View from the North Rim - NPS Photo
The road to the North Rim will close for the winter season on November 30th. If we receive heavy snow fall before then it could close earlier.
November is one of the best times to visit the North Rim if you are looking for a crowdless Grand Canyon experience. Most of the facilities at the North Rim closed in October and with only basic services visitation drops to a much lower level.
The road and all services are expected to open again next spring on May 15th.
Note - facilities at the South Rim and the inner canyon remain open year round. Plus the North Rim campground will still be open for winter camping and can be reached via the inner canyon trails or by making the 45 mile cross-country skiing or snowshoeing trip from Jacob Lake. If this is something you are interested in see the NPS News release below for instructions on how to get a backcountry permit to winter camp at the North Rim.
Grand Canyon, AZ. – Arizona State Route 67, leading to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, will close for the season on Monday, November 30, 2009. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, the road could be closed earlier if heavy snows occur in the area prior to the closure date.
Most facilities at the North Rim closed on October 15. However, scenic roadways and overlooks, as well as pay-at-the-pump fuel services, camping, backcountry permitting, and gift and book stores have remained open in order to provide basic services until the road closes for the season.
State Route 67 and all services on the North Rim are expected to re-open for the 2010 season on May 15, 2010. Facilities on the South Rim and in the inner canyon remain open year-round.
The North Rim campground will still be available for winter camping, and is accessible via inner canyon trails from the South Rim or by cross-country skiing and snowshoeing – a 45 mile trip from Jacob Lake. To camp at the North Rim during the winter months, visitors will need a backcountry permit, which can be obtained from the Backcountry Information Center located at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Permit requests can be faxed year-round to (928) 638-2125. Backcountry permits for North Rim winter camping are also available at Pipe Spring National Monument in Fredonia, Arizona, or at the Bureau of Land Management District Office in St. George, Utah; however, you must obtain your permit in person and several days in advance at these locations.
For additional information on winter camping on the North Rim, please call the Backcountry Information Center at (928) 638-7875, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. MST, weekdays, excluding holidays.
For additional information on visiting Grand Canyon National Park, please visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/grca where a copies of the park’s newspaper (The Guide) and Trip Planner can be downloaded.
-NPS News Release-
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