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Trans-Canyon Pipeline Construction To Require Temporary Closures At Grand Canyon National Park

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By Compiled From N... - September 21st, 2023

Contractors perform surveying work for the Transcanyon Waterline outside the Bright Angel Lodge, June 2023/NPS

Construction of a rehabilitated Transcanyon Waterline at Grand Canyon National Park will require some temporary closures to trails and campgrounds.  

 Expected visitor-use area closures include: 

  • Rim Trail in front of Bright Angel Lodge with a detour going around the lodge: Nov. 16, 2023-April 4, 2024
  • Plateau Point Trail from the Tonto Trail junction to Plateau Point: Oct. 12, 2023-March 14, 2025 
  • Bright Angel Trail approximately 1/2 mile from the trailhead to Silver Bridge, including Havasupai Gardens Campground: Dec. 1, 2023-April 14, 2024 
  • Bright Angel Trail from Havasupai Gardens to Silver Bridge: Dec. 2, 2024-March 14, 2025 
  • Bright Angel Campground: Dec. 19, 2024-May 9, 2025 
  • Silver Bridge: Sept. 15-Dec. 31, 2025 

The construction areas and schedule are subject to change and visitors are encouraged to check the park’s website for the current operational status. Intermittent trail delays of up to 30 minutes in the vicinity of construction work may occur as necessary throughout the project.  

Visitors will be able to use an upper portion of the Bright Angel Trail from the trailhead to nearly a half-mile down the trail during the Dec. 1, 2023-April 14, 2024 closure period. The South Kaibab Trail will remain open for private river exchanges during Bright Angel Trail closures. Due to some of the Bright Angel Trail closures, mule rides will be suspended Dec. 1, 2023-April 14, 2024. 

No hikers or other trail users will be allowed to pass through closure areas. The National Park Service emphasizes the importance of  always staying on designated trails,  and visitors should not attempt to go over or around a closure. Trail users should pay attention to directions from park rangers, volunteers, construction flaggers, and signs placed along the trail.   

Rebuilding the transcanyon waterline, at a projected cost of $208 million, will involve related upgrades to the associated water delivery system within the inner canyon and South Rim. This critical investment will ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for the next 50 plus years, supporting 6 million annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents, accoriding to a park release.

The Park Service is replacing the pipeline because it is beyond its expected useful life, experiences frequent failures, and requires expensive and continuous inner canyon maintenance work to repair leaks. Since 2010, there have been more than 85 major breaks in the pipeline that have disrupted water delivery. Costs for a single isolated break often exceed $25,000. Conditions in the inner canyon include extreme terrain and high temperatures, which increase risk to employees during repair operations. The system also supplies water for fire suppression for all South Rim and inner canyon facilities, including more than 800 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 

Originally built in the 1960s, the pipeline is a 12 ½-mile waterline that provides the potable water for all facilities on the South Rim and inner canyon facilities within the park. The rehabilitation project will move the water intake for the system from Roaring Springs to Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch. This location will greatly reduce the length of the pipeline and eliminate a portion of the current waterline north of Phantom Ranch that experiences the most frequent failures. The water intake at Roaring Springs will continue to provide water to the North Rim. 

Camping reservation dates during the expected closures for Havasupai Gardens and Bright Angel Campgrounds are unavailable to reserve on Rec.gov. Visitors can contact the Backcountry Information Center at e-mail us for more camping and hiking information. Commercial use authorization permit holders can contact the permits office for questions related to their CUA permit at e-mail us 

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