Hotels on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park are reopening Wednesday after the park suspended overnight stays for more than a week due to waterline breaksPark said Monday.
The park will resume overnight stays at El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Yavapai Lodge in Delaware North and Trailer Village. Some water hoses at campgrounds will remain shut off and fire restrictions in the South Rim will remain in place.
Earlier this month, the park took steps to conserve water for the first time by suspending overnight stays after breaks. The vast majority of Grand Canyon visitors spend time at the South Rim, and more than 41,000 people took advantage of overnight stays at the park last December, although the winter season is sleepier.
This is the second time the park has taken such action, although the pipeline has experienced frequent failures in recent years. Last August, park officials took unprecedented action and imposed water restrictions, leading to the sudden closure of overnight hotel stays during one of the busiest times of the year.
Maintenance of the 12.5-mile (20-kilometer) TransCanyon water pipeline, the primary source of water for residents. staff and tourists, has long been a priority for the park. The $208 million pipeline rehabilitation and associated water system upgrades, which began in 2023, are expected to be completed in 2027.
Park officials encourage visitors and residents to continue to take conservation measures such as reducing shower times, washing full loads of laundry and turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth. Hikers should bring or purify water if needed, the park says.
