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Grand Canyon National Park
Printable Travel Guide
http://www.nps.gov/grca
CONTACTS
Email - [email protected]
Fax- 928-638-7797
Write to
Grand Canyon National Park
P.O. Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Phone
Visitor Information Recorded Message - 928-638-7888
TRAVEL BASICS
Operating Hours, Seasons
The SOUTH RIM is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Services are
available and facilies are open year round.
The NORTH RIM is open mid-May through mid-October. Weather
permitting, the North Rim is open for day use only following the close
of facilities in mid-October. After that time there are no services or
overnight facilites available inside the park on the North Rim.
Getting There
PLANE - Commercial air carriers serve Las Vegas, Phoenix, Flagstaff, and
Grand Canyon Airport (in Tusayan, just south of the park).
CAR - Grand Canyon Village (SOUTH RIM) is located 60 miles north of
Interstate 40 at Williams via highway 64, and 80 miles northwest of
Flagstaff via highway 180. Only ten miles from rim to rim as the crow
flies, the North Rim is 215 miles (about 4 1/2 hours) from the South Rim
by car. The NORTH RIM is 44 miles south of Jacob Lake, AZ, via highway
67.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - SOUTH RIM: Bus Service between Grand Canyon
National Park and Flagstaff, Arizona is offered by Nava-Hopi Tours,
800-892-8687, and by South Rim Travel, 928-638-2748. Greyhound Bus Lines
offers service from Flagstaff and Williams to points nationwide. Grand
Canyon Railroad offers service between Williams and the canyon,
1-800-THE-TRAIN.
NORTH RIM: A shuttle service is provided seasonally between the North
Rim and the South Rim by Trans-Canyon Shuttle, 928-638-2820.
Weather & Climate
The South Rim is 7000 feet above sea level, which means snow in winter
and cool nights even in summer. Inner canyon hiking (below the rim) is
another story, however: summer temperatures along the Colorado River at
the canyon bottom can reach 120º F. The North Rim is 8000 feet above
sea level and can receive snow throughout most of the year. Weather is
particularly changeable in spring and fall; visitors should be prepared
for a variety of climates.
The high altitude of both the South and North Rims may cause visitors
with respiratory or heart problems to experience difficulties. All
walking at this elevation can be strenuous.
Accessibility
Facilities vary a great deal. The National Park Service provides
wheelchairs for temporary day use by park visitors. No rental fee is
charged. A wheelchair is usually available at Canyon View Center. To
obtain a temporary parking permit for designated parking, inquire at the
Entrance Gate, Canyon View Center, or Yavapai Observtion Station.
Several of the daily interpretive Ranger Programs are wheelchair
accessible. Inquire at the Canyon View Center or look in the
"Guide" for specifics.
A copy of the Grand Canyon National Park Accessibility Guide is
available upon request at Canyon View Center, Yavapai Observation
Station, Kolb Studio, Tusyan Museum, and Desert View Information Center.
Or write for a copy.
SOUTH RIM: Most shuttles are inaccessible to wheelchairs. Accessible
shuttle buses are available with a 48-hour advance reservation. Call
928-638-0591.
Getting Around
SOUTH RIM: Free shuttle service is available year round throughout Grand
Canyon Village and out to the South Kaibab Trailhead. March - November
free shuttle service is available along Hermit Road. When the Hermits
Rest shuttle bus is running, Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles.
Taxis are available (on call) from Grand Canyon National Park Lodges,
call (928) 638-2631 ext. 6563.
NORTH RIM: There is no shuttle service on the North Rim.
FEES/PERMITS
Entrance Fee
COMMERCIAL TOUR
Entrance fees are charged based on vehicle capacity for all tour groups
and bus companies that originate outside the 100 mile radius of an
entrance station for Grand Canyon National Park.
INDIVIDUAL
$10 for 7 Days
Admits one individual when entering by foot, bicycle, or motorcycle.
This fee also applies to organized (non-commercial, non-profit) groups.
Individuals 16 years old and younger are admitted free of charge.
VEHICLE
$20 for 7 Days
Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle and all its
passengers. Organized (non-profit) groups, (service organizations,
scouts, church groups, college/school clubs) are not eligible for the
$20.00 vehicle permit, regardless of the type of vehicle utilized, but
must pay the Individual Permit Fee.
Activity Fee
BACKCOUNTRY FEE
$5 for Day
Fee is per person/per night.
Permits
BACKCOUNTRY PERMIT
$10 for One Time
Permit fee (per permit)
NONCOMMERCIAL RIVER PERMIT
Waiting list application fee is $100.
Local Passport
GRAND CANYON PASS
$40 for Annual
Valid for twelve months from the date of purchase, for unlimited visits
to Grand Canyon National Park. It admits the purchaser and any
accompanying persons in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle, or
the purchaser and accompanying immediate family (spouse, children,
parents) when entry is by other means (train, shuttle, bicycle, foot,
and boat). This passport covers entrance fees only and NOT refundable
and/or transferable.
CAMPING
Backcountry Camping
Open All Year
To camp in the park in a location other than a developed campground on
the rim you must obtain a permit from the Backcountry Information
Center, this includes Bright Angel Campground at Phantom Ranch. All
campsites in the Inner Canyon require a backcountry permit. Applying
well in advance is recommended although a small number of permits are
sometimes available for the same day. There is a fee of $10 per permit
plus an additional fee of $5 per night per person.
Desert View Campground, South Rim
Desert View Campground is located 25 miles east of Grand Canyon Village
(South Rim) and is open mid-May(weather permitting) though mid-October.
Desert View Campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis
(no reservations). $10 per site per night. Hook-ups are not available.
Mather Campground, South Rim
Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Open All Year
Operated by the National Park Service and located in Grand Canyon
Village (South Rim), this campground offers tent and RV camping (no
hook-ups). Reservations are strongly recommended mid-March through
October. Campsites are $15/night. December through February,
reservations not needed, first-come first-served basis. For reservations
call Biospherics at (800) 365-2267; outside U.S. call 301.722.1257.
Reservations can also be made through a secure web site at http://reservations.nps.gov.
Maximum of two vehicles and six people per site. Sites may be reserved
up to five months in advance. Group sites available, $40/night, maximum
of 50 people and three vehicles per group site.
North Rim Campground
Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Open From 05/12/2001 To 10/15/2001
Operated by the National Park Service, campground is open from mid-May
to mid-October. Campsites are $15, no hook-ups, dump station available.
Stays are limited to 7 days per season. Reservations through Biospherics,
1-800-365-2267. Reservations can also be made through a secure web site
at http://reservations.nps.gov. Check at campground for last-minute
availability. Campground may remain open past October 15, weather
permitting.
Out-of-Park Camping South Rim
There is a commercial campground in Tusayan, 7 miles south of Grand
Canyon Village (Camper Village, 928-638-2887), and a Forest Service
campground (Ten X, 928-638-2443) 2 miles south of Tusayan in the Kaibab
National Forest. Dispersed camping is permitted in the national forest
outside the park.
Out-of-Park North Rim
The Forest Service operates 2 campgrounds: 16 and 45 miles north of the
North Rim. Dispersed camping is permitted in the national forest outside
the park.
Trailer Village, South Rim
Open All Year
Trailer Village (adjacent to Mather Campground on the South Rim) offers
RV sites with hook-ups; reservations strongly suggested. Cost: $24 (+
tax) per site per night for two people; $1.75 for each additional person
over age 16. Campers may register at the entrance to Trailer Village.
Visit the web site at http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com. A dump station
is located nearby (closed during the winter months).
For More Information on this campground please call 303-297-2757
LODGING
In-Park Lodging North Rim
Open From 05/12/2001 To 10/15/2001
A variety of lodging facilities are available and reservations are
handled by AmFac Parks & Resorts. Call 303-297-2757, FAX
303-297-3175, or write Amfac Parks & Resorts, 14001 East Illiff,
Ste. 600, Aurora, CO 80014. Make reservations as far ahead as possible.
Check at Grand Canyon Lodge for last-minute availability.
For More Information on this lodging please call 303-297-2757
In-Park Lodging South Rim
Open All Year
A variety of lodging facilities are available and reservations are
handled by Amfac Parks & Resorts. Call 303-297-2757, FAX
303-297-3175, or write Amfac Parks & Resorts, 14001 East Illiff,
Ste. 600, Aurora, CO 80014. Prices range from $47 to $285 per night
(subject to change). There is no youth hostel in Grand Canyon National
Park. Lodging is booked well in advance, especially during the summer
months. Be sure to make reservations as far ahead as possible. For
Phantom Ranch reservations contact the information listed above.
For More Information on this lodging please call 303-297-2757
Inner Canyon Phantom Ranch
Open All Year
Overnight hikers may arrange to stay at Phantom Ranch. Reservations for
meals and lodging are required. A backcountry permit is not required for
overnight stays at the dormitories or cabins at Phantom Ranch.
For More Information on this lodging please call 303-297-2757
Out-of Park North Rim
Open All Year
Lodging facilities are available outside the North Rim of Grand Canyon
National Park just past the park boundary; in Jacob Lake, Arizona; and
in Kanab, Utah.
Out-of-Park Lodging South Rim
Open All Year
A variety of lodging facilities are available outside the Grand Canyon
National Park in Tusayan, just 7 miles south of the South Rim; in
Williams, 60 miles south on Highway 64; and in Flagstaff, 80 miles south
on Highway 180.
FACILITIES
FOOD/SUPPLIES/BANK/POST OFFICE
Available Facilities - SOUTH RIM: Groceries, supplies, a bank,
and a post office are located at Market Plaza in Grand Canyon Village.
The Village Route shuttle bus stops at Market Plaza. NORTH RIM: There is
a small camper store adjacent to the North Rim Campground.
Museums
KOLB STUDIO, SOUTH RIM
Open All Year
Open From 04/03/2001 To 05/01/2001 8am to 7pm
Open From 05/02/2001 To 8/15/2001 8am to 8pm
Location - Located in the Village Historic District, at the
Bright Angel trailhead. (South Rim)
Special Programs - From June 30, 2001 to October 15, 2001 an art
exhibit by Ulrike Arnold - Earth Painter will be featured. German artist
Ulrike Arnold paints with pigments gathered from the natural world, a
technique she has come to describe as "earth painting."
Working on rock faces or unstretched canvas, she pays homage to the
landscape around her by using materials gathered from it. Much of the
artist's focus is on color, and the variety of her natural palette is
remarkable: reds, oranges, blacks, even blues and greens make up her
unorthodox paint box. This exhibit will focus on Ms. Arnold's work in
the American Southwest, and includes paintings from the Burr Trail in
Utah, Luna Mesa near Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National
Park, and Bisbee, Arizona.
Exhibits - Once the home and business of the Kolb brothers,
pioneering photographers at Grand Canyon, this building has been
restored. The bookstore and auditorium are open to the public. Art
exhibits are on display in the auditorium.
TUSAYAN MUSEUM, SOUTH RIM
Open All Year 9am-5pm
Location - The museum is located 3 miles west of Desert View and
22 miles west of the Grand Canyon Village on Desert View Drive. (South
Rim)
Closures - May be closed during inclement weather.
Special Programs - A visit to Tusayan Ruin and Museum will
provide a glimpse of Pueblo Indian Life at Grand Canyon some 800 years
ago. A self-guiding trail leads through the adjacent 800-year-old ruin.
Ranger-led ruin tours are offered daily (see the Guide for times or ask
at the museum).
Exhibits - Exhibits of Pueblo Indian life at Grand Canyon 800
years ago. Free admisssion
Available Facilities - Educational materials about the park and
region are sold in the Grand Canyon Association bookstore.
YAVAPAI OBSERVATION STATION, SOUTH RIM
Open All Year
Open From 04/03/2001 To 05/01/2001 8am to 7pm
Open From 05/02/2001 To 8/15/2001 8am to 8pm
Location - Located 5 miles north of the park's south entrance.
(South Rim)
Exhibits - Contains temporary exhibits about the fossil record at
Grand Canyon. A panorama of the canyon is visible through the building's
large windows.
Available Facilities - Educational materials about the park and
region are sold in the Grand Canyon Association bookstore. Public
restrooms located next to the parking lot.
Visitor Centers
CANYON VIEW INFORMATION PLAZA, SOUTH RIM
Open All Year 8am to 6pm
Location - Canyon View Information Plaza is located at Mather
Point. Access is via shuttle bus to Canyon View Information Plaza. Ride
either the Village Route bus or the Kaibab Trail Route bus.
Closures - Facilities at Canyon View Information Plaza close at
8pm. The outdoor exhibits may be viewed at all hours, however the lights
at Canyon View Information Plaza are turned off at 10pm.
Special Programs - 10:30am and 3:30pm, daily, "Lure of the
Canyon" - What lures people to the Grand Canyon? Make your own
connection as you are introduced to Grand Canyon National Park. Program
may inlcude a short walk on a paved path. Meet at the National Park
System exhibit inside Canyon View Center.
Exhibits - Several outdoor exhibits provide a variety of
information about Grand Canyon National Park and what to do once at the
park.
Available Facilities - Restrooms, pay phones, bookstore, and
shuttle bus stops. The canyon rim is only a short stroll away.
DESERT VIEW INFORMATION CENTER, SOUTH RIM
Open All Year 9am to 7pm
Location - Located at the park's east entrance on the South Rim.
Available Facilities - Orientation, park information, and books
are available. Public restrooms located nearby.
NORTH RIM VISITOR CENTER
Open From 05/12/01 To 10/15/01 8am to 6pm
Location - Adjacent to the parking lot on Bright Angel Peninsula.
Closures - The North Rim Visitor Center is open from mid-May to
mid-October only.
Special Programs - Interpretive programs offered seasonally.
Available Facilities - Public restrooms located in back of the
building.
Wilderness Information Centers
BACKCOUNTRY INFORMATION CENTER, NORTH RIM
Open From 05/12/2001 To 10/15/2001 8am-noon, 1-5pm
Phone - 928-638-7875, M-F, 1-5pm
Location - At the North Rim Ranger Station.
Closures - The North Rim Backcountry Information Center closes in
mid-October when the North Rim visitor facilities and services close for
the season.
Special Programs - ALL overnight camping below the rim requires a
backcountry permit. A fee of $10/permit and $5/person per night is
charged.
BACKCOUNTRY INFORMATION CENTER, SOUTH RIM
Open All Year 8am - noon, 1 - 5pm, everyday
Phone - 928-638-7875, M-F, 1-5pm
Location - On the South Rim adjacent to Parking Area E, it is
also accessible via the Village Route shuttle bus.
Special Programs - ALL overnight camping below the rim requires a
backcountry permit. A fee of $10/permit and $5/person per night is
charged.
Available Facilities - The Backcountry Information Center public
information phone line is only answered from 1-5pm, Monday - Friday.