Grand Canyon boaters are being asked to float past Havasu Canyon and its colorful creek so as not to bring Covid-19 to the Havasupai Tribe/NPS file

Just as the Blackfeet Nation is taking steps to guard its members against Covid-19 by closing access to the eastern half of Glacier National Park, the Havasupai Tribe is banning outside entry to its reservation, and Grand Canyon boaters have been asked to respect that.

National Park Service staff at Grand Canyon National Park on Wednesday sent out a request that commercial and private boaters in the canyon voluntarily bypass Havasu Canyon, an iconic location at river mile 157 on the Colorado River where waterfalls shimmer with hues of turquoise.

The Havasupai have lived within the canyon, a tributary on the south side of the Colorado River, for 800 years. The tribe administers the land, which lies outside the boundary and jurisdiction of the national park.

The Park Service request is an effort to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to further safeguard the Havasupai people and their traditional lands. River guides and boaters are encouraged to honor this request out of respect and safety for the Havasupai people. 

The Havasupai reservation is under an emergency closure due to the COVID-19 virus. Entry into the reservation is prohibited and will be strictly enforced by the Havasupai Tribe, a Park Service release said. Camping at the confluence of Havasu Creek and the Colorado River is always prohibited.

The tribe has stationed law enforcement at the boundary between the reservation and the park and will enforce any attempts to violate the closure order, according to the Park Service. The tribe will share with NPS staff any information gathered on individuals or companies violating the closure order. 

The NPS and the Havasupai Tribe will continue to assess conditions and adjust operations as needed to provide for the safety of the Havasupai residents and boaters. 

Grand Canyon National Park's leadership is committed to working closely with its neighboring tribal communities to ensure that increasing access to the park is done in a manner that is sensitive to their interests and concerns. Park leadership respects the position of the Havasupai Tribe and their need to safeguard tribal members and lands. For further information on the Havasupai reservation, visit: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/havasupai.htm.