GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – No later than 8 a.m. on May 15, the Arizona Department of Transportation will open Highway 67 to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and all North Rim services will commence their 2013 seasonal operations.
Among the attractions on the North Rim are Grand Canyon Trail Rides and the Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim; services there include lodging, groceries, camping, dining and a service station. All concession facilities will open at 10 a.m., with the exception of the dining room, which will open for lunch at 11:30. Lodge check-in will begin at 4 p.m.
Advance overnight lodging reservations for North Rim facilities may be made by contacting Forever Resorts at 877-386-4383. Advance reservations for the North Rim Campground may be made by calling 877-444-6777. For information on Grand Canyon Trail Rides, call 435-679-8665.
All services provided by the National Park Service, including the Visitor Center, Backcountry Permits Office and campground, as well as the Grand Canyon Association Bookstore will be available on May 15 at 8 a.m. The first scheduled ranger program, Grand Canyon Geology, will be held on the back porch of the Lodge at 3 p.m. The first evening program will be held at 8 p.m. in the Lodge auditorium. All ranger programs for the season will be listed in “The Guide” (North Rim: 2013 Season,) a free publication distributed at the North Entrance Station, the North Rim Visitor Center and online.
The last day for most concession services and regularly scheduled ranger programs will be Oct. 15, 2013. The NPS will continue its operations, including the North Rim Visitor Center, bookstore and Backcountry Permits Office through Oct. 31. The North Rim will remain open for day use from Nov. 1 through Dec. 1, unless Highway 67 is closed due to weather conditions before that time.
From Nov. 1 through Dec. 1, pay-at-the-pump gas and diesel will still be available and visitors will continue to have access to the Point Imperial and Bright Angel viewpoints, as well as the North Kaibab Trailhead. Camping will be available to those that walk or hike in (no car camping) at the North Rim Campground and Yurt, provided a backcountry use permit has been obtained; those permits will continue to be available through the South Rim Backcountry Information Center, and at the visitor center at Pipe Spring National Monument in Fredonia, Ariz.
The North Rim lies at the southern end of the Kaibab Plateau at approximately 8,500 feet in elevation, and offers spectacular canyon views. It is approximately a 215-mile drive from the South Rim. Points of interest include Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Point Sublime, North Kaibab Trail, and Bright Angel Point.
Submitted by: Grand Canyon National Park
Email: [email protected]
