Status of the North Rim

View from the Ken Patrick Trail near Point Imperial on the North Rim, Sept. 20, 2025

NPS Photo/A. Gibson

 

 

North Rim Status Update

Beginning Oct. 1, 2025, Grand Canyon National Park will partially reopen select areas of the North Rim to public access following the Dragon Bravo Fire. 

The partial reopening will include Highway 67 to the W1 road, (approximately at mile marker 11), and the Cape Royal Road, providing access to both Point Imperial and Cape Royal. Additionally, Fire Point and Swamp Ridge will reopen. These areas will be open daily from official sunrise to official sunset. No overnight use is permitted on the North Rim with the exception of Swamp Point and Fire Point. Open areas will remain accessible through Nov. 30, 2025, or until the first major snowfall, whichever occurs first. 

Visitors are advised to use caution when traveling in the reopened areas. Hazards remain, including dead standing trees, the potential for flash flooding even in areas not directly affected by the fire, and the presence of crews and equipment actively working on recovery operations.  

Due to the remote nature of the North Rim, visitors should be fully self-sufficient and bring all food, water, and supplies. There is no power, running water, cell service, or visitor services currently available in the reopened areas. Fuel is not available within the park, so visitors should plan ahead and ensure they have sufficient fuel before entering the North Rim area. Emergency response will be extremely limited, and response times may be significantly delayed. Winter driving conditions, including snow and icy roads, are possible at any time, and drivers should be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. 

The full news release announcing the partial reopening of the North Rim can be viewed here. 

 

Trail Reopenings & Current Closures

OPEN CURRENTLY FROM SOUTH RIM as of 9/25/2025:

• South Kaibab Trail from the South Kaibab Trailhead to Tipoff.
• Tonto Trail from Tipoff to Havasupai Gardens.
• Bright Angel Trail is open from the Bright Angel Trailhead to River Resthouse.

WILL OPEN ON NORTH RIM, 10/1/2025:

• Arizona Trail from the Kaibab National Forest Boundary to the W1 junction near the Widforss Trailhead.
• The Ken Patrick Trail from Point Imperial to Cape Royal (approximately 3 miles in length). Due to limited parking along Cape Royal Road, an out-and-back hike is recommended.
• Cape Royal Trail
• Cliff Spring Trail
• Cape Final Trail
• Roosevelt Point Trail

WILL REMAIN CLOSED:

• North Kaibab Trail — Extensive maintenance is required to address rockslides and make necessary structural modifications.
• Widforss Trail
• Transept Trail
• Bridle Path
• Ken Patrick Trail South of Cape Royal Road
• Uncle Jim Loop

 

North Rim Dragon Bravo Fire Information & Recovery

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the status of the Dragon Bravo Fire?

Please check the fire Inciweb for current information including acreage, closure areas, and fire behavior: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azgcp-dragon-bravo-fire. 

How many people have been evacuated?

On July 10, the National Park Service evacuated approximately 500 visitors from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon due to the threat of losing access to Hwy. 67 by the White Sage Fire which was burning to the north on BLM lands and the Kaibab National Forest. 

On July 11, the National Park Service evacuated more than 400 park, concession, and Grand Canyon Conservancy staff due to the rapidly growing Dragon Bravo Fire. The 54 mules with Canyon Trail Rides were evacuated on July 13.  
 
No lives were lost, and no major injuries have been reported as a result of the Dragon Bravo Fire. 

What considerations are being made for the future of the North Rim Lodge?

The future of the North Rim Lodge is being carefully evaluated through a phased process that prioritizes safety, stabilization, and long-term planning. Following the Dragon Bravo Fire, hazard tree removal and initial hazard assessments are underway in the developed area.

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team began a full assessment on August 21, 2025 to guide an Emergency Stabilization Plan, which includes addressing hazardous materials, protecting water quality, and ensuring safe site access.Once conditions allow, Grand Canyon National Park will begin evaluating the stability of historic structures, including the North Rim Lodge, as part of a dedicated Historic Structure Stabilization Plan. This process will help determine what treatments or repairs are needed to protect and preserve the lodge for the future.

Where can I find photos of the damaged areas?

To help provide information and transparency, photos of damage to the developed area have been posted on Grand Canyon National Park’s Flickr page: Dragon Bravo Fire - Grand Canyon National Park - July 2025 | Flickr and the Dragon Bravo Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) has been posting daily photos and updates on InciWeb Azgcp Dragon Bravo Fire Information | InciWeb.

We will continue to share imagery and information as conditions allow.

Will the North Rim reopen for the 2026 season?

At this time, it is too early to say whether the North Rim will reopen for day use in 2026. The Dragon Bravo Fire caused significant impacts to infrastructure, trails, utilities, and natural resources on the North Rim. In addition, Highway 67, the sole access road, remains closed for the foreseeable future due to post-fire hazards.

The park is working closely with interagency partners to assess damage, restore critical utilities, and reduce safety risks such as post-fire flooding, debris flows, and falling trees. These efforts, along with recommendations from the Department of the Interior’s Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team, will guide decisions about when and how the North Rim can safely reopen.

The safety of the public and park staff remains the highest priority. The park is committed to reopening closed areas as soon as they are determined to be safe, and will continue to provide regular updates as recovery and repair efforts progress.

What is the status of the Brighty the Burro statue?

Brighty was safely transported from the North Rim to the South Rim Museum collections on August 15, 2025. There, he will be carefully evaluated by staff. The park is working closely with our nonprofit partner, Grand Canyon Conservancy, on restoration efforts to ensure Brighty is preserved for future generations.

 

Dragon Bravo Fire Timeline

July 4, 2025	The Dragon Bravo Fire was ignited by a lightning strike. The fire was managed initially under a confine and contain suppression strategy.
July 4-10, 2025	A Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) managed the fire, and 110 personnel were assigned to the incident for approximately a week. The fire showed low to moderate growth while firefighters improved and fortified containment lines around the fire perimeter.
July 10, 2025	Due to the nearby White Sage Fire threatening Hwy. 67 access, 500 visitors were evacuated from the North Rim. North Rim residents were encouraged to shelter in place.
July 11, 2025	3:30 p.m. : Unpredictable shifting winds caused the fire to breach containment lines and spread rapidly toward critical infrastructure and housing. North Rim NPS and concessions staff were issued a "SET" and subsequent "GO" evacuation order.
July 12, 2025	Aerial damage assessment revealed severe damage and loss of structures in the NPS Administration Area, to include 11 residences, multiple office buildings, vehicles, and water treatment facilities. A chlorine gas leak was reported at the North Rim water treatment plant. Immediate evacuation and closure of Phantom Ranch and the inner canyon corridor was ordered. Between July 12 and 13, the fire expanded by an additional 500 acres reaching the southern end of developed area.
July 13, 2025	Aerial reconnaissance confirmed destruction of the Grand Canyon Lodge, the North Rim Visitor Center, and many historic cabins. Several structures remained intact, including the General Store, Campground, Gas Station, and some cabins and housing.
July 14, 2025	A Complex IMT took over management of the fire response and recovery, remaining in command with ongoing two-week rotations through September 2025.
July 17, 2025	The park requested an immediate assessment of post-fire risks to key values. Initial Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) findings identified no immediate need for emergency treatments for the Roaring Springs water system or aquifer contamination from fire retardant; however, the North Rim water pipeline and water treatment plant were severely damaged.
August 20, 2025	Reopening of inner canyon corridor trails to include the South Kaibab Trail to Tipoff, Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens, and the Tonto Trail between the Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails. Phantom Ranch, the River Trail, and the lower South Kaibab remain closed until Nov. 1, 2025.
August 21, 2025	A multi-agency Department of the Interior (DOI) BAER Team began work to assess the impacts of the Dragon Bravo Fire on National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.
August 29, 2025	Arizona Department of Transportation reopens Hwy. 67 from Jacob Lake to the Kaibab Lodge. The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park from mile marker 605 south remains closed.
September 2, 2025	Preliminary post-fire BAER assessment completed and recommendations provided to Grand Canyon National Park management for consideration and future planning efforts.

 

This map is being provided to meet the need for timely best science and on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information. Subject to revision.

USGS

Watershed Impacts from Dragon Bravo Fire

The Dragon Bravo Fire impacted several key North Rim watersheds that drain into the Colorado River, including House Rock Wash, North and South Canyons, Buck Farm Canyon, Nankoweap Creek, Kwagunt Creek, Malgosa, Awatubi, 60-Mile, Clear Creek, Bright Angel Creek (which flows through Phantom Ranch), Crystal Creek, and Tuna Creek. Some of these drainages are more than 13 miles long, and while rain at the top of the rim can take two to four hours to reach the river, flooding near or within the burn scar can happen in a matter of minutes.

Increased risk of flash floods and/or debris flows is expected in these watersheds during monsoons or other storms with heavy precipitation. In steep terrain, runoff can cause flash flooding within minutes of heavy rainfall. It can also trigger debris flows—fast-moving, destructive slides made up of water, ash, mud, rocks, and trees—that are capable of damaging buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, sometimes many miles downstream

Visitors should exercise extreme caution in all affected watersheds during monsoon season, as burned areas are more prone to flash flooding and debris flows.

To sign up for Grand Canyon River emergency alerts, please visit our webpage here.