Additional areas reopen in Kaibab National Forest .
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park will reopen
a portion of the North Kaibab Trail on Wednesday, March 4, 2026,
marking an important step toward restoring inner canyon trail access
following the Dragon Bravo Fire. Accessed from Phantom Ranch, the North
Kaibab Trail from the Clear Creek Trail Junction to the Ribbon
Falls junction will reopen to public use.
The North Kaibab Trail has remained closed since July 13, 2025, to
allow for post-fire assessments, safety planning, and trail maintenance. The
North Kaibab Trail north of Ribbon Falls will remain closed until further
notice while National Park Service (NPS) staff completes post-winter
evaluations of trail conditions and trail maintenance.
Flash flooding is an inherent risk when hiking in the Grand Canyon,
and visitors are responsible for monitoring weather conditions and
understanding the hazards associated before entering the canyon.
Although post-fire assessments found that the Dragon Bravo Fire did
not significantly increase risk to permanent facilities or overnight use areas
at Phantom Ranch,
NPS has implemented additional precautionary measures to address
the elevated potential for flash flooding and debris flows in the Bright Angel
Creek watershed following the fire.
Key Mitigation Actions Include —
Enhanced Flood Monitoring: In partnership with the U.S. Geological
Survey, the park installed three new stream gages in drainages feeding
Bright Angel Creek, updated the Phantom Ranch gage, and added three
precipitation gages on the North Rim. These systems provide real-time data
and early warning of rising water levels that may trigger safety actions.
Evacuation Planning and Alerts: A comprehensive evacuation and alert
plan has been developed for the North Kaibab Trail corridor and the
Phantom Ranch area. Under specific conditions, monitoring systems and
National Weather Service alerts will signal when visitors should seek higher
ground or evacuate immediately.
Public Information And Notification: New signage is being installed
throughout the Phantom area and along the North Kaibab Trail to explain
flash flood risks and appropriate response actions. Visitors with Phantom
Ranch reservations or Bright Angel Campground permits will receive
advance notification, and backcountry and river users are encouraged to
register for the GCRIVERALERTS system.
Kaibab National Forest Reopening Update
In coordination with Grand Canyon National Park, the Kaibab
National Forest will reduced its closure area on Feb. 4, 2026,
reopening approximately 8,600 acres of House Rock Valley and 2.4 miles
of the Nankoweap/Saddle Mountain Trail. For details and updates, go to the
Kaibab National Forest website alerts page.
Reopened areas include —
House Rock Valley east of Forest Road 8910 and north of forest roads 632
and 3510 to the park boundary at South Canyon
The Nankoweap/Saddle Mountain Trail from Forest Road 610 to the forest
boundary with Grand Canyon National Park
Visitors should carefully review current trail conditions, weather
forecasts, and safety advisories before entering the canyon. Conditions
may change rapidly due to weather or runoff, and additional closures may
occur if safety concerns arise.
The latest information on weather and trail conditions can be found
on the Grand Canyon National Park Key Hiking Messages webpage.