Portions of the Grand Canyon’s North Rim to reopen, closed during Dragon Bravo Fire
Sep 25, 2025, 7:07 PM | Updated: 7:56 pm
View from the Ken Patrick Trail near Point Imperial on Sept. 20, 2025. (A. Gibson/National Park Service)
(A. Gibson/National Park Service)
SALT LAKE CITY — Some of the most scenic portions of Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim will partially reopen on Oct. 1, the National Park Service said on Thursday.
Many of the highways and roads leading to the North Rim were closed due to the Dragon Bravo Fire, which began after a lightning strike on July 4, 2025 and burned 94,228 acres. By September 25, 2025, the fire was at 95% containment.
The National Park Service said that on Oct. 1, the partial reopening will include:
- Highway 67 to the W1 road
- Cape Royal Road
- Fire Point
- Swamp Ridge
The reopenings will allow visitors to access two very popular overlooks at Point Imperial and Cape Royal.
A screenshot from the Arizona Wildfire Dashboard.
The reopening areas will be open every day from sunrise to sunset. No overnight use is permitted on the North Rim, the NPS said, other than at Swamp Point and Fire Point.
“Reopening portions of the North Rim allows visitors to once again experience some of the park’s most scenic areas while we continue to assess post-fire impacts and begin recovery efforts,” said Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable in a statement.
A tree frames a spectacular view of Arizona’s Grand Canyon as seen from the Widforss Trail on the North Rim. (Brian Killigrew, Associated Press via Deseret News)
“This is the first of several phased re-openings planned for the North Rim, and we appreciate the public’s patience as we work diligently to restore access.”
These are the only areas of the North Rim that will reopen to the public. The NPS said there are ongoing safety concerns related to the Dragon Bravo Fire as well as ongoing recovery efforts.
If you go to the North Rim
Areas of the North Rim that are reopening may still present a danger to visitors, the National Park Service said. Those dangers include trees that are dead but still standing, the potential for flash flooding as well as the continued presence of fire crews and their equipment.
The National Park Service urges anybody visiting the North Rim to bring all of the food, water and other supplies they may need.
“There is no power, running water, cell service, or visitor services currently available in the reopened areas,” the NPS said.
Additionally, visitors are not able to buy fuel within the park, and winter driving conditions in the form of snow and iced roads are always a possibility.
Visitors must plan ahead.
