Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Oct. 14-18, 2024

Pull out your sweaters and jackets! Temperatures dropped to below normal on Thursday night, with high temperatures on the canyon rims between 40 and 50 degrees today. While these cold temperatures will stick around through Saturday, another warming trend begins Sunday through the middle of next week.

The first accumulating snow of the season is expected across the higher elevations late Friday and into Saturday. The greatest accumulations are expected above 8000 feet, with mainly light amounts down to around 6000-6500 feet.

South Rim Astronomer in Residence Programs Continue with Full Moon Concert and Telescope Viewing

Astronomer in Residence and professional concert pianist, Dr. David Koerner presents two concerts this week, along with four astronomy talks. Laser-guided constellation tours and telescope viewing after the presentations.

On Tuesday, October 22nd, he will be offering a night-sky themed piano performance “Summer and Winter Triangle”, on his grand piano in the Shrine of Ages at 6:30 pm! Telescope viewing will also be available after the concert.

Astronomy talks will take place in the Visitor Center theater on October 18, 19, 22, and 23, with telescope viewing afterward.

Click on Event for more information

Grand Canyon Hosts Successful Indigenous People’s Day Events

On Indigenous People’s Day hundreds of people watched dance performances at two locations. On the canyon rim, in front of Hopi house Crown Dancers from the White Mountain Apache, danced as the clouds cast mood lighting on them. Participants watched as the boys performed dances intended for blessing and healing. Their crowns represented four mountains that are sacred to the Apache and each dancer called “angelic beings”, spirits who lived on the mountains, to come into the crowd.

World famous Hopi hoop dancer, ShanDien LaRance, amazed crowds gathered for her performances. She is a dance instructor who teaches the nearly lost art of hoop dancing to students from many tribes. She danced with the Cirque du Soleil show “Totem” and traveled the world as an ambassador for Indigenous Culture. After a flute song performed by her father, ShanDien gracefully maneuvered the hoops into forms representing nature, an eagle, a serpent, a butterfly, and the earth. After she finished her final form, her father explained that each of the hoops represented one nation or continent. One hoop cannot stand alone but supported by the other hoops, the nations can stand and thrive as one of many in unity.

Interns Meranden Numkena, from the Navajo Nation, and Lakin Epaloose, who is Zuni, joined Dr. Lyla June Johnston, Noah collins, and Dr. David Martínez for a discussion on indigenous issues and leaving home for an education. The interns from the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps hosted the panel discussion and asked questions from their own lives and about topics that mattered to them as indigenous scholars. The panel was well received with continuous interjections of “wow!” from audience members who were eagerly listening to experiences and shared stories from those who lived them. One of the of the liveliest discussions from audience and panelists was about traditions in the fall and foods associated with those traditions. Food and cultural traditions have the power to help us relate to each other and to our diverse cultures.

Thank you to all staff and partners who helped make these events possible.

More Programs Ahead!

Artist in Residence, Anne Finger to Presents a ‘Writing Outside’ Workshop This Weekend

Join a writing workshop held amidst the splendor of the Grand Canyon. Participants–who need no previous experience as writers–will write in response to prompts, and then have a chance, if they choose, to share their work. Meet at Verkamp’s Visitor Center on Saturday, October 19, at 2 p.m. The workshop lasts one hour.

Anne is an award-winning author of several novels, short-story collections, and personal memoirs that place her experience with disability in a broader social context. Anne has taught both creative writing and disability studies at Miami University and as a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley.

https://www.grandcanyon.org/experience-grand-canyon/events/writing-outside

Raptor Migration Programs and Activities

During October, learn about the remarkable journey of migratory raptors, and why we count them every fall. Presented by Hawkwatch International (HWI).

Location: Yaki Point on the South Rim.

When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday: 10:30 am & 2:00 pm(Program duration: 30 minutes) The programs will be presented through Monday, October 28.

**NOTE: There is no vehicle parking at Yaki Point, please park at the visitor center and take the Eastbound Kaibab (ORANGE) Route shuttle to Yaki Point. Buses come every 15 minutes between 6 am and sunset.

After the introductory talk, it is possible to accompany the (HWI) biologists, to the Raptor Monitoring Site, a short walk southwest of Yaki Point. Learn about raptor ecology, and identification, along with HWI’s ongoing research efforts.

Please see the Grand Canyon Calendar of Events for more information.

South Rim District Report Now Available

Check out what the South Rim Patrol has been up to in October!

South Rim District Report ending 10-10-2024

Taco Night Fundraiser for Native American Senior Scholarships

The Native American Education Committee will be selling Native Tacos on Monday Evening! A plate is $12.00. Preorder or just show up.

Location: School MPR

Date: Monday, October 21, 2024

Time: 5:00 p.m. until sold out

Taco Night Flyer

Get Ready for the Tusayan “Trunk or Treat” on Halloween!

This annual event takes place in front of the Fire District – between Wendy’s and the Imax and is sponsored by the town of Tusayan and the Tusayan Fire District. Pull out your costumes and show up between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. for treats, games and prizes.

For more information and to print, please see attached flyer.

Halloween Trunk or Treat Flyer

South Rim

• The South Rim Visitor Center is closed from now through Sunday, Oct. 27 for staff training.
• Trip planning and hiking information is available through permanent exhibits and sidewalk signs outside of the visitor center building.
• While the Visitor Center is closed, Grand Canyon Conservancy’s Park Store, within the Visitor Center Plaza, is open daily from 8 am to 7 pm.Visitors may obtain information, “Passport To Your National Parks®” stamps, along with Junior Ranger books and badges at the Park Store.

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 Café/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.)
• 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

Effective this week, Delaware North has transitioned to their winter hours.

• At the Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast will be served from 7-10 a.m. and Dinner from 5-8 p.m.
• The Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio will be open from 12-9 p.m. and the Coffee Shop from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
• The Canyon Village Market will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. and the deli from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• The Mather Campground Store is now closed for the season

Other

• Grand Canyon Clinic: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Bright Angel Bikes, Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Café 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): Open daily from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., GCVC will be closed from Oct. 6-27 for winter seasonal staff training.
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Verkamps and Yavapai Geology Museum-8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, Visitor Center Plaza-8 a.m.-7 p.m., Kolb Studio-8 a.m.-6 p.m., Beginning on 10/20, Yavapai and Verkamps will move to 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
• 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 Community Yoga & Wellness (at the Rec Center): Full class schedule can be found here. Use discount GCLOCALS at checkout.

Desert View

• Desert View Campground has closed for the season. It is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, April 12, 2025, and the season will continue through Sunday October 12. Advanced reservations are required and can be made up to 6 months in advance through www.recreation.gov.
• Desert View Trading Post and ice cream and coffee shop, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Due to a staffing shortage, the watchtower will close midday — for an hour and a half, from October 13-23. Normal hours will resume on October 24, 2024
• The Desert View Deli, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The Desert View convenience store, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily., Beginning on October 14 the Desert View Service Station will be pay at the pump only

North Rim

• The Visitor Center, general store, Grand Canyon Lodge and the North Rim campground have closed and limited services are available to visitors.
• The self-serve gas station, including diesel, will be available for as long as State Route 67 is open. It will only accept credit and debit cards.
• The North Rim Backcountry Information Center in the park admin building will remain open through October 31. Water at the North Kaibab Trailhead has been shut off. From now until the road closes, water will only be available from the faucet outside the North Rim Backcountry Information Center.
• Visitors exploring the North Rim on, or after, October 16, should be self-sufficient and bring enough food and water for the day.
• The entrance gate on State Route 67, which provides vehicle access to the North Rim, will be closed at 5 p.m. on November 30, 2024, or after the first major snowstorm if prior to that date.
• North Rim visitor services and facilities are scheduled to reopen for the 2025 season on Thursday, May 15.

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

• Havasupai Gardens in Fall, NPS Photo
• Comet over the canyon, NPS Photo, Carmen Krauss
• Full moon rising over the canyon, NPS Photo, Michael Quinn
• Apache Crown Dancers, NPS Photo
• Panel, (left to right) Lyla June, Miranden Numeko, David Martinez, Noah Collins and Lakin Epaloose, NPS Photo
• Anne Finger Grand Canyon Conservancy Photo