Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is now closed to vehicle traffic for the season. Arizona State Route 67, leading to the North Rim closed on December 2, 2013. State Route 67 and all services on the North Rim are expected to re-open for the 2014 season on May 15, 2014.

Campground, Yurts Available

The North Rim campground and yurt will still be available for winter camping, and are accessible via inner canyon trails from the South Rim or by cross-country skiing and snowshoeing- a 45-mile trip from Jacob Lake.

To camp at the North Rim during the winter months, visitors will need a backcountry permit, which can be obtained from the Backcountry Information Center located at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

Permit requests can be faxed year-round to (928) 638-2125. Backcountry permits for North Rim winter camping are also available at Pipe Springs National Monument west of Fredonia, Arizona and at the Bureau of Land Management Interagency Visitor Center in St. George, Utah.

Plan And Prepare

"Although winter on the North Rim can provide a great wilderness experience, visitors are advised to plan ahead and prepare for winter conditions and weather that can change rapidly," stated North Rim District Ranger Jeff Webb.

He added, "Trails that normally are well traveled in summer, have almost no traffic during the winter. Backcountry travelers to the North Rim in winter must be self-reliant and understand that they are undertaking a difficult trip where cell phone coverage may or may not be available and where emergency response may be limited or delayed."

For additional information on winter camping on the North Rim, please call the Backcountry Information Center at (928) 638-7875, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. MST, weekdays, excluding holidays or visit the Park's backcountry web page at http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm.

South Rim Open Year-Round

The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is open year-round. Additional Park information can be obtained by calling 928-638-7888 or by visiting the park Web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca.