Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of April 19, 2021
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This week’s numbers at a glance:
- The average number of new cases per day in Arizona in the last week was 602, slightly lower than 731 per day in the previous week.
- The total number of cases in the 86023 zip code since the pandemic began is 198. This number represents cases both inside and outside the park.
- Since the pandemic began, we’ve had 45 total positive COVID-19 cases in the park. To date, and as reported, none of the positive cases resulted from interaction with park visitors.
- More detailed statistics are available on the Coconino County COVID-19 Dashboard.
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Navajo Nation Re-implements “Safer at Home” Executive Order
- Navajo Nation reissued its stay at home order on April 9, 2021. This order has the same direction as previous orders and encourages Navajo Nation residents to stay safe at home. Daily curfews are in place from 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. mountain daylight time.
- As always, there are no restrictions upon staff or community members relative to travel to and from the park.
- You can read NDOH Public Health Emergency Order 2021-008 here.
- Specific guidance for the Navajo Nation can be found on the Navajo Nation website.
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Public Health Consultant Contact Information
If you test positive or become ill with COVID-19 symptoms, please report your situation to your supervisor and our NPS Public Health Consultant immediately. This is to ensure proper public health protocols are followed and that any exposure to the virus is minimized.
- Ronan King, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service
- Mobile: (202) 891-8599
- Email: ronan_king@nps.gov
- For all email correspondence, please also cc: Chris Glime, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service
- Mobile: (202)641-3518
- Email: christen_glime@nps.gov
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This Week’s COVID-19 Vaccine Information
There will be a COVID-19 Vaccine Event in Tusayan next Wednesday, April 28th from 10 AM to 1 PM in the rear parking lot of the IMAX:
- The Moderna Vaccine will be offered to Tusayan, Valle, and Grand Canyon residents 18 years and older as drive-through or walk-through appointments.
- This is a two-dose vaccine; the 2nd dose date is Wednesday May 26th.
- The second vaccination appointment will be scheduled during this 1st vaccination.
- Registration is required, and you can make an appointment by calling 928.522.1222
- A Spanish Translator will be available.
As of Monday, April 19th:
- More than 264 million vaccine doses have been administered in the US.
- Over 36% of adult Americans have received 1 vaccine dose, and nearly 22% are fully vaccinated.
- Approximately 39% of Arizonans have received 1 vaccine dose, and 27% have been fully vaccinated.
- In Coconino County approximately 44% of the population have received the 1st dose, with 35% fully vaccinated.
To schedule a vaccine appointment at the Grand Canyon Clinic, call the clinic directly at 928.638.2551. The Clinic has administered 1,965 vaccine doses, with 929 individuals fully vaccinated.
The CDC and FDA paused the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after receiving reports of six U.S. cases of a rare type of blood clot linked to low platelets. It is important to note that the risk of blood clots from contracting COVID is much higher than the risk of blood clots from vaccine complications. Here is the link to the statement from the CDC.
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Northern Arizona University’s Union Fieldhouse in Flagstaff opened a new vaccination site on April 19th. This new location will have a supply of the Pfizer vaccine and therefore will be open to Coconino County residents as young as 16 years of age.
The site will be open 7 days a week from 7 AM to 5 PM and will have 1,000 appointments available each day. Appointments for this new location will be available starting at 11 AM Friday, April 19th. You can learn more from
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COVID-19 Testing Details
- The Grand Canyon Clinic has hours for COVID testing on Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. If you need a test outside of this hour, you need an order from your health care provider indicating a test is warranted.
- In Flagstaff, COVID testing is available at Coconino Community College at 2800 South Lone Tree Road, and the NAU Fieldhouse at 1050 Knoles Drive.
- Testing is also available at other locations in Flagstaff, including:
- Walgreens on 4th Street
- NextCare Urgent Care
- The Veterans Affairs Clinic
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Messages and Grand Canyon News
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Paleontological Inventory Published
After a multi-year effort, the National Park Service and the Utah Geological Association have published Grand Canyon National Park Centennial Paleontological Resources Inventory: A Century of Fossil Discovery and Research, available for public download on the Utah Geological Association website. The publication documents more than 1.2 billion years of paleontological history in Grand Canyon. The rich fossil record uncovered during the inventory showcases flora and fauna from ancient Precambrian microbial mats to Pleistocene megafauna–including Shasta ground sloths, Harrington’s mountain goats, and the American cheetah–which lived in Grand Canyon’s limestone caves during the most recent Ice Age.
“Our understanding of the fossil record advances with new discoveries uncovered during each field season. The Grand Canyon paleontological inventory, and similar work in other parks, reward us all with new and more complete information about prehistoric life and the ancient world where they lived,” said National Park Service paleontologist Vincent Santucci. Grand Canyon’s substantial stratigraphic record shows the canyon has been home to ancient sharks, Permian plants, proto-reptiles, and now-extinct mammals as the environment shifted from hospitable oceans to harsh deserts over hundreds of millions of years.
The Grand Canyon National Park Centennial Paleontological Resource Inventory represents the largest park-specific fossil inventory in National Park Service history. The centennial of Grand Canyon in 2019 became the ideal backdrop for this project and required the collaboration of a team of paleontologists, NPS staff, and a number of park partners including Grand Canyon Conservancy and the Utah Geological Association. Their efforts, which included the first-ever park Paleo Blitz at Grand Canyon and a special National Fossil Day outreach event, improved understanding of ancient environments, extinction events and a created a new catalogue of ancient life at Grand Canyon.
Thanks to the collective contributions of National Park Service staff, park partners and other paleontologists, this new paleontological inventory catalogues fossil specimens in the park’s museum collection and will contribute to new educational and interpretive efforts on Grand Canyon paleontology.
The objective of the paleontological inventory was to identify the scope, significance, distribution and management issues associated with fossils in the park. Through this effort, the NPS compiled paleontological resource information for the public, park managers and staff to better understand the non-renewable paleontological resources under their stewardship, and in turn helps inform future park planning and decision-making which may relate to park fossils.
Interested in learning more? Travel back in time and read the Grand Canyon National Park Centennial Paleontological Resource Inventory on the Utah Geological Association website.
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Every National Park Service employee, volunteer, contractor, and partner organization has a responsibility to ensure a harassment-free workplace and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. We must all take an active role in supporting NPS efforts in creating and maintaining a safe work environment, by committing to preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment, supporting survivors, and holding offenders accountable. If you or someone you know needs support, you are not alone. Help is available 24 hours a day.
- The National Sexual Assault Hotline can link victims to resources of sexual abuse and/or assault in their local area. We will share a link to more information in the weekly wrap up (linked here: About the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline | RAINN.) Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at rainn.org.
- If you would like to report harassment, contact the DOI Office of the Inspector General. Call the OIG Hotline at 1-800-424-5081.
- If you believe you are the victim of a criminal offense, it should be reported to the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction of the crime. If you are unclear as to whether the incident that occurred was a crime, contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch (ISB) at 1-833-218-4472 for the duty agent.
- For other employee resources, contact the NPS Ombuds at 844-775-7726, or email or speak to an NPS Victim Specialist at victim_assistance_program@nps.gov (888-317-6310).
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Earth Day Celebrations and National Park Week Continue
Happy Earth Day! To celebrate, check out one of our Grand Canyon Moments about Water at
This Grand Canyon Moment features the sights and sounds of water and is a reminder of how essential and precious water is. Both the Earth and the human body are made up of about 70% water!
Everyone plays a role in protecting water, whether you are at Grand Canyon or at home. One way you can protect water is by being water wise! For example, where does your water come from and how much do you use daily? What is one way you use water?
Grand Canyon Moments: Water
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Strengthening Families Webinar 4/27 at 6 p.m.
Join the Grand Canyon School PTA for a free introduction to the Protective Factors Framework, a system that helps prevent domestic instability. The event will be hosted by Grand Canyon School PTA, Rene RedDay of Building Communities, LLC and the Coconino County Children and Youth Coalition. During the webinar, participants will learn about factors that lead to strong and resilient families.
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Canyon Closet and
Food Pantry Switch to Summer Hours
Mondays: 4-6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 12-2 p.m.
Saturdays: 3-5 p.m.
Donations are always welcome.
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Go Before You Go! Cedar Ridge Composting Toilets Unavailable 4/25 – 5/10
GRCA trails staff will close the Cedar Ridge Compost Toilet Facility on the South Kaibab Trail for much needed maintenance, evacuation, and rehabilitation between Sunday April 25th and Monday May 10th.
The tanks must be completely evacuated to perform the necessary maintenance. The rehab work will be done by a contractor from Advanced Composting Systems.
If you plan on hiking the South Kaibab trail, know that you should use restroom facilities prior to beginning your trek. The toilets at the trailhead will be unaffected.
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Silver Bridge APS work Continues
APS started repairs to the high voltage electrical line between Plateau Point and Phantom Ranch on April 12th, and work is progressing well.
Last week the crews set up a bypass power line on the Silver Bridge. There was a short power outage in the canyon when power was transferred from the damaged line to the bypass line. A separate crew set anchors at Plateau Point to provide fall protection for safe access to the power line in that location.
This week crews are working to install metal conduit on the Silver Bridge to protect the new power line. The crew has been working in “baskets” below the bridge.
A heavy lift helicopter will sling fall protection anchors to a location halfway between Phantom and Pipe Creek, downslope of the river trail. The anchors are 2 concrete blocks that weigh 3,600 pounds each.
The Silver Bridge will continue to be closed while the crews are working, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. The bridge is open outside of those hours. When APS is working along the trail, there will be ropes over the trail. A trail guard will assist hikers to get through the area. The crews will stop working and pull the ropes when the mules need access.
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Hazard Trees Removed 4/19
Monday, April 19, Dan Boughter worked with the hazard tree removal contractor to complete hazard tree removal in the Desert View campground, Tusayan Museum area, and at Moran Point. Thanks to the crew for finishing the job and cleaning up the campground as we prepare for re-opening.
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Current Operational Updates
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Desert View Accessibility
- The East entrance gate is open to traffic on Highway 64.
- Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream opened April 16th.
- Desert View Gas Station opened April 16th, offering Pay-at-the-Pump services only.
- Desert View Campground will open on April 29th. We will start taking reservations on April 21st. via www.recreation.gov.
Weekly Concessions updates
The following Concessions services will be available this week:
- The Fred Harvey Food Truck will be located at the El Tovar / Hopi House area from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Seven days per week, weather permitting.
- Maswik Gift Shop has expanded its hours to 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Canyon View Market Deli is currently closed. To help compensate for the closure, the Canyon View Market will open at 7a.m., additional Breakfast items will be available at the Yavapai Coffee Shop (open 7 AM – 1 PM), and Lunch and Dinner will be available at Yavapai Tavern (open 12 PM – 9 PM).
The following park closures remain in place:
- All residential areas
- South Rim Visitor Center and Headquarters
- South Rim Backcountry Information Center
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Have questions for our weekly employee or community calls?
Please fill out the form below and help us get your questions answered.
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