Visit Grand Canyon National Park during its "slow" season

By Becky Beaman, Interpretive Support Assistant, Grand Canyon National Park

Colder temperatures, shorter days and snow bring a slower pace to one of the nation's most visited national parks - Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Winter visitors find paths less traveled throughout the park. Those prepared for ice and snow will find the Bright Angel Trail a bit quieter and scenic drives less congested.

(NPS photo)

Dramatic winter storms, bringing several inches of snow, are contrasted with sunny days, perfect for walking along the rim or into the canyon. Crisp air and a dusting of snow bring a new perspective to the temples and buttes emerging from the canyon floor and provide a perfect backdrop to view the canyon's flora and fauna.

Mule deer traipsing through fresh snow and bald eagles soaring above the canyon rims are just some of the wildlife spotted during winter. Many animals slow down for the winter and are seen less frequently, but there is still a chance to see elk, California condors, ravens, and Abert's squirrels along the rim and in nearby ponderosa pine forests.

(NPS photo)

Most animals in the park have developed some sort of adaptation to the cold weather. Rock squirrels, frequently seen along the rim during summer months, spend the fall caching food and preparing for the cold winter. Although they spend much of the winter in their burrows, they can be spotted along the rim during warmer days. Mule deer and elk grow thick winter coats to deal with the low temperatures and the Abert's and Kaibab tree squirrels grow fur tassels on their ears to keep out the cold.

Just like the animals who make their home at Grand Canyon, visitors should slow down and bundle up. Winter is a perfect time to enjoy a warm beverage along the rim, or view the canyon from inside the Yavapai Geology Museum, where panoramic windows provide crisp views from inside a warm building.

(NPS photo)

The South Rim of the park is open year round, and roads are drivable except in inclement weather. Weather changes quickly at Grand Canyon, and so does visibility. Planning a visit for multiple days allows visitors to experience some of these changes, and provides a good chance for a great view of the canyon.

Winter solitude blankets the North Rim of Grand Canyon, which is closed to vehicle traffic during the winter. Hikers prepared for a multiday canyon adventure can walk from the South Rim to the North Rim for a winter camping experience in one of the most inaccessible locations in the country.

Locations inside the canyon, like the Phantom Ranch lodging facility and Bright Angel Campground, offer mild temperatures in winter, and back-country permits may be more easily obtained during the winter months than during peak hiking seasons.

A trip to Grand Canyon can be a great winter getaway, especially with careful planning. The Grand Canyon Trip Planner is a great place to start. (For Trip Planner, click on link below then click on Trip Planner link.)

Pack your jacket and winter gloves, avoid the crowds, and come experience a Grand Canyon winter wonderland! Get more information here.

Grand Canyon bans water bottle sales

Plan on hiking the Grand Canyon this summer? Better bring your own water bottle. The National Park Service is killing off the sale of pre-packaged bottled water in the park, but hasn't lost its concern for your health: Bring your own reusable water bottle and you'll be able to fill it up free throughout the park.

Plastic water bottles have been a bane at the canyon. Making up nearly 20% of the park's waste stream, disposable bottles don't just find their way into the trash or recycling bins, they also get dumped on trails and over the edge of the canyon, messing up an otherwise wonderful experience.

Under the park's new policy, sales of individual disposable water containers of less than a gallon will end this month. Instead of buying water, you can fill up your own bottle at one of the new filling stations that provide free, Grand Canyon spring water from the park's approved water supply, located at Roaring Springs.

The new South Rim filling stations are equipped to provide year-round access to water and are located at:

Hermits Rest (located near the other public amenities);

Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trailheads;

Canyon Village and Desert View Marketplaces;

Yavapai Geology Museum;

Grand Canyon, Verkamp's and Desert View Visitor Centers; and

Maswik Lodge (in the cafeteria).

New North Rim filling stations are located at:

North Kaibab Trailhead,

North Rim Visitor Center (adjacent to the restrooms), and

North Rim Backcountry Office.

Expanded parking at Grand Canyon Visitor Center

On Friday the National Park Service announced that the first phase of the improvements called for in Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim Visitor Transportation Plan is nearing completion. New parking areas at the visitor center are expected to be open in time for Thanksgiving.

This is welcome news for all park visitors because it means things are going to get better--traffic and parking.

Phase I improvements address problems associated with traffic congestion and significant parking shortages in and around Mather Point and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, including:

• realignment of the South Entrance Road to loop around the Visitor Center area to the south and west
• three new visitor parking lots which will provide parking for up to 600 vehicles
• a new parking lot which will provide parking for 40 commercial tour vehicles.

Click here for more information.