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Grand Canyon Halts South Rim Overnight Stays Starting Dec. 6 After Major Waterline Breaks

Repairs to the aging Transcanyon Waterline could allow lodging to reopen next week if the system stabilizes.

Overview

  • Park officials report multiple significant breaks in the 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline, with no water currently being pumped to the South Rim.
  • All in-park lodging will pause, including El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village, while day-use access and essential services remain open.
  • Only dry camping is permitted as spigots at Mather Campground are turned off, bathroom faucets stay operational, and outdoor wood-burning and charcoal fires are banned on the South Rim and in the inner canyon.
  • Crews are conducting welding repairs and preparing to flush and recharge the system, and a park spokesperson said overnight lodging could begin to reopen as early as next week if work proceeds without new issues.
  • Hotels in nearby Tusayan remain available on separate water systems, and the park’s $208 million pipeline rehabilitation—underway since 2023—continues toward completion in 2027 after similar disruptions in 2024.