Kelly Announces Reopening of Grand Canyon North Rim After Dragon Bravo Fire

The announcement follows Kelly's call to restore safe access to the North Rim and bring tourism back to northern Arizona communities

Today, following requests from Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, the National Park Service announced it will reopen portions of the Grand Canyon's North Rim for the first time since the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the area earlier this summer.

The move comes after Kelly urged Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron to dedicate more resources and staff to safely reopen portions of Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim to visitors after this year's devastating Dragon Bravo Fire that has hurt the tourism economy in the area.

"Reopening the North Rim means families and visitors can once again enjoy some of the most scenic parts of the Grand Canyon, and it means more customers for the small businesses and workers who depend on tourism to make a living," said Kelly. "This is an important step forward after such a devastating tragedy, and I'll keep working to make sure access is fully restored and these communities have the support they need to recover."

Background:

Since the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the North Rim this summer-burning nearly 150,000 acres, destroying more than 70 structures including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, and forcing the park's closure-Kelly has led efforts to support impacted communities and restore access. In August, he visited the Grand Canyon to observe the burn scar and meet with local business owners about the economic toll. Earlier this month, he sent a letter pressing the Department of the Interior to safely reopen overlooks and trails to bring visitors back. Alongside Senator Ruben Gallego, Kelly also demanded answers on the federal government's handling of the fire.