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Beginning March 1, 2021, visitors traveling to Grand Canyon National Park should be prepared for modified changes in shuttle bus operations compared to previous years. The spring schedule will be in place from March 1 through May 28, 2021.

To Protect Public Health

To protect public health, all buses and shuttle operations are still modified to meet COVID-19 guidelines. The modified buses carry a smaller number of passengers per trip with additional safety measures in place, including —

• Shuttle capacity is limited to 15 passengers;

• Face masks/coverings are required in line and on the bus; passengers must have their own face masks/coverings;

• Hand sanitizer will be available for use;

• Passengers must follow all CDC and public health physical distancing guidelines while in line and on the bus; sidewalk decals, tape, and signage have been installed at bus stops to promote physical distancing; and

• Buses will undergo daily cleaning according to CDC and public health guidance.

Key Shuttle Updates

The Hermits Rest Route (Red Route) and the Kaibab Rim Route Eastbound (Orange Route) will operate with the following schedules —

• Both routes will start at 4:30 a.m. and run until one hour after sunset.

• During peak hours, headways on the Hermits Rest Route will be every 5-10 minutes and headways on the Kaibab Rim Route Eastbound will be every 8-10 minutes.

• Headways will be every 30 minutes before sunrise and following sunset.

The Hikers' Express Bus will run directly from the Backcountry Office to the South Kaibab Trailhead. No other stops will be made along the Hikers' Express Route. The schedule for the express bus is as follows:

• March and April - 6, 7 and 8 a.m.

• May - 5, 6 and 7 a.m.

Hikers can also park at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and access the South Kaibab Trailhead via the Kaibab Rim Route (Orange Route), which will operate from 4:30 a.m. until one hour after sunset.

Not Operating This Spring

The Village Route (Blue Route), the Kaibab Rim Route Westbound, and the Tusayan Route (Purple Route) will not operate this spring.

More Information

Additional shuttle bus information is available online at http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses.htm.

When Riding Park Shuttle Buses

• Visitors should expect delays to board a bus during busier times of the day.

• Buses are white with a green stripe and display the route name on the front and the side

• No tickets are required; a portion of your entrance fee pays for this important service

• Buses come every 15-30 minutes

• Bus stops are clearly marked throughout the park

• The routes interconnect, but do not overlap

• Bus stops are located approximately every mile along the 13-mile Rim Trail. Walk a portion of the Rim Trail while taking in the views and then get on a shuttle bus. The Rim Trail is wheelchair-accessible from Lookout Studio to the South Kaibab Trailhead

• Bus stops are also in proximity to great cycling opportunities. Bicycle the Greenway Trail to South Kaibab Trailhead or ride Hermit Road to Hermits Rest and then get on a shuttle bus to come back

• Service may be suspended during inclement weather

Shuttle Bus Etiquette

• No eating or open drink containers

• No pets allowed on shuttle buses. Service dogs are permitted (as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act).

• Collapse strollers before entering the shuttle bus. No oversized or jogging strollers. Remove baby-back carriers when seated

• Shuttle buses can accommodate two or three bicycles, but not tag alongs, baby trailers, or children's bicycles with wheels less than 16 inches (41 cm). Riders must load and unload their bicycles

• Shuttle buses are equipped with ramps and space to carry passengers in wheelchairs.Please note: wheelchairs larger than 30 inches wide by 48 inches long (76 cm x 122 cm) cannot be accommodated on shuttle buses and most motorized scooters will not fit

• Shuttle buses only stop at designated bus stops

All of the park's buses are wheelchair accessible, but the park does offer a Scenic Drive Accessibility Permit, which allows entry for visitors with mobility issues to some areas closed to public traffic. The permit is available at entrance gates and National Park Service visitor centers.

History Of The Shuttle Bus System

The National Park Service has provided free shuttle bus service on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park for more than 40 years. All of the park's buses are fully accessible and run on compressed natural gas, which means fewer harmful emissions for people and the environment. And the roadways are far less crowded!

Grand Canyon's shuttle system provides a hassle free way to access South Rim trails, viewpoints, and other points of interest –some areas are only accessible by bus. The shuttle system is not an experience in and of itself, but a means to access all that the South Rim has to offer – hiking, cycling, scenic views and artistic endeavors, historical structures inspired by the regional landscape, and museums and information centers that highlight the park's unique cultural and natural resources. So, park your car and begin your Grand Canyon explorations!