Utah! Tell Winter Goodbye! North Rim Opens May 15th!

The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will officially open for the 2025 season on Thursday, May 15 at 6 a.m., according to a press release issued by the National Park Service. Located within a two-hour drive from most of southern Utah, the North Rim offers a cooler, quieter alternative to the more heavily visited South Rim.

Seasonal operations beginning May 15 include Grand Canyon Lodge services, Grand Canyon Trail Rides, and visitor facilities such as the campground, Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore, and the Backcountry Information Center. Rangers will be available daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk through October 15, offering trip planning assistance and ranger programs.

Grand Canyon Lodge services will include lodging, dining, groceries, retail, showers, laundry, and fuel. The lodge’s dining room will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, though dinner reservations are required. Most commercial services at the North Rim will conclude for the season on October 15.

Notably, the Bright Angel Point Trail on the North Rim will be closed for the entire 2025 season due to construction work, including asphalt replacement and rock removal to ensure visitor safety. Alternative scenic viewpoints remain open.

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Reservations for overnight lodging can be made through Aramark Destinations at grandcanyonnorth.com, while North Rim Campground reservations are available at recreation.gov. Demotte Campground, located just outside the park, also offers reservations online.

The North Rim will remain open for day use through November 30, or until the first major snowstorm.

Updates To Trails And Facilities Scheduled For This Season

On the South Rim and in the inner canyon, several trail and facility updates also take effect on May 15. The Bright Angel Trail and Campground will reopen following closures related to the Transcanyon Waterline project. However, key sections like the River Trail, Silver Bridge, and Plateau Point Trail will remain closed through October 1 due to ongoing construction and utility upgrades.

During this closure period, trail users must use the Black Bridge to cross the Colorado River. Rim-to-rim hikers can traverse from South to North via the Kaibab Trail, but are urged to hike during cooler parts of the day, carry extra water, and be prepared for rugged terrain.

Waterline and infrastructure work continues throughout the canyon, including Phantom Ranch and the South Rim water treatment plant. Visitors are encouraged to check the National Park Service website for real-time updates, as construction timelines and access restrictions may change.

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With the North Rim's unique beauty and cooler temperatures, the upcoming season offers ample opportunity for exploration—despite necessary construction efforts aimed at improving long-term park infrastructure.