratigraphy, hydrology and formation theories as evidenced along this amazing 24-mile route. Roaring Springs, Ribbon Falls, Phantom Ranch and Plateau Point are but a few of the treasures awaiting those who take part in this moderate-intensity backpack. After being shuttled to the North Rim, the class will spend its first night at the North Rim Campground. During the precipitous descent into the canyon, participants will hike from an aspen-clad forest to the banks of a desert stream in a few short hours. Nights are spent at Cottonwood, Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds respectively. The final day of class includes a 4.5-mile hike to the top via the Bright Angel Trail, each hiker traveling at his or her own pace. Note: recent, comparable backpacking experience is a rerequisite for all GCFI rim-to-rim backpacking classes. Itinerary: Day 1 Introductions
and classroom orientation and van shuttle to the North Rim
Campground. ***** Rim To
Rim Photography Backpack Whether you're an experienced Grand Canyon photographer looking for a fresh vantage, or a newcomer trying to take in as much as possible, this workshop is just the ticket. With shoots and professional instruction on both the North and South Rims, scenic trails, and the geologic wonderland of the canyon floor, participants will capture wide-ranging images - from the intimate to the expansive. The workshop will begin with a review of the basic photographic principles and camera functions, and how to combine them to make images with impact. After an initial shoot at the South Rim's breathtaking Shoshone Point, the group will be shuttled to the North Rim to begin a trans-canyon hike that will visit a string of aesthetic marvels, such as Roaring Springs, Ribbon Falls, Phantom Ranch, the sandy banks of the Colorado River, Garden Creek and Plateau Point. This is one-stop shopping for the serious landscape photographer looking for an exciting look at the canyon from the inside out. Participants must have comparable backpacking experience and be familiar with their personal camera gear. Itinerary: Day 6 Hike up the
Bright Angel Trail, crossing the Colorado River, to Indian
Garden Campground. *****
Introductory Backpack A Grand Canyon hike from rim to river spans millions of years in geologic time, and takes one from a high-altitude forest to desert lowlands in very short order. Along the way there is much to intrigue the curious traveler. Big views, ancient fossils, amazing plants, archaeological sites and pioneer-vintage structures are all in plain view, and provide a plethora of topics for your expert instructor to address. Our introductory backpack begins with a thorough orientation, pack check and afternoon stroll along the scenic South Rim. The following day includes a 4.5-mile descent of the Bright Angel Trail to the towering cottonwood trees of Indian Garden Campground - home for a two-night camping adventure. A sunset visit to nearby Plateau Point with its command view of the Inner Gorge will cap the group's inaugural day below the rim. The following day will feature a backpack-free day hike to the sandy beaches of the Colorado River for a glimpse at the forces that carved this marvel of a canyon. Depending on group hiking strength and weather, an optional visit to historic Phantom Ranch (several miles upriver), may also be an option. The final day of class includes a return to the South Rim on the Bright Angel Trail, each at his or her own pace, and a proud look back at the canyon that doubled as classroom and playground for three splendid days. Itinerary: ***** Take A
Load Off) Mule-Assisted Backpacking With a little help from four-legged friends, participants in this class descend into the heart of the Grand Canyon for a two-night camping adventure beside picturesque Bright Angel Creek. This class begins with a thorough morning orientation after which camping gear is taken to the nearby mule corral for next-day delivery to the canyon floor. The afternoon is spent on an educational walking tour along the breathtaking South Rim. On the second day of class, participants hike seven miles down the South Kaibab Trail, enjoying a combination of sweeping views and the intriguing facts about geology, ecology and human history. As pack mules are hauling the bulk of the group's camping gear and food, participants can devote more time and energy to uncovering the canyon's secrets. Upon retrieving their camping gear at historic Phantom Ranch, the class will set up camp for a two-night stay at Bright Angel Campground. For the remainder of the day and all of the next, the focus will be on learning about the geologic formation of the canyon from the inside out. The diverse flora and fauna of the canyon, and the human inhabitants it has sustained for millennia, will also be discussed at length. Destinations will likely include the refreshing pools of Phantom Creek, archaeological sites and the melodic shoreline of the Colorado River. The class will return to the South Rim via the 10-mile Bright Angel Trail, which reveals its own array of biotic communities and geologic wonders. Itinerary: ***** Yoga
With A View What better setting for a workshop that integrates body, mind and spirit than one of planet Earth's most beautiful landscapes? Grand Canyon has long served as a magnet for those who strive to utilize nature's exterior landscape to assist in the exploration of that which lies within. Your two experienced instructors on this rim-based retreat will incorporate yoga and light hiking to assist in this exploration. A series of natural history rim walks and short hikes with will serve to ground the experience for participants. Yoga sessions will take place in a historic building in Grand Canyon Village, as well as secluded spots along the forested South Rim. This is an ideal workshop for yoga enthusiasts with some basic experience. Don't miss this opportunity to gently stretch your body and awareness while learning more about the natural history of the grandest of canyons. Itinerary: ***** Tapeats,
Stone & Deer Creek Backpack To the backcountry enthusiast, the myriad canyons that plunge from the North Rim differ from their neighbors on the south side of the Colorado River in a number of significant ways. The North Rim drainages are typically twice as long, more densely vegetated, and afford more life-giving water sources in the form of idyllic springs, seeps and waterfalls. It's just such terrain that awaits participants in this ambitious backpack in western Grand Canyon. Using a combination of on and off-trail hiking, this class will visit such legendary destinations as Thunder Spring, Deer Creek Falls, and the desert streams that sustain the lush riparian oases of Tapeats, views of the canyon are hallmarks of this corner of the canyon, long favored by hardy backpackers. While negotiating this remote wonderland participants will develop and hone a full complement of backcountry skills including route finding, Leave No Trace hiking and camping, water management, map and compass reading, orienteering, and practical geology. These skills will prove invaluable for subsequent travel in demanding wilderness settings. Participants will meet in either Fredonia, AZ, or nearby Kanab, UT, and then carpool to the trailhead on rough but reliable roads. Comparable backcountry experience is a pre-requisite for this workshop. Itinerary: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many facilities on Grand Canyon's North Rim are scheduled to close for the season on October 15, 2012. 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 10am 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 10am until 2pm seven days per week beginning October 16. The Backcountry Permit Office hours of operation will be reduced to Friday through Monday from 10am until 2pm 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 8am 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 1pm to 5pm MST. Permit requests can be faxed year-round to (928) 638-2125. Backcountry information can be found on the official park website 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. 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 www.nps.gov/grca or call the park's main information line at (928) 638-7888. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southwest California Condor Program Review Completed posted 10/01/2012 A review of the 2007-2011 period of the California condor reintroduction program in northern Arizona and southern Utah is complete. A team of wildlife officials, land managers and condor biologists point to a number of successes; including an increase in the free-ranging population, consistent use of seasonal ranges by condors and an increased number of breeding pairs. However, exposure to lead contamination associated with big game hunting seasons continues to limit the success of the program. The team made several recommendations to address the lead issue. The experimental Southwest Condor reintroduction project began with the release of six condors at the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona in December 1996. This is the third 5-year review of the program. At the end of 2011 there were 73 free-ranging condors in the Southwest population - an increase of 16 birds during the review period (there are presently 76). A total of 41 captive-raised birds were released into the population. Ten chicks were wild-hatched during the 5-year period, and 7 of them died or went missing. An additional 24 adults died or went missing, and 5 birds were returned to captivity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Opry Night, October 5 in Williams posted 10/01/2012 Opry Night, 10/05/2012 6:30pm at the Rodeo Barn on the Rodeo Grounds, Williams. This semi-annual fundraiser benefits the Williams Habitat for Humanity. Local music, dancing, and cake walk are all on tap for this evening of family fun starting at 6:30pm. For more information contact Ruth at 928-635-0386 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Williams Art Walk, October 13 posted 10/01/2012 Art Walk, 10/13/2012 6:00pm - 9:00pm The second Saturday of each month from June to October, The Gallery in Williams will be hosting an art walk featuring local artists and businesses. Come enjoy some light refreshments and of course support our local talented artists! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Haunted House & Halloween Party posted 10/01/2012 Spooktacular Haunted House and Halloween Party at the Rec Center on Railroad Avenue, Williams. 10/26/2012 6:00pm - 10/27/2012 9:00pm Be prepared to be scared! Community and Family Halloween party and a Haunted House at the Williams Rec Center from 6pm - 9pm. For more information contact 928-635-1496 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Polar Express Begins November 1st posted 10/01/2012 The Polar Express, 11/01/2012 - 01/31/2013, The Grand Canyon Railway. Experience the magic of the Polar Express, inspired by the classic children's book by Chris Van Allsburg and the Warner Bros. film. Enjoy the trip to the North Pole by railway. Meet Santa and enjoy caroling, hot chocolate, cookies and a special gift for each child! Make this a family holiday tradition. For specific dates and reservations call 1-80-the-train or www.thetrain.com . **Tickets required for all rides departing at 3:30, 5:30, and 7:30pm --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Free Park Entry on September 29th posted 9/18/2012 Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate National Public Lands Day with free entry on September 29, 2012. Grand Canyon National Park will be joining national park units across the country in celebrating National Public Lands Day (NPLD) with fee-free entry into the park. National Public Lands Day began in 1994 and is intended to encourage shared stewardship of our nation's public lands. Today, NPLD is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance federal, state and local public lands. In Grand Canyon National Park, volunteers and park staff will be working with the park's Vegetation Program on native plant restoration and exotic plant control. This year, NPLD will be celebrated on Saturday, September 29. Visitors who arrive on the 29th will be allowed to enter the park free of charge. Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond the 29th will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay. Park visitors are reminded that the fee-free designation applies to entrance fees and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours, or use of concessions. Park entrance stations will have Interagency Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them. Additional fee-free days in 2012 will include Veteran's Day weekend (November 10-12). For more on what there is to see and do in Grand Canyon Nation Park, please continue to check with our website or visit the offical park website at www.nps.gov/grca . To learn more about National Public Lands Day, please visit the NPLD web site at www.publiclandsday.org . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grand Canyon National Park to celebrate new park facilities: public invited to attend ribbon cutting and open house. On Wednesday, September 12, Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate the completion of several new park facilities intended to promote healthy outdoor activity in the park and to increase visitor access to the South Rim by means other than automobile. At 10am, Park Superintendant Dave Uberuaga will host a ribbon cutting at the new trailhead and parking lot located on the Kaibab National Forest at the north end of the gateway community of Tusayan, Arizona. The parking lot's 100 new spaces will serve both as parking for the Tusayan Greenway and as additional parking for those choosing to park and ride the National Park Service's seasonal Tusayan Shuttle. The parking lot will also serve as a trailhead for the Arizona Trail, which stretches more than 800 miles from Mexico to the Utah border through Arizona's canyons, deserts, and forests. The recently-completed Tusayan Greenway extends from the new parking lot to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, approximately six and one-half miles away. Completion of this segment of greenway is another important step in the implementation of the park's greenway trail system and provides safe, direct, multi-modal access to the park's primary visitor center for those entering the park on foot, bicycle, or horseback. The park's greenway trail system now totals 18-and-one-half miles and the paved sections meet Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas. It offers visitors and park residents of varying abilities a great opportunity to enjoy the park without their cars. Additionally the Tusayan Greenway is shared by a portion of the Arizona Trail. Following the ribbon cutting, there will be an open house at the new Bike Rental and Cafe located at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center plaza. Bright Angel Bicycles, LLC, a new small business, was recently awarded the Park's first contract to provide bicycle rentals and food service at the Bike Rental and Cafe which opened in June. Services and products include guided bicycle tours, bicycle rentals and repairs, specialty coffees, sandwiches and grab-and-go snacks. Representatives of the National Park Service (NPS), the US Forest Service, Grand Canyon Association, and Tusayan Chamber of Commerce will be speaking at the ribbon cutting. The public are invited to attend and encouraged to bring their bicycles and ride to the open house afterward - a 13-mile round-trip ride. The parking lot, greenway and bike rental facility all support the 2008 South Rim Visitor Transportation Plan, a plan that envisioned improved traffic flow, adequate parking and multi-modal access to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The Tusayan parking area was designed by Jacobs Engineering, constructed by West Point Contractors and funded through a US Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration grant from the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program. The Tusayan Greenway was designed and constructed by Grand Canyon National Park's Trail Crew. The Bike Rental and Cafe was designed and built by Civil Design and Engineering, Inc. and Straightline Builders, Inc., and was funded through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which authorizes parks to reinvest a portion of the entrance and use fees they collect in projects that will enhance visitor services. To learn more about the NPS' commitment to healthy, outdoor activity in national parks, please visit the Healthy Parks Healthy People US website at http://www.nps.gov/public_health/hp/hphp.htm . To learn more about Grand Canyon National Park's free shuttle bus system, visit the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses.htm ; and to learn more about the park's 2008 South Rim Visitor Transportation Plan, visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/trans.htm . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There will be plein air art demos at both the North and South Rims of Grand Canyon National Park, Indian Gardens, and Phantom Ranch every day from 9/8/2012 through 9/12/2012 as part of the 2012 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. Hosted each year by the Grand Canyon Association, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art is an annual event that includes 6 days of art-related events followed by a month-long exhibition in Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The Celebration of Art features thirty artists from around the country who engage in a plein air competition and exhibition. Park visitors have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting light and shadow, amazing land forms, and vibrant colors of this vast landscape. Each artist brings a completed studio piece with them and then creates more artwork on site during the "Plein Air on the Rim" and Quick Draw events that take place in the historic district of Grand Canyon Village. During the auction that follows the Quick Draw event on September 14, 2012, park residents and visitors have the opportunity to bid on the work and to bring a piece of Grand Canyon home. Proceeds from this event will support the goal of funding an art venue at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This permanent home will ensure that future generations of park visitors will be able to view the stunning art collection in the Grand Canyon National Park Museum and Grand Canyon Association Collections. A Grand Schedule of Events - 2012 Plein Air at Grand Canyon On-site Painting and Artists' Demonstrations North Rim September
8-12 - Artists paint on site. Phantom Ranch
September 8-10 - Artists paint on site. Indian Gardens
September 8-12 - Artists paint on site. South Rim September 8-13 - Artists paint on site. Artists
Demonstrations North Lawn of El Tovar Panel discussion
among Grand Canyon artists: Bruce Aiken, Serene Supplee,
and P.A. Nisbet Quick Draw Event Quick Draw Auction
- North Lawn of El Tovar Exhibit Opening
Reception - Kolb Studio Exhibition & Art
Sale - Kolb Studio For more information contact Kathy Duley, kduley@grandcanyon.org or 480.277.0458. You can also visit the official site at http://www.grandcanyon.org/celebration_eventschedule.asp .
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Concert: The Art of Song on 9/7/2012 and 9/8/2012 at the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium on the South Rim from 7:30pm - 9:30pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children (age 6 and up) and students. Friday, September 7th "A Night at the Opera." Husband and wife singers Kirk Dougherty and Cabiria Jacobsen bring some of opera's greatest hits to the Grand Canyon Music Festival stage, including semi-staged scenes from La Cenerentola, Les contes d'Hoffmann, and West Side Story. Saturday, September 8th "the Art of Song." Enjoy the Art of Song from Baroque masters to contemporary classics. Husband and wife singers Kirk Dougherty and Cabiria Jacobsen perform works of Purcell, Handel, Britten, Gershwin, and Porter, as well as selections from two new song cycles, Vignettes: Ellis Island by Alan Louis Smith, with text from the Ellis Island Oral History Project, and Craigslistlieder by Gabriel Kahane, with text taken directly from Craig's List postings. For more information call 800.997.8285 or 928.638.9215 or visit www.grandcanyonmusicfest.org .
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9/2/2012 at the Grand Canyon Community Building (South Rim) from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Clare Hoffman, clare@I-2000.com or 917.856.0196. For three weeks in August and September, 2012, NACAP Composers-In-Residence Raven Chacon, Trevor reed, and Michael Begay tutor talented high school students from five Navajo and Hopi Reservation high schools in the art of composition, resulting in new works for string quartet. Students attend workshops, rehearsals, performances, and recordings of their works. This concert of works created by the students this year has its world premiere at the Grand Canyon Music Festival on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at the Grand Canyon Community Building on the South Rim. Since 1984, the Grand Canyon Music Festival has been dedicated to bringing the world's finest musicians to Grand Canyon National Park in celebration of the power and beauty of this magnificent World Heritage site. Since 1985, the Festival has extended this gift of music to the students of Northern Arizona's under-served and rural communities, primarily at schools on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations. In 2001, the Festival initiated its Native American Composers Apprentice Project (NACAP) to extend its outreach to training talented Native American students in the art of composition. NACAP develops musical literacy and enhances critical thinking and decision making skills through the study of music composition. It introduces students to European "classical" music techniques, develops their understanding of their own musical heritages and how to use that knowledge to develop their own compositional voices. Native American students interested in advanced study in any field face unique challenges to their aspirations. "Major colleges. . . often view the talent on the reservations as a risky investment. . . They fear American Indians will ditch their scholarships once they get homesick." The New York Times, June 17, 2001. NACAP nurtures the musical talents of Native American students, helps them prepare for music study at the college and conservatory level, and gives them a window through which to view and understand professional careers in music. The Festival administers the Native American Composers Apprentice Project with support from the National Endowment for the Arts; Target, Y.E.S. for Dine Bikeyah; The ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund; and our partner schools through grants from the Arizona Commission on the Arts with funding from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts. Expansion of NACAP to Whitehorse High School in Utah is funded in part by the Utah Division of Arts & Museums and the National Endowment for the Arts. Expansion of NACAP to Shiprock Associated Schools is funded in part by the New Mexico Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Concert: The Catalyst Quartet - Grand Canyon Music Festival, from 8/31/2012-9/01/2012 at the Shrine of the Ages, South Rim Grand Canyon National Park, 7:30pm-9:00pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children (age 6 and up) and students. For more information contact Clare Hoffman, clare@I-2000.com or 917.856.0196.
"Invariably energetic and finely burnished." - The New York Times The Catalyst Quartet, violinists Bryan Hernandez-Luch and Karla Donehew-Perez, violist Christopher Jenkins, and cellist Karlos Rodriquez, is comprised of top laureates and alumni of the internationally-acclaimed Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players. The mission of the ensemble is to advance diversity in classical music and inspire new and young audiences with dynamic performances of repertoire by a wide range of composers. Their concerts at the Grand Canyon Music Festival will include Richard Einhorn's octet "The Silence" with the members of ETHEL.A pre-concert discussion with composer Richard Einhorn will focus on his music and his experience with sudden hearing loss at the age of 57, and how he has become an advocate for the hearing impaired.
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The Grand Canyon Active Trails team is sponsoring a series of events on the South Rim of the park during 2012 to encourage trail use and to promote physical exercise. A grant from the National Park Foundation and the Grand Canyon Association has enabled the team to purchase incentives to encourage widespread participation in these events. The Next Grand
Canyon Active Trails Event: Join Grand Canyon Active Trails on Monday, September 3, 2012, at 6:00pm at the Hermits Rest Route Bus Transfer for our Rowe Well Pinyon Ride. This bike ride will cover seven miles round trip on dirt road. Bring a headlamp or light, snacks, water, and appropriate clothing and footgear. Prizes will be awarded for trivia knowledge so be sure to study up! In an effort to encourage widespread participation in the Active Trails Program, Grand Canyon Association is providing funding for this and all 2012 activities. If you aren't already an Active Trails activity participant, there are still several activities to come in 2012, including a walk on September 17, and bike rides on September 3 and 29. Also, be sure to join us for our season finale - a walk and luncheon on October 29. For more information you can call the Active Trails Team at 928.638.7088. This event is sponsored by Grand Canyon Active Trails, a community-based recreation program that fosters a positive and supportive exercise experience while making use of extensive walking and bike trails that exist at Grand Canyon National Park. Hope to see you there! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The history Exhibit "The Amazing Kolb Brothers" at Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is entering its final days, closing at 5:00pm on September 4th. Be sure not to miss this tremendous exhibition of photography and artifacts from the famed Kolb Brothers. 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. This exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Helen Ranney at hranney@grandcanyon.org or 928.863.3877. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Program Schedules Available posted 9/01/2012 The current North Rim and South Rim Program Schedules are now available. To download printable pdf documents please click the links below:
South Rim Fall 2012 Program Schedule
North Rim 2012 Season Program Schedule ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Update: North Rim Fires, Grand Canyon National Park. Regular monsoonal moisture over the course of the last week has extinguished both the Green Lake and Manzanita Fires. Fire managers had made the decision to manage the lightning-caused Green Lake and Manzanita Fires in order to achieve multiple resource and protection objectives. However, both fires were declared out this week after heavy precipitation at the North Rim extinguished any remaining heat in the fires. Neither fire had ever grown to more than one-quarter acre in size. You can learn more about Grand Canyon National Park's Fire Management program at http://www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/firemanagement.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Labor Day Music Fest in Williams posted 9/01/2012 Plan to be at the Babbitt-Polson Community Stage located at the Williams and Forest Service Visitor Center Parking lot, 200 W. Railroad Ave. Bands take the stage on Friday, August 31st from 4pm to 11pm, and Saturday, September 1st from 10am to 11pm Tickets are $20 for both days when you pre-buy at KAFF Radio, The Museum Club, or at the Williams-Forest Visitor Center. Tickets will also be available at the gate both days.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Williams Labor Day Rodeo posted 9/01/2012 Rodeo returns to Williams Labor Day Weekend when Slash M Rodeo Co. presents the Williams Labor Day Rodeo at the Williams Rodeo Grounds on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm. Junior Rodeo Saturday and Sunday at 1pm. Gates open at 11am. General Admission $10, Kids 5 and under free. For more information visit www.experiencewilliams.com or call Scott McDaniels at 520.403.3309.
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August 25, 2012 at the Grand Canyon Valle Airport! This year's annual Air Display includes a homebuilt, warbird, and antique airplane fly-in as well as vintage tractors and a classic and custom car show. There will be EAA Young Eagles Flights, and a special appearance by the famous Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. This year's featured event speakers are Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col Robert Ashby, Lt. Col. Asa Herring, and E-3 Howard Williams. There will also be a pancake breakfast from 6:30 - 10:00am.
The Grand Canyon Valle Airport 40G is located across from the Valle Travel Stop at the junction of SR64 and HWY 180. The airport features the Planes of Fame Air Museum which houses a permanent collection of over 40 historic aircraft as well as a collection of vintage automobiles and vehicles. The museum is open daily from 9:00am - 5:00pm, with the exception of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and occasional special events. Fore more information, call 928.635.5280, or visit www.valleairport.com .
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History to come alive at Grand Canyon National Park! Grand Canyon National Park interpretive rangers will bring some of the Canyon's most influential historic figures to life during the Park's first "Echoes from the Canyon." Travel back in time and meet eight of Grand Canyon National Park's most influential people during "Echoes from the Canyon," the Park's first living history event on Friday, August 3, 2012. "When most people think of the Grand Canyon, they are focused on the spectacular geologic landscape," says Judy Hellmich-Bryan, the Park's Chief of Interpretation, "but the Grand Canyon has a rich human history, as well. From Native Americans to conservationists, explorers and businessmen to families and trend-setting architects, people just like you and me built the foundation of today's Grand Canyon Village." Rangers participating in "Echoes from the Canyon" will bring to life some of the historic figures who made Grand Canyon National Park what it is today. Visitors will meet these characters as they walk from Verkamp's Visitor Center to Kolb Studio through the historic Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. Tours will depart from Verkamp's at 8:00, 8:20, 8:40, and 9:00pm. Tickets are required, but are free of charge and will be available first-come-first-served at Verkamp's Visitor Center beginning at 7:30pm on the day of the event. Each tour can accommodate up to 60 people. For more on "Echoes from the Canyon," please contact Interpretive Ranger Erin Whittaker at 928-638-7789. For information on Grand Canyon National Park and how to plan your Grand Canyon adventure be sure to regularly stop at our Valle Travel Stop and Grand Canyon Inn websites, or you can visit the official Grand Canyon National Park site at www.nps.gov/grca . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monsoonal weather patterns have moved into the Grand Canyon area decreasing fire danger. As a result, fire managers have lifted all fire restrictions within the park. On June 8, Grand Canyon's South Rim implemented a ban on all wood-burning fires due to extremely hot and dry conditions. As conditions worsened, on June 20, the entire park implemented restrictions on all wood burning and charcoal fires. Today, as monsoonal moisture settles into the area, fire danger has decreased and all restrictions are being lifted (July 13, 2012). The National Park Service would like to remind everyone that although fire danger is no longer Extreme, it is still Very High, and visitors should continue to be fire aware and use extra care when visiting their public lands. Taking a few precautions can make all the difference:
For the latest fire information in Grand Canyon National Park, please visit the official website at http://www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/fire-info.htm . To learn more about fire restriction on other public lands in Arizona and New Mexico, please call the Southwest Area Fire Restriction Information Line at 877-864-6985. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
History Exhibit: The Amazing Kolb Brothers - A Grand Life at the Grand Canyon is now entering into its final month and will only be available for viewing until September 4, 2012. The exhibit is open every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm, located at historic Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, 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 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 & Sedona, and Ms. Penny Schultz. For further information contact Helen Ranney: hranney@grandcanyon.org or (928) 863-3877 Below is a sampling of the exhibit. Click the thumbnail images to view larger photographs.
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2012 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art (South Rim) -- September 8 - November 25, 2012. Hosted each year by the Grand Canyon Association, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art is an annual event that includes six days of art-related events followed by a month-long exhibition in Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The celebration of art features thirty artists from around the country who engage in a plein air competition and exhibition. Park visitors have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting light and shadow, amazing land forms, and vibrant colors of this vast landscape. Each artist brings a completed studio piece with them and then creates more artwork on site during the "Plein Air on the Rim" and Quick Draw events that take place in the historic district of Grand Canyon Village. During the auction that follows the Quick Draw event on September 14, 2012, Park residents and visitors have the opportunity to bid on the work and to bring a piece of the Grand Canyon home. Proceeds from this event will support the goal of funding an art venue at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This permanent home will ensure that future generations of park visitors will be able to view the stunning art collection in the Grand Canyon National Park Museum and Grand Canyon Association Collections. 2012 Event Schedule
Additional events and/or presentations will be scheduled at a later time. Everyone is invited - admission is free. View the plein air art at Kolb Studio, located along the Rim Trail in Grand Canyon Village approximately 200 yards west of Bright Angel Lodge. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012 South Rim concert Dates: August 24, 25, 30, 31 & September 1, &, 8 This year's outstanding musicians include: Stephen Benson, Robert Bonfiglio, the Catalyst Quartet (Bryan Hernandez-Luch, Karla Donehew-Perez, Christopher Jenkins, Karlos Rodriquez), Raven Chacon, Joe Deninzon, Kirk Dougherty, ETHEL (Cornelius Dufallo, Ralph Farris, Dorothy Lawson, Jennifer Choi), Clare Hoffman, Cabiera Jacobsen, Jon Klibonoff, and special guest composer Richard Einhorn. 2012 Concert Dates & Locations: August 24, 25, 30, 31, and September 1, 7, 8. Shrine of the Ages on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, 7:30pm. Friday, August 24 and Saturday August 25 - The Daring high-octane sound of ETHEL. Thursday August 30 - Robert Bonfiglio, harmonica; Joe Deninzon, violin; Steve Benson, guitar. Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1 - The Catalyst Quartet with guest ETHEL. Composer Richard Einhorn will join us on Saturday, September 1, for a performance of his octet, "The Silence." Join us for a pre-concert discussion with Richard Einhorn about his experience with sudden hearing loss at the age of 57, and how he has become an advocate for the hearing impaired. Friday, September 7 - "A Night at the Opera." Husband and wife singers Kirk Dougherty and Cabiria Jacobsen bring some of opera's greatest hits to the Grand Canyon Music Festival stage, including semi-staged scenes from La Cenerentola, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, and West Side Story. Saturday, September 8 - "The Art of Song." Enjoy the Art of Song from Baroque masters to contemporary classics. Husband and wife singers Kirk Dougherty and Cabiria Jacobsen perform works of Purcell, Handel, Britten, Gershwin, and Porter, as well as selections from two new song cycles. Vignettes: Ellis Island by Alan Louis Smith, and Craigslistlieder by Gabriel Kahane. Cabiria Jacobsen, mezzo-soprano; Kirk Dougherty, tenor; Jon Klibonoff, piano. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Western Arts Day will be held at the North Rim Visitor Center and Lodge area on July 14, 2012, from 12:00pm to 9:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. The National Park Service invites the public to celebrate Western Arts Day 2012 on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Western Arts Day celebrates the unique culture that defines Grand Canyon, Northern Arizona, and Southern Utah. The celebration starts at 12 noon at the Grand Canyon Lodge and will conclude with an 8pm evening program. Event activities will take place at the auditorium and the grassy square east of the lodge. Regularly scheduled ranger programs will take place in various locations throughout the North Rim developed area. Please inquire at the North Rim Visitor Center for a complete list of event activities, as well as the times and locations of each. If you are visiting the South Rim, you may also inquire at any visitor center for more information. Presentations may include cowboy poetry and music, flint-knapping, beading, roping, and 1840s-era survival skills.
Support for this event is provided by donations received through the Grand Canyon Association, and Forever Resorts. For more information, please contact Robin Tellis, north Rim District Interpreter at 928.638.7739.
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"Plein Air On The Rim" September 8-12, 2012 -- Exhibition & Art Sales September 14 through November 25, 2012 (South Rim) Hosted each year by the Grand Canyon Association, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art is an annual event that includes 6 days of art-related events followed by a month long exhibition in Kolb Studio on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The Celebration of Art features thirty artists from around the country who engage in a plein air competition and exhibition. Park visitors have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting light and shadow, amazing land forms, and vibrant colors of this vast landscape. Each artists brings a completed studio piece with them and then creates more artwork on site during the "Plein Air on the Rim" and Quick Draw events that takes place in the historic district of Grand Canyon Village. During the auction that follows the Quick Draw event on September 14, 2012, park residents and visitors have the opportunity to bid on the work and to bring a piece of the Grand Canyon home. Proceeds from this event will support the goal of funding an art venue at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This permanent home will ensure that future generations of park visitors will be able to view the stunning art collection in the Grand Canyon National Park Museum and Grand Canyon Association Collections. 2012 Event Schedule
Additional events and/or presentations will be scheduled at a later time. Everyone is invited - admission is free. View the plein air art at Kolb Studio, located along the Rim Trail in Grand Canyon Village approximately 200 yards west of Bright Angel Lodge. Click the thumbnail images below to view larger photos from the 2011 Celebration of Art. (Photos courtesy of the National Park Service).
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2012 South Rim concert Dates: August 24, 25, 30, 31 & September 1, &, 8 This year's outstanding musicians include: Stephen Benson, Robert Bonfiglio, the Catalyst Quartet (Bryan Hernandez-Luch, Karla Donehew-Perez, Christopher Jenkins, Karlos Rodriquez), Raven Chacon, Joe Deninzon, Kirk Dougherty, ETHEL (Cornelius Duffalo, Ralph Farris, Dorothy Lawson, Jennifer Choi), Clare Hoffman, Cabiera Jacobsen, Jon Klibonoff, and special guest composer Richard Einhorn. The Grand Canyon Music Festival celebrates its 28th season this August and September at the Shrine of the Ages on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. For more information concert dates and artists, please contact the Grand Canyon Music Festival at gcmf@infomagic.net or call at 1.800.997.8285 or 928.638.9215
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Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest remain at Extreme Fire Danger. Park visitors are reminded to "be fire aware, and use extra care" during their Fourth of July celebrations. RESTRICTIONS:
FIRES: South Rim - "Grand Fire" - The Grand Fire has been declared "controlled." For current Weather Forecast information for Grand Canyon National Park, listen to NOAA Weather Radio. CAMPFIRE RESTRICTIONS: Due to continued hot, dry and windy conditions and increasing fire danger, Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim began campfire restrictions on June 8. All wood burning fires, including campfires and warm fires are prohibited throughout the South Rim, including campgrounds and residential areas. This restriction is being implemented in response to current and predicted weather and fuel conditions, as well as corresponding fire danger rating levels. Both rims of Grand Canyon National Park are currently at Very High Fire Danger; and fire danger is expected to continue to increase until monsoonal moisture occurs. The restriction will remain in place until significant precipitation falls and fire danger levels subside. When visiting your public lands during high fire danger, please remember to be fire aware. Taking a few extra precautions can make all the difference.
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Kolb Brothers Exhibit Continues in July posted 7/01/2012 The Amazing Kolb Brothers - A Grand Life at the Grand Canyon Exhibit continues at Kolb Studio through the month of July. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily at Kolb Studio, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park. 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: Additional funding is provided by Pink Jeep Tours Las Vegas & Sedona, and Ms. Penny Schultz For further information, contact Helen Ranney at hranney@grandcanyon.org or 928.863.3877 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tusayan Route Shuttle To Resume Service posted 6/01/2012 Tusayan Route Shuttle to resume service between Tusayan, Arizona, and Grand Canyon National Park. The National Park Service will again offer shuttle bus service between Grand Canyon National Park and the neighboring town of Tusayan, Arizona, in 2012. The Tusayan Route Shuttle will be available from May 12 through September 7, and will run at 15-minute intervals between 8am and 9:30pm, daily. Each day, the first bus will leave Tusayan at 8am from the IMAX, while the first bus will leave the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 8:30am. The last buses will leave both Tusayan and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 9:30pm. This summer, visitors should expect temporary modifications to shuttle stop locations and parking areas in Tusayan due to significant road construction, including streetscape improvements and construction of permanent shuttle bus stop shelters. Every effort will be made to communicate these temporary changes and to accommodate visitors utilizing the shuttle bus service. Public parking for Tusayan shuttle riders is available near the IMAX Theater, R.P.'s Stage Stop, and the Grand Canyon airport. Those taking advantage of the shuttle service will have expedited entry into the park and will be able to connect with the park's free shuttle bus system at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. The Tusayan Shuttle is free of charge; however, visitors entering the park via shuttle bus will need to purchase their entrance passes in advance. Purchase your entry pass at the Valle Travel Stop! Those holding a valid America the Beautiful National Park and Federal Recreational Lands Pass or other valid pass will not need to purchase an additional entrance pass. To increase ease of use, informational signs regarding the shuttle bus service are posted along highway 64 south of Tusayan, as well as at various locations within Tusayan. Buses are easily identifiable and are fueled with clean-burning, compressed natural gas. All shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible and are equipped with a bike rack that can hold up to three bikes. In 2011, there were more than 92,500 boardings on the Tusayan Route between May 14 and September 9, representing a reduction of approximately 15,500 cars entering the park. If the Tusayan Route continues to prove successful, NPS will continue to operate this service as funding allows. Grand Canyon National Park Superintendant Dave Uberuaga said of the service, "We are pleased to provide this shuttle service to park visitors and local residents again this year. Utilizing this free service helps to reduce crowding along park roadways and reduces your carbon footprint, further protecting Grand Canyon's resources. We hope everyone will continue to use and enjoy the Tusayan Route shuttle in 2012." Information regarding the Tusayan Route and the park's other shuttle bus routes, which run throughout the South Rim Area, is available in The Gude, the park's free newspaper, available at park entrance stations, visitor centers and entrance pass purchase locations. The Guide is also available online at http://www.nps.gov/grca . For additional information on services and programs offered at the Grand Canyon, check back with the Valle Travel Stop website for Park updates, visit the Grand Canyon National Park website, or call 928.638.7888, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Free Grand Canyon National Park Entry on National Get Outdoors Day posted 6/01/2012 Grand Canyon National Park to waive entrance fees on National Get Outdoors Day. Grand Canyon National Park will be joining National Park units across the country in offering free entry to the Park on Saturday, June 9, in honor of National Get Outdoors Day. "National Get Outdoors Day encourages healthy, active, outdoor fun," said Grand Canyon Superintendant Dave Uberuaga. "I can't think of a better place to get outdoors and have fun than Grand Canyon, or any of the almost 400 National Park units around the country." Grand Canyon National Park regularly offers a variety of ranger-guided programs that provide healthy outdoor activity, including the Cedar Ridge Hike, Geology Walk, Fossil Walk, and Guided Bicycle Tours on the South Rim, as well as Nature Walks on the North Rim. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities on Get Outdoors Day and any other day they visit. Visitors who arrive in the Park on National Get Outdoors Day will be allowed to enter the park free of charge. Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond June 9 will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay. Park visitors are reminded that the fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours, or use of concessions. Park entrance stations will have Interagency Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them. Fee-free days still to come in 2012 will include: September 29 (National Public Lands Day) and November 10-12 (Veterans Day Weekend). To learn more about the dates and times of ranger-guided activites in the park and where they meet, please go to www.nps.gov/grca and download the North and South Rim Summer Guides which include complete listings of available ranger programs. You may also call 928.638.7888. For information on National Get Outdoors Day, please go to http://www.nationalgetoutdoorsday.org/ ; and for more on national Park fee-free days, go to www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transit Of Venus Viewing June 5, 2012 posted 6/01/2012 The afternoon of Tuesday, June 5, 2012, will be the last chance in our lifetimes to see the planet Venus pass directly between us and the sun. A similar line-up of Earth, Venus, and the Sun will not occur again until December 11, 2117. This rare astronomical event will be visible from most of the globe on either the afternoon of June 5th (here in North America) or the morning of June 6. Here in Grand Canyon National Park, the transit will begin around 3:05pm and still be in progress when the sun sets at 7:43pm. Solar viewers bought for the May 20 eclipse can be used again to watch the tiny black dot move across the Sun's surface over the course of about 6 1/2 hours (4 1/2 hours here where the sun sets with the transit in progress). NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITH THE NAKED EYE OR THROUGH SUNGLASSES, CAMERA VIEWFINDER, OR ANY FORM OF UNFILTERED MAGNIFICATION! To watch the transit of our sister planet safely and as MORE than a tiny black dot, stop by the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, near Mather Point on Grand Canyon's South Rim. Telescopes will be set up offering both direct and indirect views of the transit. Venus will appear as a FAIR-SIZED black dot against the enlarged image of our local star when seen through a solar telescope, or even a LARGE black dot against the sun's image projected on a larger screen. Join us in the plaza in front of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center from 3:00pm on June 5 until the Visitor Center closes at 6:00pm. From 6:00pm until sunset we will relocate to the Canyon Rim by Mather Point. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. On the South Rim, events will include a slide show nightly at 8:00pm, followed by telescope viewing behind the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Parking is available in lots 1 through 4, and the Village Route Shuttle Bus runs every half hour until 11:00pm. To make sure you get a seat at the slide show, arrive a few minutes early. On the North Rim, telescopes will be set up on the porch of the lodge every evening, with some possibility of daytime scopes available as well. Bulletin boards at the Visitor Center will list additional events, such as star talks and special slide show programs in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium. Bring a flashlight to make your way safely to the telescope area; red flashlights are best but a white flashlight pointed down and turned off when you get to the telescopes works too. A red flashlight can be made by covering any flashlight with red cellophane or painting the lens with red nail polish or even a red magic marker. Although many telescopes come down after 11:00pm, on nights with clear, calm skies, some astronomers will continue to share their telescopes well into the night. The event is free (other than paying the park entrance fee of $25.00 per vehicle, good for 7 days of coming and going to either rim). No reservations are needed except for astronomers wishing to share their telescopes, who register through the astronomy clubs sponsoring the event. Come for a night, or for the whole 8-night event. Explore the Grand Canyon by day, and the universe by night! 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. National Parks are protective harbors for some of the last remaining dark skies in this country. The National Park Service has come to embrace night skies as one of the many scenic vistas the Agency must preserve. Questions? Contact Park Ranger Marker Marshall.
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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. This exhibit about the Kolb Brothers happens to coincide with the 100th anniversary of "the Big Trip;" their famous 1912 river trip, and Arizona's statehood centennial. The goal of this exhibit is to share their stories with the thousands of park visitors who will visit Kolb Studio, allowing them the opportunity to view the Grand Canyon through the eyes and camera lens of Emery and Ellsworth. There is more to learn about their adventures on the Colorado River, including screenings of their motion picture that remains a box office hit - showing more than sixty years in the auditorium/gallery at Kolb Studio. Through the years, the Kolb Brothers have inspired visitors from around the world with their sense of wonder brought about through their connection with 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. Kolb
Studio Kolb Studio is located in the Village Historic District at the Bright Angel trailhead. Open daily 8:00am - 8:00pm (summer hours).
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Location:
Grand Canyon National Park, 8:00am - 9:00pm 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 Evening Program,
7:30pm Celebrate Wildlife Day, May 19, 2012, Calendar of Programs: Activities for
Kids Special Programs and live animal viewing throughout the day. Evening Program,
7:30pm
Special Indoor Programs, Saturday, May 19, 2012 Special Outdoor Programs, Saturday, May 19, 2012 11:00am -
Mather Point Amphitheatre - Ravens - Erin Whittaker - Park
Ranger
Special
Evening Program, Saturday, May 19, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 2012 Season
North Rim Guide ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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Special Program: 11:00am Mather Point Amphitheatre Evening Program, 7:30pm 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
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Junior Ranger Day 2012
posted
4/01/2012 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: To view the eclipse with
National Park Service rangers: 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: 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
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3/01/2012 Download: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exhibit: Those Amazing Kolb Brothers
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3/01/2012 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. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Archaeology Day 2012, Evening Program by Shonto Begay: Saturday, March 24
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3/01/2012 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. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Archaeology Day: Saturday, March 24
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1/31/2012 Grand Canyon Visitor Center
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Evening Program, Saturday March 24th
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1/31/2012 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.
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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/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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11/30/2011 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. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Rim Winter 2011-12 Programs
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11/30/2011 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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