Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — May 9-13, 2022

The CDC Community Level tracks a county’s ability to provide health care to COVID patients. We continue to register Low at the community level, and we have been at this level since early March.

The Coconino County Community Transmission looks at the number of COVID cases and positive tests. Coconino County is now High, which has increased from Substantial as of Thursday, May 5. COVID transmission in the county is continuing to rise and although we have relaxed mask mandates and other mitigation strategies in the park, we are reminded that the pandemic is not over.

As we continue to make decisions about park operations, we want to emphasize that we are considering the current transmission status and trajectory of cases nationwide. We want to acknowledge and recognize that there is a lot of information being shared by agencies, and some are conflicting. Our goal is to share pertinent information with you and also to use the best data to make decisions about park operations.

Remember, it’s important to get your vaccinations and your booster doses! As COVID-19 continues to rise within the State and the country, your best defense is to have up-to-date vaccination and booster doses.

Total cases in Arizona for the week of April 28-May 4, was 3,911, which is an average of 559 cases per day for the seven-day rolling average. There were approximately 7 new cases reported in the park this past week. That brings the park total up to an estimated 221 cases, and 423 cases for the 86023 zip code since the beginning of the pandemic.

Next week, the park’s Intertribal Working Group will be here for their first in-person meeting since March of 2020. The working group consists of representatives from the 11 tribes associated with the Grand Canyon and is a collaborative body that works with us and the Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) on a range of special projects and programs.

On Tuesday, May 17, from 10-11:30 a.m., the working group will be visiting Desert View and holding a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the first phase of construction on turning Desert View into the Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage site.

We invite all employees and community members to join us at Desert View for this special commemoration. We encourage NPS supervisors to use their discretion to grant their employees time to attend this event, subject to workload and mission requirements. For more information on the event, please see thefull flyer here.

Visitor Use Management Study beginning May 22

Social scientists from Penn State and the University of Montana will be arriving at the South Rim May 22 to continue a visitor use management (VUM) data collection effort. They will look at how visitors move throughout the South Rim to develop a better understanding of current and desired visitor experiences. Their field work will begin May 24 and continue through June 20.

The team will utilize visitor surveys and GPS tracking to gather data. You will see them conducting vehicle surveys at the South Entrance/Center Road junction and pedestrian surveys at the Visitor Center and at the Hermit Interchange. Each party that participates in a survey will also be asked to carry a GPS unit for their South Rim journey. All surveys and GPS tracking are voluntary.

These researchers were at the South Rim in 2019 conducting a data needs assessment. If you see them in the field, feel free to stop by, say hello, and talk with them about their work!

Havasupai Reservation closed to tourism through 2023

This week, the Havasupai Tribal Council extended the suspension of tourism through the remainder of the 2022 season. The Tribe is undertaking necessary repairs and enhancements to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for their guests.

Tourists with reservations through 2022, which have not already been rebooked, are being rescheduled for the same date in 2023. At this time, no further reservations will be taken for the 2023 tourist season. The Havasupai Reservation and Supai Village remain closed to all tourists. To respect this closure, the Tribe continues to request all river trips, both commercial and non-commercial, voluntarily bypass Havasu Canyon.

Park leadership respects the position of the Havasupai Tribe and their position to remain closed to tourism while they work to repair and enhance trails and facilities. We are committed to working closely with all our neighboring tribal communities to ensure that increasing access to their lands is done in a manner that is sensitive to their interests and concerns.

GCVC Indoor operations & ranger programs resume

The Grand Canyon Visitor Center opened for the season on Sunday, May 8. Visitor Center hours are now 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Park rangers at the information desk are available to help visitors plan their trip and to answer questions. The theater remains closed for renovation. Trip planning and hiking information is also available through signs and exhibits outside of the building.

The 11 a.m. Ranger’s Choice program at Yavapai Point Amphitheater has also resumed for the season. The topic is chosen by the ranger and there is a different presentation each day. The programs last between 20 and 30 minutes.

Evening programs have also resumed at McKee Amphitheater; however, they are not being presented every day. Most are held at 8 pm. Ranger’s Choice and evening program dates and topics are available at the Visitor Center, from signs around the village, or by clicking on the “Calendar” button on the park’s websiteor mobile app.

Astronomer in residence evening presentation this Saturday

Imma Barrera, Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence, will host an evening presentation entitled, Night Skies in Our National Parks at McKee Amphitheater on Saturday, May 14 at 7 p.m.

She will also share updates from her residency, including some of her night-sky photographs.

Inner Canyon water status updates

Our Water Utilities Crew has been working hard this week to fix waterline repairs and turn on water for the season in the inner canyon corridor.

As of this afternoon, inner canyon water status is as follows:

• North Kaibab Trailhead: water ON
• Supai Tunnel: water OFF (on date TBD based on waterline breaks)
• Roaring Springs Day Use Area has no water
• Manzanita Day Use Area: water ON
• Cottonwood Campground: water OFF
• Phantom Ranch: water ON
• Bright Angel Campground: water ON
• Plateau Point: water  ON
• Indian Garden: water ON
• Bright Angel Trail, Three-Mile Resthouse: water ON
• Bright Angel Trail, Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse: water ON
• Bright Angel Trailhead: water ON
• South Kaibab Trailhead: water ON

Information on water status is also available on our park website at the following page: Critical Backcountry Updates: Including Trail Closures and Restrictions – Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Grand Canyon Food Pantry Spring Hours

Beginning May 18 the pantry will have a shift of hours on Wednesdays. The pantry’s new schedule will be as follows:

• Mondays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 6-8 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 6-8 p.m. (currently 12-2 p.m. until May 18)
• Saturdays: 2-4 p.m.

A full flyer of the pantry hours is now available here.

North Country Healthcare presents ‘Eating Healthy on a Budget’

On Wednesday, May 25 from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., North Country Healtchare at the Grand Canyon Clinic will be hosting a ‘Eating Healthy on a Budget’ informational session. Talk with a registered dietician about eating healthy on a budget and a SNAP assistor will also be available to help determine if you qualify for assistance.

More information can be found in the following flyer.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Bright Angel Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
• Bright Angel Fountain grab and go, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Burger, breakfast 8:00-10:30 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., dinner 4-9 p.m.
• The Arizona Steakhouse, Tuesday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Kennel-daily from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Rec Center, daily from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Delaware North

• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Camper Services: Laundry and shower hours, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• The Yavapai Dining Hall is now open for breakfast with daily operational hours of 7 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

Other

• Bright Angel Bikes
• Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Cafe-8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): This week, indoor operations at GCVC will resume. Hours will be daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (see more information above)
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores (Visitor Center Plaza, Yavapai Geology Museum, and Verkamps) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
• Grand Canyon Community Library: The library has resumed construction work and they are planning to reopen to the public in the near future.
• Until the library officially reopens, staff are conducting limited library operations, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the south side of the building. On Fridays library staff are in Tusayan, providing library services at the Tusayan Town hall from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., including story time, arts and crafts and activities for children at 11 a.m.

Desert View

• Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• Desert View Watchtower, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

North Rim

• Open for the 2022 season at 6 a.m. on Sunday May 15
• North Rim Lodge Dining Room, Breakfast: 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dinner: 4:30-9:45 p.m.
• Deli in the Pines, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Roughrider Saloon, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
• Coffee Saloon, 5:30-10:30 a.m.
• North Rim General Store: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
• North Rim Service Station, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• GCC Bookstore/Visitor Center, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Roaring Springs Kiosk information, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The following closures are in place:

• Maswik South Lodging
• Maswik Pizza Pub
• Kolb Studio
• Xanterra Food Truck

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

• Bright Angel Trail sunset (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
• Havasu Falls on the Havasupai Reservation (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
• An interpretation ranger raises the flag at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center for the first time since March 2020 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
• Interpretation rangers answer visitor questions at the VC front desk (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)