Construction work at Grand Canyon National Park means you'll need to use the Black Bridge if you want to cross the Colorado River on foot/Kurt Repanshek file

Grand Canyon National Park plans to reopen the Bright Angel Trail and campground beginning May 15.

Multiple inner canyon areas were closed last fall for Transcanyon Waterline project construction activities. The Phantom Ranch Canteen and Lodge reopened on schedule, April 1.

The River Trail, between River Resthouse and the South Kaibab Trail junction, Silver Bridge and Plateau Point Trail, between the Tonto Trail West junction to Plateau Point, originally scheduled to reopen in May, will remain closed until Oct. 1, 2025. The Bright Angel Campground group sites will remain closed until October 1, 2025.

Additional construction needs to be completed during the May 15-September 30 closure period, including maintenance and reinforcement work to Silver Bridge and installing new connecting water pipe and conduit. New waterline and electrical lines along the Plateau Point and River Trails will also be excavated and installed.

Trail users will need to use Black Bridge through September 30 to cross the Colorado River. From May 15, Bright Angel Trail will be open from the South Rim trailhead to Pipe Creek Beach for use up and down the trail; there will be no access to Phantom Ranch via the River Trail. The River Resthouse will be open. Hikers may traverse between the Bright Angel Trail and the South Kaibab Trail via the Tonto Trail.

Commercial river trip exchanges will occur at Pipe Creek Beach and private river trip exchanges will occur at Boat Beach through May 14. Commercial and private river trip users may use either beach for exchanges beginning May 15.

Rim-to-rim hikers may use a South to North Kaibab Trail route, but due to the terrain and water availability, hikers are strongly advised to bring additional water to prevent heat-related illnesses. Hikers should plan to hike before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. when temperatures are cooler, bringing extra water and snacks, and take frequent rest breaks in the shade.

Hikers and backpackers attempting rigorous distances, such as rim to rim, through the inner canyon are strongly encouraged to be self-reliant and to understand their own physical limitations to prevent emergency situations for themselves and responders. Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, and employee safety requirements.

Waterline work is progressing in the Bright Angel Campground and between Havasupai Gardens and Tonto Trail West, and the areas will reopen on May 15. While Phantom Ranch Canteen and Lodge were closed, workers installed new distribution, power and communication lines, fire hydrants and water filling stations in the area.

Construction will continue throughout the year on the South Rim and Phantom Ranch water treatment plants. More information about the Transcanyon Waterline and the status of the project is available here.

The construction areas and schedule are subject to change, and visitors are encouraged to check the park’s website for the current operational status. Additional closures are expected this fall through spring of 2026 and information will be published as soon as the schedule is confirmed.

A PDF map of the closure area is viewable here.