UPDATED | Grand Canyon Hiking Could Be More Dangerous This Year

Editor's note: This updates with information on two hiker deaths.

A summertime hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon is never just a walk in the park, but trail closures and detours amid construction of a new water pipeline are prompting additional safety concerns this year. 

"The main impact is for hikers going to Phantom Ranch because there’s displacement and an alternative reroute," Rob Parrish, chief of planning, environment and projects at Grand Canyon National Park, said in an email.

"Depending on which alternate hikers choose, they may be adding up to 4.5 additional miles to their route."

Two hikers have died in the area in less than two months.

Phantom Ranch is a historic lodging area in the bottom canyon so in demand that people often wait years for reservations. One of the most popular ways to reach Phantom Ranch from the South Rim is a 10-mile route via the Bright Angel Trail, River Trail and Silver Bridge. But the River Trail and Silver Bridge are closed due to the construction. 

"Some hikers are choosing to use an alternate route of Bright Angel Trail, Tonto Trail and South Kaibab Trail that is about 12 miles," Parrish said.

Hikers to Phantom Ranch can also take a 7.5-mile route on South Kaibab Trail, Black Bridge and North Kaibab Trail. But that comes with its own challenges.

"While the South Kaibab route is a shorter distance, the only water filling station for South Kaibab Trail is at the trailhead," Parrish said. 

A hiker headed to Phantom Ranch died Tuesday on the South Kaibab Trail. In May, a man described as an "avid and experienced" hiker died on the North Kaibab Trail.

Some of the alternate routes are also considered more strenuous. Temperatures at Phantom Ranch can reach 120 degrees in the summer, making challenging terrain and a lack of water an even more dangerous combination.

"It’s always important for hikers to use caution and check the park website for the water availability status of the filling stations at the trailheads and inner canyon before they begin hiking," Parrish said. "There are signs with QR codes at the trailheads that pull up the key hiking updates for closures, weather forecast and water status ... Visitors need to plan to have enough water to safely make it through their hike and have a plan and a contingency plan."

Pipeline breaks and other system issues with the Transcanyon Waterline can also impact the availability of water in the inner canyon, he said. Work started in 2023 to replace the leaky, antiquated water system. The 12.5-mile pipeline was built in the 1960s to carry water from its source at Roaring Springs on the North Rim across to the South Rim. It provides drinking water and fire suppression for all facilities on the South Rim and some inner canyon facilities including more than 800 historic buildings.

But it's been beset by dozens of leaks in recent years and park officials say it's past its useful life. Replacement is expected to take four years and cost more than $200 million.

Meghan Smith, preventive search and rescue supervisor for Grand Canyon National Park, told Outside Magazine that the project was creating challenges for rescue personnel and contributed to a string of 13 helicopter rescues in a single week in May .

“Construction on our pipeline has closed key sections of main trails that people would otherwise use as routes in and out of the canyon,” Smith told Outside. “And it’s rerouting people into areas they don’t normally go, which is causing problems for us.”

The park logged 182 search and rescue calls from May 25 to June 24, with 33 of those considered major incidents, according to Parrish. He said the overall number for the year so far was average. 

"People are injured or incur a heat related illness nearly every day in the canyon during the summer," Parrish said.

"Also, the search and rescue staff can receive multiple call outs, especially on summer days with high visitation or high temperatures. They must triage and respond accordingly, so visitors need to be prepared to self-rescue."

That's why it's so important for visitors to respect both the weather and their own limitations before venturing into the canyon.

"As part of personal preparation, I’d recommend completing some hikes with your gear and water weight in as many similar conditions as possible," Parrish said. "Remember that there’s about a 20-degree F increase in temperature and elevation difference about 4,500 - 5,850 feet from the rims and Phantom Ranch, and that there’s little to no shade."