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A vegetation biologist conducts field surveys on the North Rim on Aug. 25. The DOI Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team includes specialists across many disciplines including vegetation and forestry technicians, wildlife biologists, and others.
DOI BAER Team Photo
Trail Reopenings & Current Closures
Effective Aug. 20, 2025:
South Kaibab Trail is open from the South Kaibab Trailhead to Tipoff.
Tonto Trail is open from Tipoff to Havasupai Gardens.
Bright Angel Trail is open from the Bright Angel Trailhead to Pipe Creek Resthouse.
The River Trail from Pipe Creek to the South Kaibab Trail junction remains closed through October 31, 2025, due to ongoing construction on the Transcanyon Waterline Project. This segment is expected to reopen on November 1, 2025. The Silver Bridge will remain closed through November 26, 2025. On November 1, 2025, Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground are tentatively expected to reopen to the public.
The North Kaibab Trail remains closed for the foreseeable future due to post-fire impacts. Extensive maintenance is required to address rockslides and make necessary structural modifications before it can safely reopen. Highway 67 to the North Rim will also remain closed for the foreseeable future due to impacts from the Dragon Bravo Fire.
North Rim Dragon Bravo Fire Information & Recovery
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.
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.
We will continue to share imagery and information as conditions allow.
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.
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.
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.
