North Rim of the Grand Canyon Is Open Again, But Don’t Show Up Thirsty
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon reopened for the 2026 summer season on May 21, almost a year after the Dragon Bravo Fire closed it down. Roads, overlooks, and the North Kaibab Trail are back in service, but the park is asking visitors to plan around a list of post-fire conditions that will define the entire 2026 season.
The biggest one: there is no potable water anywhere on the North Rim this year. Not at the campground, not at the North Kaibab Trailhead, not at Supai Tunnel. You haul every drop you need.
The fire restrictions are the other headline. Stage 2 went into effect May 15 and stays in place through the season due to high fire danger. No campfires, no charcoal, no warming fires, no outdoor smoking. LPG stoves and lanterns are permitted, but only in areas cleared of flammable materials. If your trip plan involves a fire ring at the end of the day, rewrite it now.
Highway 67, Cape Royal Road, and Point Imperial Road are all open. The full North Kaibab Trail reopened May 15 for foot traffic only; stock use is suspended for 2026 while trail crews continue repair work. Expect intermittent closures and delays along the trail as that work continues through the season. Cottonwood Campground is open for hikers traversing the corridor. The North Rim Campground above is not yet open; the park says it will reopen for tents and RVs once conditions allow, with reservations going up on recreation.gov when a date is confirmed. No hookups when it does.
The burn scar deserves real attention if you’re hiking the upper North Kaibab between Supai Tunnel and the trailhead. Burned ground sheds water fast, and the park is warning hikers about flash floods, debris flows, rockfall, erosion, and falling trees, especially during monsoon storms. The park has expanded flash flood monitoring across the Bright Angel Creek watershed with USGS, including new stream and precipitation gages and improved visitor notification. Watch the weather, watch the sky upstream of where you’re standing, and bail early if conditions turn.
For supplies, the North Rim General Store is open daily through September 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with grab-and-go food, bottled water, and limited dry goods. The gas station next door runs pay-at-the-pump for unleaded and diesel. Both are useful, neither is a substitute for showing up with what you need.
Current conditions and closures are posted at nps.gov/grca/northrimstatus.htm, and overnight permit availability is through the Backcountry Information Center.
