Grand Canyon lifting Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground closures

PHOENIX – Two popular destinations at Grand Canyon National Park will reopen this weekend for the first time since the Dragon Bravo Fire tore through the area over three months ago.

Visitors once again will have access to Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground starting Saturday, park officials said.

Additionally, the lower section of the South Kaibab Trail from Tipoff to Phantom Ranch will reopen for day use.

The River Trail between the River Resthouse and the South Kaibab Trail junction and the North Kaibab Trail north of the Clear Creek Trail junction remain off limits.

Water availability limited in parts of Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon visitors should be aware of limited water availability in the coming weeks due to work on the ongoing Transcanyon Waterline Replacement Project.

Pumping operations will be interrupted from Tuesday through approximately Nov. 18.

During the interruption, water will not be available at Bright Angel Campground, the Delta Restroom, Boat Beach and the 1.5-mile and 3-mile resthouses.

However, the Phantom Ranch center spigot near the canteen and Havasupai Gardens will still have water.

Due to the water limitations and dry conditions, the park will implement Stage 3 water restrictions and Stage 2 fire restrictions starting Friday.

How destructive was the Dragon Bravo Fire?

Lightning sparked the Dragon Bravo Fire on July 4. The blaze raged for weeks, powered by high winds and unusually dry conditions, and eventually consumed 145,504 acres to become the seventh-largest wildfire ever recorded in Arizona.

The fire destroyed over 70 structures on the North Rim, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.

Select areas of the North Rim reopened in late September and will remain accessible through Nov. 30 or until the first major snowfall hits, whichever comes first.

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