Messages and Grand Canyon News-Week of July 3, 2023

Grand Canyon National Park Shuttle Bus Fleet Replacement Project to receive $27.5 million

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration has announced the award of $27.5 million to the National Park Service for the Grand Canyon National Park Shuttle Bus Fleet Replacement project in Arizona.

The project includes 30 new buses, including 10 new battery electric buses and 20 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, to replace the current aging fleet and the installation of charging infrastructure to support the new electric buses.

“The necessary replacement of the outdated shuttle bus fleet is an opportunity to upgrade to cleaner, quieter electric buses,” said Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable. “This project will address transportation challenges related to maintaining an aging fleet, and the NPS goal to achieve sustainable transportation alternatives.”

A full news release of the announcement can be found at the link here. Photos from the announcement on July 6 at Hopi Point can be found here.

Excessive heat and high fire danger across Northern Arizona; Grand Canyon NP remains in stage 1 fire restrictions

As of June 29, Stage 1 fire and smoking restrictionsare in effect on the entirety of the Coconino National Forest and the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Additionally, all undeveloped areas of Coconino County, the Town of Tusayan, and the City of Flagstaff are also in fire restrictions. *Please note, at this time the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has no fire restrictions in effect.

Grand Canyon National Park remains in Stage 1 fire restrictions, as it is year-round, which means fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are prohibited, except within a developed campground site. More information on current fire danger, as well as fire information can be found on the Grand Canyon Fire page.

Through Sunday, July 9, an Excessive Heat Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for elevations at and below 4,000 feet in the Grand Canyon. To avoid heat illness, consider timing inner canyon hiking to the early morning or evening hours and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day between 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Grand Canyon Midair Collision commemorated on June 30

A small crowd gathered at Pioneer Cemetery Friday, June 30 to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the 1956 mid-air collision over the canyon, in which 128 people perished. Tom Sulpizio, a member of the Board of Directors of the Grand Canyon Historical Society and the son of one of the passengers who died that day, said the crash led to better technologies and procedures that make air travel exponentially safer today.

“We’re here to celebrate these people who lost their lives and the technological advancements that followed,” said Sulpizio. “We’re here not just to memorialize the lives lost, but also to inform people about this historical event. And we couldn’t do that without the commitment of the Grand Canyon Historical Society and Grand Canyon National Park.”

This year’s ceremony featured a relative of the leader of the Swiss rescue team that was asked to assist in recovery operations due to their climbing expertise.

Cultural Demonstrators next week at the Desert View Watchtower

Join us Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, July 11 -13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Desert View Watchtower, for a chance to meet Rosabelle Shepard and Sage Goldtooth, Navajo Silversmiths, along with Arielle Tsinigine, Navajo Beader.

Rosabelle is is a fifth-generation silversmith. She specializes in silver and copper contemporary Diné work. She especially enjoys working with turquoise.

Sage Goldtooth is also a fifth-generation silversmith. He works with metals like silver and copper, to create rings, earrings, and bracelets. Sage says for the Navajo people, “The art of silversmithing carries many stories about their culture, their past, and their future.”

Arielle says the inspiration for her beaded artwork comes from the colors and patterns of Mother Nature and her Diné culture.

COVID Updates

Total new COVID cases in Arizona for the week of June 22 through July 5, is 1,307 —a decrease of 31 cases from the previous week. The seven day rolling average is now 186 cases per day.

Be sure to promptly report any illness, to include possible COVID-19 symptoms, COVID exposure, or a positive COVID test to your supervisor and our Public Health Consultant, Ronan King. Ronan can be reached at: 202-891-8599 or Ronan_King@nps.gov.

Grand Canyon Community Corner

Grand Canyon Rec Center July events

Check out all the great events and activities happening at the Rec Center during the month of July!A full flyer can be found here.

New course offering for Canyon Community Yoga

Starting July 1, a new seasonal class for Canyon Community Yoga will be held in the Tusayan Grand Canyon Visitor Center Courtyard. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 6-7 p.m. A full schedule of events and registration information can be found on Canyon Community Yoga’s new website here.

For locals, use coupon code GCLOCALS for preregistration.

Current Operational Hours

*Please note: new changes to operations are indicated in bold/italic

South Rim

Xanterra

Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Maswik Pizza Pub, 4-8 p.m.
Canyon Coffee House at the Bright Angel Fountain, 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
Bright Angel Fountain grab and go, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Fred Harvey Burger, breakfast 8-10:30 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., dinner 4-9 p.m.
Arizona Steakhouse within Bright Angel Lodge is now offering dinner service from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. daily. Lunch service is from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
El Tovar Dining Room and Lounge-Breakfast, 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dinner, 4:30-9:30 p.m., Lounge, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Patio (limited menu), 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
The Grand Canyon Kennel is open seven days a week with hours from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Grand Canyon Rec Center, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
Due to ongoing excessive heat warnings, beginning July 7, mule rides to Phantom Ranch will be cancelled until further notice.

Delaware North

Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m., Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6:30 a.m. -3 p.m., The Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast, 7-10:45 a.m., dinner, 5-9 p.m.
Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Deli 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Camper Services laundry and shower is now open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. dailywith the last laundry load at 8:30 p.m. and the last shower at 9:45 p.m.

Other

Grand Canyon Clinic: open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Bright Angel Bikes, Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Café 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Thursday-Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
Grand Canyon Conservancy stores regular hours: Visitor Center Plaza, Yavapai Geology Museum, Verkamps, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily., Kolb Studio CLOSED until further notice
The Grand Canyon Community Library is expanding its hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. The schedule Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays will remain from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Mondays 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesdays 6-8 p.m., Saturdays 2-4 p.m.

Desert View

Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Desert View Watchtower, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
The Desert View Deli, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

North Rim

North Rim Visitor Center (GCC), 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
NPS Backcountry Information Center, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-5 p.m. daily
Camper Store by campground (Aramark), 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
Campground will be reopening for the season Friday, June 9
Grand Canyon Lodge Gift Shop (Aramark), Sunday-Thurs. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
The North Rim saloon, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.

Please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website for a complete list of closures and available amenities.

Photo Credits (in order of appearance)

Announcement of Federal Highways grant to Grand Canyon National Park on July 6 at Hopi Point (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
Superintendent Keable with Tom Sulpizio at the Midair Collision Memorial in the Pioneer Cemetery (NPS Photo/J. Stebbins)
Work of Arielle Tsinigine, Navajo Beader (Photo courtesy of A. Tsinigine)

Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.

Grand Canyon National Park

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior