Fill Er’ Up! Water Bottle Filling Stations Arrive in the Park

Water filling station | Photo by Mike Buchheit

For years the park has been encouraging hikers to stay well hydrated. This resulted in a spike in bottled water usage. Discarded plastic water bottles quickly became a sizable portion of the park’s solid waste burden (30% by some estimates). To remedy this challenge, the National Park Service has placed nine water bottle filling stations throughout the park in high traffic areas along the rim.

Like all the water that flows from taps in the park, that which flows from the filling station spigots is pumped from Roaring Springs near the canyon’s floor. So be sure to top off at one of these stations during your next visit. The water tastes great, and you’ll be doing the planet a favor.

About Mike Buchheit

Mike Buchheit was the director of the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute for over 25 years, a professional landscape photographer and instructor, a freelance travel writer, and a popular lecturer on a wide variety of Grand Canyon-related topics. As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he called home.

As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he calls home. You can see some of his beautiful work on his Grand Canyon Prints website.