If all goes as planned, vehicle access along Highway 67 to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will be possible at 7 a.m. on May 15.

That's when the Arizona Department of Transportation plans to open the road. In conjunction with the road opening, the Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim, a Forever Resorts property, and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will commence their 2010 seasonal operations.

Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations include lodging, groceries, camper services, food services and a service station. All concessioner facilities will open at 10:00 a.m. with the exception of the dining room, which will open at 11:30 a.m. for lunch. Lodge check-in will begin at 4:00 p.m.

All services provided by the National Park Service, including the Visitor Center, backcountry permitting office, and campground, as well as the Grand Canyon Association bookstore will be available on May 15 at 8:00 a.m. The first scheduled ranger program, Grand Canyon Geology, will be on the back porch of the Grand Canyon Lodge at 3:00 p.m. The first evening program will be on May 15 at 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium. All ranger programs will be listed in The Guide (North Rim: 2010 Season), a free publication distributed at the North Entrance Station, the North Rim Visitor Center, other contact stations in the park and online at www.nps.gov/grca once it is available.

The last day this year for most concessioner services and regularly scheduled ranger-led programs will be October 15. The National Park Service will continue its operations, including the North Rim Visitor Center and Bookstore, as well as the Backcountry Permits Office, through November 28, unless snow closes Highway 67 prior to that date. In addition, campsites with limited services such as portable toilets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and Forever Resorts will keep its gift shop and gas station open during this shoulder season.

The North Rim lies at the southern end of the Kaibab Plateau at approximately 8,500 feet in elevation, and offers spectacular canyon views. It is approximately a 215-mile drive from the South Rim. Points of interest include Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Point Sublime, North Kaibab Trail, and Bright Angel Point.

Advance overnight lodging reservations for North Rim facilities may be made by contacting Forever Resorts at (877) 386-4383 or by visiting their website at http://www.grandcanyonforever.com. For advance reservations from outside of the United States, please call (480) 998-1981. Advance reservations for the North Rim Campground must be made by calling 877-444-6777 or online at http://www.recreation.gov. For information on Grand Canyon Trail Rides please call (435) 679-8665 or visit their website at http://www.canyonrides.com.

For a copy of the park’s free Trip Planner please call 928-638-7888 or write, Trip Planner, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. The Trip Planner is also available on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/upload/2009TripPlanner.pdf. “The Guide” for the North Rim will be available on-line by May 15.