Horseshoe Bend Parking Fees
Whew! The summer season is just starting, and there is so much news to share, I don’t know where to start. So I guess I’ll just jump right in.
My first story is actually not about Grand Canyon but rather just up river from us.
Horseshoe Bend is a remarkable spot on the Colorado River where it nearly curves around on itself. It is located within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Page, Arizona and is one of the most photographed spots in the world.
Due to its popularity in this age of social media, it has become completely overrun, and parking has become a nightmare. So the inevitable has come to pass; parking fees are now being charged. If there parking lot is full, you cannot park along the road. You will have to come back later.
The parking lot has been improved, but be aware that your park passes will not apply here. Everyone must pay. You can find out more about the site and the new fees at these links:
- https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/horseshoe-bend-arizona-to-charge-entry-per-vehicle
- https://www.nps.gov/glca/learn/news/horseshoe-bend-partnership-reaches-milestone.htm
Dangerous Selfies
It’s becoming more and more common. People are putting themselves into precarious positions to get that “perfect selfie” and dying in the process.
Grand Canyon has already had its share of deaths this year of people trying to get a great photo and falling to their deaths. You see it daily – hourly – and it is actually shocking that we don’t have more deaths than we do.
You hear on a regular basis about someone climbing over barriers and dying from their recklessness. Earlier this month, a young man climbed over a permanent railing at an active Hawaiian volcano and fell in. He was rescued and miraculously survived, but a variation of this story constantly repeats itself.
I’ve heard people seriously suggest putting a railing around the entire rim! But if you pay attention to the news, one thing becomes clear, and that is people climb over railings. That doesn’t even take into account the fact that the Grand Canyon has 2,700 miles of rim. It is absurd to think of putting a railing around the rim – and a worthless endeavor as well.
Included below are some excellent articles on the latest problem with selfies and trying to keep people safe from themselves:
- https://www.wptv.com/news/national/national-parks-are-trying-to-keep-visitors-safe-in-the-age-of-social-media-and-its-very-hard
- https://www.nhpr.org/post/hundreds-have-died-selfie-related-deaths-2011#stream/0
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/people-keep-falling-into-the-grand-canyon-after-a-visit-i-can-see-why/2019/05/05/352b24b0-6f39-11e9-8be0-ca575670e91c_story.html
North Rim Reopening for Summer Season
Ahh, it’s that time of year. The North Rim reopens for the summer season on May 15th. Along with the National Park Service operations (Visitor Center, Backcountry Office and campground), all concessions will open as well. This includes the gas station, North Rim Lodge, groceries, food service and gift shops.
There is one fly in the ointment this season, however. There will be construction taking place over the summer to replace water distribution lines. Expect some noise…
The notice on Grand Canyon’s news page states, “Expect delays, detours, closures, and parking modifications. Affected areas include the North Rim Campground loop, Bridle Path, and the area from Grand Canyon Lodge to 0.3 miles.”
More information can be found here: http://ktar.com/story/2561671/grand-canyon-national-parks-north-rim-set-to-open-may-15/
South Rim Prescribed Burns
If you plan on visiting the Canyon during the month of May, be aware that the park will be burning piles of slash through the end of the month.
Smoke will be visible from both the South and North Rim at various times, but no road closures are expected at this point.
You can learn more about the pile burning by following these links:
- https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2019/05/08/prc-officials-smoke-from-controlled-burns-will-be-visible-from-various-locations-in-grand-canyon/#.XNMsbRSpHRY
- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6321/
Transcanyon Pipeline Update
Perhaps one of the most promising pieces of news to share is that the National Park Service has approved the long overdue replacement of 3 miles of the Transcanyon Pipeline in the inner canyon.
The section being replaced has broken numerous times in recent years. With 20,000 people daily relying on the water that it transports, the project has reached critical stage.
The project is estimated to cost between $80 million and $110 million. Other necessary connected improvements are included in the costs.
To learn more, visit these links:
- https://fronterasdesk.org/content/930521/national-park-service-approves-grand-canyon-pipeline-project
- https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2019/05/grand-canyon-national-park-settles-plan-replace-transcanyon-water-pipeline
Until next time, Happy Trails.