Grand Canyon National Park Hotels to Close Amid Waterline Failures Ahead of Busy Holiday Weekend

Hotels within Grand Canyon National Park will close, and camping will be restricted due to a critical failure in the park’s water supply system, just before one of the year’s busiest holiday weekends. The U.S. National Park Service announced that all hotels inside the park will shut down starting Thursday night, while camping will be limited to “dry camping,” requiring visitors to bring their own water.

The park’s water supply issues stem from multiple recent breaks in the ageing Transcanyon Waterline, a 12.5-mile pipeline built in the 1960s that has exceeded its expected lifespan. The pipeline has suffered four significant breaks recently, completely cutting off water to the park’s main tourist hubs on both the South and North Rims.

Although the park will remain open to day visitors over the U.S. Labor Day weekend, services will be limited. Food outlets, a post office, and a medical clinic will continue to operate, but only minimal water will be available through spigots and in bathrooms. Campfires will be prohibited, and campers are advised to carry their water supplies or have the means to treat water from natural sources like streams or the Colorado River.

“These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources,” the National Park Service said in a statement, adding that they aim to restore full operational status for overnight guests as quickly as possible. However, no timeline has been provided for when the water supply will be fully restored.

Hotels outside the park in nearby Arizona towns remain unaffected by the closures. Meanwhile, tourists planning to visit the park have expressed frustration on social media, with many scrambling to find alternative accommodations outside the park.

The Transcanyon Waterline has faced over 85 major breaks since 2010, prompting the park service to initiate a $208 million reconstruction project, expected to be completed by 2027. The park, which sees around six million visitors annually, is home to about 2,500 year-round residents.