Lower North Kaibab Trail Reopens March 4 Following Dragon Bravo Fire; Additional Areas Reopen in Kaibab National Forest

Contact: Grand Canyon Office of Communications

Grand Canyon National Park will reopen a portion of the North Kaibab Trail on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, marking an important step toward restoring inner canyon trail access following the Dragon Bravo Fire. Accessed from Phantom Ranch, the North Kaibab Trail from the Clear Creek Trail Junction to the Ribbon Falls junction will reopen to public use.

The North Kaibab Trail has remained closed since July 13, 2025, to allow for post-fire assessments, safety planning, and trail maintenance. The North Kaibab Trail north of Ribbon Falls will remain closed until further notice while National Park Service (NPS) staff completes post-winter evaluations of trail conditions and trail maintenance.

Flash flooding is an inherent risk when hiking in the Grand Canyon, and visitors are responsible for monitoring weather conditions and understanding the hazards associated before entering the canyon.

Although post-fire assessments found that the Dragon Bravo Fire did not significantly increase risk to permanent facilities or overnight use areas at Phantom Ranch,

NPS has implemented additional precautionary measures to address the elevated potential for flash flooding and debris flows in the Bright Angel Creek watershed following the fire.

Key mitigation actions include:

• Enhanced Flood Monitoring: In partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, the park installed three new stream gages in drainages feeding Bright Angel Creek, updated the Phantom Ranch gage, and added three precipitation gages on the North Rim. These systems provide real-time data and early warning of rising water levels that may trigger safety actions.

• Evacuation Planning and Alerts: A comprehensive evacuation and alert plan has been developed for the North Kaibab Trail corridor and the Phantom Ranch area. Under specific conditions, monitoring systems and National Weather Service alerts will signal when visitors should seek higher ground or evacuate immediately.

• Public Information and Notification: New signage is being installed throughout the Phantom area and along the North Kaibab Trail to explain flash flood risks and appropriate response actions. Visitors with Phantom Ranch reservations or Bright Angel Campground permits will receive advance notification, and backcountry and river users are encouraged to register for the GCRIVERALERTS system.

Kaibab National Forest Reopening Update

In coordination with Grand Canyon National Park, the Kaibab National Forest will reduce its closure area on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, reopening approximately 8,600 acres of House Rock Valley and 2.4 miles of the Nankoweap/Saddle Mountain Trail. For details and updates, go to the Kaibab National Forest website alerts page.

Reopened areas include:

• House Rock Valley east of Forest Road 8910 and north of forest roads 632 and 3510 to the park boundary at South Canyon
• The Nankoweap/Saddle Mountain Trail from Forest Road 610 to the forest boundary with Grand Canyon National Park

Visitors should carefully review current trail conditions, weather forecasts, and safety advisories before entering the canyon. Conditions may change rapidly due to weather or runoff, and additional closures may occur if safety concerns arise.

The latest information on weather and trail conditions can be found on the Grand Canyon National Park Key Hiking Messages webpage.

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