NEWS RELEASES
Dwindling Snowfall May Prompt Longer Season On Grand Canyon’s North Rim
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through The Associated Press' website.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Associated Press (AP) reports that tourism officials in communities along the Grand Canyon’s rarely visited North Rim are pushing for a longer visitor season in a region that gets just 10 percent of the national park’s 6.5 million annual visitors. Currently the North Rim is fully open less than six months of the year, with overnight lodging, most concessions and ranger-led programs shutting down Oct. 15. The rim is open for day trips until the highway closes on Dec. 1 or with the first significant snowfall, then reopens in mid-May. The North Rim is a three hour round-trip drive from the Utah-Arizona border.
Providing a quieter experience than the busy South Rim, the North Rim offers cooler temperatures and far fewer tour buses, as well as spectacular views, a bison herd, a campground and a historic 1930's lodge. Average snowfall has fallen significantly during recent years, and last winter the area didn’t get snow until January and February. Park officials say significant improvements in infrastructure would be required to remain open during the winter months. A meeting next month will explore immediate and long-term proposals, but park officials warn that major changes might take five to 10 years.
For additional information on visiting the North Rim, visit the Grand Canyon National Park website.