Last updated: November 5, 2019
Article
South Kaibab Trail Shelter Now Available
![Team of Grand Canyon National Park employees and contractors that assembled the shade structure. 8 workers wearing safety vests and helmets are standing in front of the framework of a partially assembled shade structure 12 x 24 feet.](/articles/images/crew-courtesy-Helen-Ranney.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
Photo courtesy of Helen Ranney
Over the past week, a shelter was partially assembled on the South Rim, flown in and completed installation at the Tipoff area, which is approximately four miles from the South Kaibab Trailhead on the South Rim and two miles from the Colorado River. This is the only shelter structure along the South Kaibab Trail.
"We receive a lot of calls from people on the lower half of the South Kaibab Trail who experience fatigue or are overheated," said Grand Canyon National Park Ranger Debbie Brenchley. "This shelter will benefit people who could use a rest house to recover during their hike, especially during the summer."
![South Kaibab Trail Tipoff Shelter open-sided, trail-side shade structure measuring 12 x 24 feet with a corrugated metal roof and a wooden floor.](/articles/images/IMG_2174s.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
NPS/Craig Chenevert
There are also two 125-gallon cisterns to provide non-potable water for visitors to use to potentially cool down.
![The Tipoff area is located on the Tonto Platform, just above where the South Kaibab Trail begins it's descent into the inner gorge. two buildings, an open-sided shade structure, and a composting toilet in a desert environment, with colorful cliffs in the distance](/articles/images/IMG_2160s.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
NPS/Craig Chenevert
The Tipoff area previously had restrooms and an emergency phone box. The emergency phone is being relocated within the shelter.
Funding for the shelter was provided by the Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC), which is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park. The National Park Service and the GCC jointly installed the shelter.
Additional Photos
![The South Kaibab Trail Tip Off ramada being lowered onto the site. the framework of a 12 x 24 foot shade structure being lowered from a cable by helicopter, with colorful cliffs and peaks in the background.](/articles/images/Tip-Off-Ramada-Landing-on-Site.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS/Craig Chenevert
![Tipoff_2163 workers completing a 12 x 24 foot shade structure, in a desert, with a canyon wall rising in the distance](/articles/images/Tipoff_2163.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS/Craig Chenevert
![Tipoff_2182a interior of open-air shade structure showing position of benches, and side-wall shade screens](/articles/images/Tipoff_2182a.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS/Craig Chenevert
![Tipoff_2157a unpaved trails leading to two small buildings in a desert with colorful cliffs in the distance](/articles/images/Tipoff_2157a.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS/Craig Chenevert
![tipoff_2165a standing on a backcountry trail with rock liner sides. a small building is on the left, at the top of a hill](/articles/images/tipoff_2165a.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS/Craig Chenevert
![Tipoff_2185a view across a desert plain at a clearing with two small buildings. In the background canyon cliffs rise.](/articles/images/Tipoff_2185a.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS/Craig Chenevert