News Release

Grand Canyon National Park announces updates to construction schedule for 2026

A view of a 50-foot section of the River Trail that collapsed in August 2025, and will be rebuilt in the coming months along with installing new TCWL water and electrical lines.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: December 17, 2025

Contact: Grand Canyon Office of Communication

Grand Canyon National Park is announcing Transcanyon Waterline (TCWL) construction closure-related work for 2026. 

Rockfalls occurred along a section of the River Trail in August, causing a 50-foot section of the trail to collapse and triggered the need for additional assessments and work to rebuild the trail. 

Expected visitor-use area closures include: 

• Plateau Point Trail north of the Tonto Trail junction to Plateau Point: Oct. 12, 2023-June 30, 2026 
• River Trail east of River Resthouse to South Kaibab Trail junction: Oct. 21, 2024-June 30, 2026 
• Silver Bridge: Oct. 21, 2024-June 30, 2026 

The North Kaibab Trail is currently closed north of the Clear Creek Trail junction due to damage from the 2025 Dragon Bravo fire. TCWL construction activities are planned along the North Kaibab Trail in 2026 between Cottonwood Campground and the Roaring Springs Pumphouse. 

Trail users will need to use Black Bridge through June 30, 2026, to cross the Colorado River. The Bright Angel Trail is open from the South Rim trailhead to Pipe Creek Beach for use up and down the trail; there will be no access to Phantom Ranch via the River Trail. The River Resthouse is open. Hikers may continue to traverse between the Bright Angel Trail and the South Kaibab Trail via the Tonto Trail. 

The construction areas and schedule are subject to change, and visitors are encouraged to check the park’s website for the current operational status. Additional closures may be needed in 2026, and information will be published as soon as any schedule updates are confirmed. 

Originally built in the late 1960s, the TCWL provides potable water for facilities on the South Rim and inner canyon. The waterline has exceeded its expected lifespan and experiences frequent failures, which require expensive and continuous maintenance work to repair leaks. Over the past couple of months, there were three significant breaks in the TCWL. The water utility crew recently completed complex repairs to the old Transcanyon Waterline, enabling the park to begin easing some water restrictions today, Dec. 17, 2025. 

In 2023, the National Park Service started construction on a multi-year, $208 million rehabilitation of the Transcanyon Waterline and upgrades to the associated water delivery system. This crucial investment in infrastructure will ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for millions of annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents. 

-NPS-