News Release

Grand Canyon National Park to Temporarily Close Overnight Hotel Accommodations Beginning August 29

The Grand Canyon Village and Bright Angel Trail

NPS Photo/M. Quinn

News Release Date: August 28, 2024

Contact: Joelle Baird, 928-638-7779

Grand Canyon National Park will implement Stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim starting the afternoon of Thursday, August 29, due to a series of four significant breaks in the 12½ mile-long Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water from the canyon for use in the park. Since July 8, the park has faced challenges with water supply, and currently, no water is being pumped to either the South or North Rim. 

In response, the following measures will be enacted for the South Rim for the foreseeable future: 

• Overnight Guest Lodging: Effective Thursday, August 29, all park concessions will halt overnight accommodations. This includes hotel facilities operated by Xanterra, such as El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Phantom Ranch, as well as Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village. Overnight hotel accommodations located outside the park in the town of Tusayan will not be impacted by changes in park operations.  
• Dry Camping: Only dry camping will be permitted. Spigot access at campgrounds on the South Rim will be turned off, though faucets in bathrooms will remain operational. Water spigot access will be available at the Mather Campground check-in kiosk.  
• No fires will be allowed on the South Rim and inner canyon areas. Fire restrictions prohibit all wood burning and charcoal fires, including campfires, warming fires, and charcoal barbeques. For more information on fire restrictions, visit the park’s Fire Information webpage.
• Operational Services: The park will remain open for day use. All South Rim food and beverage services, the Grand Canyon Clinic, and the Post Office will remain open. The North Rim's Grand Canyon Lodge, and other North Rim visitor services such as the Campground, will remain open. 

These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources. The goal is to restore full operational status for overnight guests on the South Rim as quickly as possible. 

Existing conservation measures remain in place for both the North and South Rims. We are asking residents and visitors to help conserve water by limiting showers to five minutes or less, turning off faucets while shaving or brushing teeth, flushing toilets selectively, washing laundry with full loads, and reporting leaks to the appropriate offices. 

Hikers in the backcountry must carry all necessary water or methods to treat water. For the most updated information on water availability in the backcountry, visit the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates webpage at: Critical Backcountry Updates: Including Trail Closures and Restrictions - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Originally built in the 1960s, the Transcanyon Waterline 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. Since 2010, there have been over 85 major breaks that have each disrupted water delivery. The National Park Service recently started construction on a multi-year, $208 million rehabilitation of the Transcanyon Waterline (tcwl) 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 six million annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents.

The project is expected to be completed in 2027. The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is providing more than $40 million to replace the South Rim Wastewater Treatment Plant which services visitor, staff, lodging and support facilities. GAOA is part of a concerted effort by the National Park Service to address extensive deferred maintenance and repair needs in national parks.  

For ongoing updates, visit the Grand Canyon National Park Operations Update webpage or call the recorded information line at [phone]. 

-NPS-