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Four-Year Rehabilitation Of Grand Canyon Of Yellowstone Overlooks, Trails Underway In Yellowstone National Park

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Published Date

June 30, 2016
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone/Kurt Repanshek

A four-year project to improve visitor facilities around the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is underway/Kurt Repanshek file photo

Inspiration Point on the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is closed through the summer as a four-year initiative to repair and improve overlooks, trails, and parking lots along the canyon in Yellowstone National Park began this month.

In addition to Inspiration Point, a section of the North Rim Trail between the Brink of Upper Falls and the Brink of Lower Falls is closed until July 23. The brink overlooks are still accessible from their respective trailheads.

The multi-million-dollar project is being managed thanks to the fundraising help of the Yellowstone Park Foundation.

The current $9.1 million project, which began June 20, "will re-route trails away from dangerous areas with stone barriers; connect historic overlooks with new walkways; create safe, accessible viewing areas with new informational signage; and use natural materials to integrate the infrastructure into the canyon’s spires and cliffs," a park release said.

As the work progresses, various areas will be temporarily closed to the public.

Current closures include:

* Inspiration Point is closed until fall 2016.

* A section of the North Rim Trail between the Brink of Upper Falls and the Brink of Lower Falls is closed until July 23. The Brink of Upper Falls and Brink of Lower Falls are still accessible from their respective trailheads.

Areas impacted over the four-year period include:

* Brink of Upper Falls

* Brink of Lower Falls

* Uncle Tom’s Trails and Overlooks

* Inspiration Point

* Red Rock Point

* Crystal Falls

* Sections of the North Rim Trail that connect these areas

* Parking areas at the Brink of Upper Falls and the Uncle Tom’s area are being reconfigured to increase parking and the flow of pedestrian traffic.

This project will be funded by the Yellowstone Park Foundation through private donations and federal fee dollars. Construction is being managed and contracted by the Federal Highways Administration, with oversight by Yellowstone National Park. A crew of students from Montana Conservation Corps is assisting the National Park Service trail crew with work on the North Rim Trail.

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Comments

Submitted by Gary Wilson on June 30, 2016 - 7:54am.

I'm surprised this is just beginning, but i'm grateful for the Yellowstone Foundation for starting this!!!  I remember taking my pops here in the latter part of last decade and some of the steps and walkway was eroded to the point, where I had an uneasy feeling just being on sections of it.  Glad to see they are finally rehabing this.


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