Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — May 20-24, 2024

TONIGHT! Senior Graduation Parade through Grand Canyon Residential Area

Celebrate the 2024 High School Senior Class by coming out for the Senior Graduation parade on Thursday, May 23!

At 4:45 p.m. the parade will begin and travel through most residential areas here on the South Rim and ending at the school track. Honk, shout, or wave to the school’s accomplished Seniors as they proceed through the residential areas.

A flyer for the event can be found here and as well as a map of the parade route.

Hwy. 64 Lane Upgrades in Place for Busy Summer Season

In time for the summer travel season, ADOT has added a second northbound lane to State Route 64 for travelers approaching the main entrance to Grand Canyon north of Tusayan.

The project allowed crews to complete changes in lane stripes and other pavement markings to create a new northbound lane along the often-busy half-mile stretch between the Coyote Lane roundabout and Moqui Drive north of Tusayan.

“We’ve partnered with Tusayan staff and the local community to get this work done, creating additional traffic capacity that will help travelers heading north into the park,” said ADOT Northcentral District Administrator Brenden Foley. Officials in Tusayan have been very supportive of the project to add the new travel lane along SR 64.

“Improving traffic flow in this area will promote safer conditions,” said Tusayan Mayor Clarinda Vail. “Congestion over time has led to drivers making unsafe moves, especially with pedestrians in the area. We appreciate ADOT’s efforts to create this new lane. It may seem like a simple change, but we know it’s a big step that helps us manage traffic near the state’s top tourist attraction,” added Mayor Vail.

Memorial Day 21 gun salute at Pioneer Cemetery

On Monday, May 27, American Legion, John Ivens Post 42, will hold its annual Memorial Day 21-gun salute ceremony at the Pioneer Cemetery, located to the west of the Shrine of the Ages. This special event is open to the public to honor Veterans buried in the cemetery.

The event will begin around 11 a.m. and residents here in the park can expect to hear blank rounds being fired on or around this time.

Shuttle Bus Schedule for Summer Season Begins this Saturday

The park’s shuttle bus system will transition to the summer schedule beginning Saturday, May 25 and run through September 6, 2024.

Buses on the Village (Blue Route) and Hermit Road (Red Route) routes will run every 15 minutes during the early morning hours, then every 10 minutes during most of the day. The Kaibab Route (Orange Route) to the South Kaibab Trailhead and Yaki Point runs approximately every 15 minutes from 5 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

The Village (Blue) Route begins service at 6:30 a.m. The last bus does the loop at 8:30 p.m. Riders need to be at a bus stop no later than 8:30 p.m. The Hermit Road Route (Red) will begin service at 8 a.m. The last bus is 30 minutes after sunset. Riders will need to be at a bus stop no later than 30 minutes after sunset.

The Hiker’s Express Bus, from Bright Angel Lodge and the Backcountry Information Center — to South Kaibab Trailhead will run with departures at 5 and 6 a.m.

Tusayan (Purple) Route buses, with service from Grand Canyon Visitor Center to the Town of Tusayan, will run every 45 minutes from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors riding the bus from Tusayan into the park must present a valid park entrance pass when boarding the bus.

For more information on the shuttle bus routes and times, for the summer season, visit the park’s website here (please note this website will not be updated until May 25 when the new schedule goes into effect).

Next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, May 28 through 30, meet renown Diné (Navajo) weaver, Laverine Greyeyes and Hopi Kachina Carver Darance Chimerica at Desert View Watchtower, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Laverine learned the art of weaving from her mother, Louise Nez. She will demonstrate the fine art of pictorial rug weaving. In contrast to traditional Diné rug designs, woven in mostly geometric patterns —pictorial rugs include images of the landscape, animals and people, woven into the design.

Darance, from the village of Hotevilla on Third Mesa, has been carving for more than 17 years and has developed his own style and technique. He uses only hand tools and traditional mineral pigment paints. Darance says, “the katsina dolls that I carve are replicas of how I would see them in physical form when they come to visit Hopi… for me, it is something I love to do.”

For more information on the Cultural Demonstration Program at Desert View, see the park’s website here.

Upcoming Park Programming!

Check the park’s website for more details on park programs and special events.

South Rim: Village

• Fossil Walk (30min): 9:00 a.m. daily starting May 24th, meet at Bright Angel Trailhead.
• Geology Talk (30min): 3:00 p.m. daily, meet at Yavapai Geology Museum.
• Exploring the Endangered (60 min): 4:30 p.m. daily, meet at Village Amphitheater.
• Evening Program (60 min): 8:00 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting May 24, meet at McKee Amphitheater. A full flyer can be found here on upcoming programming through June 8.
• Constellations over the Canyon: 9:00 p.m. Sunday May 26 & Monday May 27, meet at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

South Rim: Desert View

• Grand Canyon Speaks (45min): 6:30 p.m., meet at the Desert View Amphitheater.
• Wednesday, 5/29: with Darrance Chimerica (Hopi Kachina Carver)
• Cultural Demonstrations: Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., located at the Desert View Watchtower.
• 5/28-5/30: Laverine Greyeyes (Diné Weaver) & Darrance Chimerica (Hopi Kachina Carver)
• Sunset Talks (45 min): 6:30 p.m., Monday – Thursdays starting May 27th, meet at the Desert View Amphitheater.

North Rim

• Nature Walk (90min): 8:30 a.m. Friday and Sunday, meet at Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk.
• Behind the Scenery (30min): 11:30 a.m. daily, meet at Bright Angel Point Amphitheater.
• Colorado River Connections (30min): 2:30 p.m. daily, meet at Cape Royal Trailhead.
• Evening Program (45min): 7:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, meet at Grand Canyon Lodge Auditorium.

Special Events

• Grand Canyon Star Party 2024, June 1-8: Grand Canyon’s Star Party takes place both on the south rim and the north rim. Check out the list of festivities and times for event details on the park’s website.
• Juneteenth, Wednesday June 19 (Fee Free Day): Join the park in commemorating the end of slavery. Event details to be announced soon.

Arizona Trail Association North Rim Tree Clearing Project

During opening weekend of the 2024 North Rim season, 20 members of the Arizona Trails Association (ATA) partnered with the NPS to clear the Arizona Trail (AZT) corridor between the North Kaibab Trailhead and the northern boundary of the park. Experienced and certified sawyers guided teams in evaluating and executing a variety of cuts. The teams cleared 30 trees along the AZT along and nearly 70 additional trees along the Widforss, Ken Patrick, and Francios Matthes Trails.

Thanks to our outstanding partners at the Arizona Trail Association and to the following NPS staff for making this year’s collaboration a success: Steve Bridgehouse, Cindy Donaldson, Adam Gibson, Dan Schweitzer, Mike Barhmasel, Allie Shedleski, Leto Sracic, Matt Luna, Miles Taylor, and Matt Jenkins.

Grand Canyon Farewells

Todd Stoeberl

Todd Stoeberl, current Chief of Interpretation and Education at Grand Canyon National Park, is hanging up his flat hat at the end of May after 35 years of service with the National Park Service. Todd knew he wanted to be a park ranger when his family visited Yellowstone when he was a kid. He got his chance in 1989 when he landed his first seasonal gig first with the U.S. Forest Service and then later that year with the National Park Service.

Todd has worked at over 10 NPS units including: Indiana Dunes National Park, Great Basin National Park, Gateway National Recreation Area Jamaica Bay Unit, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, Canyonlands National Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, and Grand Canyon National Park (some of these units have multiple parks within them). We invite everyone to contribute memories, photos, anecdotes, and well wishes to this kudo board: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/4mDvpV5x.

Please joing us on Friday, May 31 from 3-5 p.m. at the Park Headquarters Courtyard to celebrate Todd’s retirement. A flyer for the event can be found here.

Mike Lyndon

We congratulate Mike Lyndon as he transitions from Grand Canyon National Park as the Tribal Program Manager to the NPS Office of Native American Affairs as a Program and Policy Analyst.

Mike has worked with Tribes in the Southwest for eighteen years, first as the Tribal Affairs Staff Officer for the Kaibab National Forest, and since 2019, as the Tribal Program Manager for Grand Canyon National Park. In that time, Mike has collaborated with Tribal partners to develop award-winning partnerships, document and protect sacred sites, and integrate traditional knowledge into federal policy and programs. Mike grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and earned an M.A. in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University. Mike and his wife Nanebah (also an Anthropologist and federal Tribal Program Manager) are parents to four young adults age 15-22 and one rescue dog named Rocket. Mike will be duty stationed in Washington, DC and will begin in his new role on June 2.

The Grand Canyon School 8th grade class would like to thank the entire community for supporting their trip to Washington, D.C. the week of May 11-18, 2024. Students engaged with each location by considering the lives of Americans that came before them. They have come to a deeper understanding of the sacrifices from the past and present that have contributed to our current lives as a community. Thank you for your support of a deeply impactful trip and allowing our students to have a pivotal experience that encourages them to be engaged citizens.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Cafeteria, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Maswik Pizza Pub, 4-10 p.m.
• Bright Angel Fountain, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Harvey House Cafe/Fred Harvey Burger Restaurant, Breakfast 6:30-10:30 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Dinner 4-9 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
• Arizona Steakhouse, Lunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Dinner 4:30-9 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.-10 p.m. (Food until 9 p.m.), Patio closed until further notice.
• The Grand Canyon Kennel, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Rec Center, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Delaware North

• Yavapai Dining Hall: Breakfast 7-10:30 a.m., Dinner 5-8 p.m., Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-9 p.m., Coffee Shop: 6:30 a.m. -5 p.m.
• Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Camper Services laundry and shower: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Other

• Grand Canyon Clinic: Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Beginning this Saturday, May 27, the Grand Canyon Clinic will be transitioning to its summer hours and will be open 7 days a week from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
• Bright Angel Bikes, Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Café 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Beginning Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day weekend, Bright Angel Bicycles will have hours of 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): Open daily from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Verkamps and Yavapai Geology Museum-8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, Visitor Center Plaza-8 a.m.-8 p.m., Kolb Studio-8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• The Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Monday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday 5:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday 2-4 p.m.
• Canyon Closet: The last day for the Canyon Closet inside the Community Library will be on Wednesday, May 29 from 12-2 p.m. Stay tuned for a new location and new hours in the future.
• Canyon Community Yoga & Wellness (at the Rec Center), May and June schedule: Fitness Classes (under the ramada): Sunday 9 a.m., Tuesday & Thursday 6 p.m. Yoga (in the SPR): Monday & Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Use discount GCLOCALS at checkout.

Desert View

• Desert View Trading Post and ice cream and coffee shop, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Desert View Watchtower, 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. daily. Beginning on Sunday, May 26, the Watchtower at Desert View will be open from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily with stairs and tower access available until 6 p.m.
• The Desert View Deli, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The Desert View convenience store, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

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.-9 p.m. daily
• Guest Laundry and Showers, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. staffed, unstaffed from 7-10 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Lodge Gift Shop (Aramark), 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily

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

• GCUSD on a GCY river trip, May 2024 (Photo courtesy of F. Radarian)
• ADOT restriping project south of the South Entrance Station (Photo courtesy ADOT)
• Flag flying over Grand Canyon (NPS Photo)
• Works of Laverine Greyeyes and Darance Chimerica (NPS Photos)
• Arizona Trail Association volunteers on the North Rim (NPS Photo)
• Todd Stoerbl and Mike Lyndon (Photos courtesy of T. Stoerbl and M. Lyndon)
• Eighth grade field trip to Washington D.C. photos (Photos courtesy of J. Radarian)