Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon, Sedona, & the Southwest
The threat to Grand Canyon from uranium mining is back in the news as the Natural Resources Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to vote on a key resolution later this month. A bill called the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act was introduced by Arizona Representative Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz) during a visit to …
English-born painter Thomas Moran famously painted some of the most iconic landscapes of the Western United States. His “Chasm of the Colorado” depicted Grand Canyon beneath a fierce storm. Though he took some artistic and geologic liberties, the masterpiece was purchased by Congress for the princely sum of $10,000.00 in 1874 (five years after Major …
One of the most anticipated events of the year in Grand Canyon National Park is the official resumption of visitor services on the North Rim. Once again the target date was May 15, and with much effort from NPS personnel and park partners, they are going to meet this goal. If you have yet to …
This summer marks the 150th anniversary of John Wesley Powell’s pioneering expedition down the Colorado River, including the inaugural run through Grand Canyon. Powell and his feisty crew of nine launched on their historic journey on May 24, 1869, at Green River Station, Wyoming. The Green River feeds the Colorado River in today’s Canyonlands National …
Finally some great news from the Department of the Interior. Christine “Chris” Lehnertz will resume her duties as superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park following the completion of an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). It is customary that allegations not be made public during an investigation of this nature, though a …
A real bonus for park visitors during the winter months (December through February) is the seasonal access they have to the breathtaking scenic overlooks along Hermit Road (formerly known as West Rim Drive) using their personal vehicles. For most of the year, Hermit Road is accessible only via the park’s free shuttle buses in an …
In early October, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request from the National Mining Association to hear an appeal to a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to uphold a ban on uranium mining near Grand Canyon National Park. The ban went into effect in 2012, and was first challenged in Arizona District Court in …
The Grand Canyon Association, for which this writer has served as Director of the Field Institute for two decades, recently changed its name to Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC). The change was made to better reflect the growing number of ways that GCC is helping the National Park Service with its mandate to protect and preserve …
Though not considered a fall colors destination on a scale of the not-to-distant Colorado Rockies, the changing of the foliage on Grand Canyon’s North Rim draws its share of photographers and leaf chasers. During a recent four-day photography workshop with the Grand Canyon Association Field Institute, this author enjoyed the annual pageant on the North …
What are your odds of finding dinosaur fossils below the rim? How about a city? Are there any deeper canyons on the planet? These and other facts are confirmed or debunked in a fun quiz on the National Park Foundation (NPF) website. A lead champion of the National Park System, NPF has done great work …
This past Sunday, visitors clustered along the South Rim to enjoy a rousing display of lightning and rainbows; likely the final boisterous storm of the monsoon season. With the close of the summer rains, the transition to autumn has officially begun. Family vacations are succumbing to school schedules, and both temperatures and park visitation numbers are …
A herky jerky summer rain pattern has left the Grand Canyon thirsty for more. Since settling in on the region back in July, the seasonal monsoon has soaked areas to the south including the San Francisco Peaks and Verde Valley. The much needed moisture in Grand Canyon National Park has been less forthcoming. With just …
When the Glen Canyon Dam came online in the 1960s, the Bureau of Reclamation was more concerned with banking a reliable reservoir for lower Colorado River basin states, and generating hydroelectric power, than the unintended effects on the downstream ecosystem in Grand Canyon and beyond. Three of the canyon’s eight species of native fish have …
Grand Canyon’s summer rains might have arrived a week or two late, but they have since remained true to form after breaking out last weekend. Scattered storms have soaked much of a park that was parched during a brutal dry spell stretching back to April. The relief from the annual weather system known as the …
As a twenty-five year resident of Grand Canyon National Park, I often get asked, “Do the views ever get old?” “Not yet,” I’ll reply without a moment’s deliberation. And how could they? Anyone who has spent any time gaping at the canyon can attest to the fact that the light and shadows change from moment …
In response to the tinder dry conditions in northern Arizona, both Grand Canyon National Park and the adjacent Kaibab National Forest have announced Level II fire restrictions effective Friday, June 8. These measures are designed to limit the possibility of human caused wildfires. Campfires, outdoor cigarette smoking, and use of chainsaws are among the forbidden …
As of June 1st, it just got more expensive to visit Grand Canyon National Park. Following a lengthy review of entrance fees across the National Park System at the urging of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, the cost for a single car entering the park has risen to $35.00. Though not the doubling of the existing …
After one more recent blast of wintry weather, Grand Canyon National Park has effectively turned the page from winter to spring. The commercial river-running season has begun, the North Rim is set to open May 15th, trees and wildflowers are beginning to bloom on the South Rim, and new arrivals — from baby squirrels to …
I occasionally recommend books, films, and events that I’m confident will truly resonate with readers of this column. The Colorado, the latest title by author, geologist, and canyon country advocate Christa Sadler, is one such volume that I am proud to bring to your attention. Thoroughly researched and richly-illustrated, this book chronicles the cultural and …
A $14 million road improvement initiative is in full swing at Grand Canyon National Park. As one component of the 2018 Federal Highways Administration project, major intersections throughout Grand Canyon Village and the Desert View area, as well as fifteen miles of roads, are being repaved. The contractor completing the work, Fann Contracting Inc., of …
Spring Break is on, and the park is once again bustling with families, school groups, and teenage road trippers. College logowear abounds. As an outdoor educator devoted to turning youth on to the wonders of Grand Canyon, these are the good days. It reminds me of a favorite teachable moment I once had with a …
Beginning March 1st, the National Park Service will resume it’s free shuttle service from various stops in the gateway community of Tusayan into Grand Canyon National Park. With over 200,000 passengers in 2017 alone, the popular transport eliminated an estimated 35,000 vehicles from entering the park. This year the service will be even more valuable …
In recent years, private philanthropy has become a larger piece of the puzzle in funding our national parks. Charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations have helped offset the twin threats of stagnate Congressional appropriations for public lands and a spike in park visitation. Fundraising efforts by the National Park Foundation for the 100th anniversary …
For my fellow landscape photographers flocking to the overlooks to capture the canyon in winter splendor, the windows of opportunity have been few. I was able to make a few successful captures after last weekend’s modest storm while scouting shooting locales for an upcoming photography workshop.