North Rim tourism opportunity eyed

Less snow prompts push to lengthen visit season

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — With less snowfall recently at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, tourism officials see an opportunity to stretch the visiting season and bring more revenue to the region.

The less popular North Rim is fully open for less than half the year. It’s only lodge wasn’t built to handle harsh winters, and most employees are hired on a seasonal basis. The water system, with pipes buried inches below the ground, is susceptible to freezing.

But tourism officials say climate change is on their side as they push to extend the North Rim season.

Kane County, Utah, tourism director Camille Johnson has been leading the discussion. She said it’s frustrating when the only paved road between Jacob Lake, Arizona, and the North Rim closes Dec. 1 without significant snowfall.

The goal is to open year-round, or most of the year, and promote it as a four-season destination, she said.

Overnight lodging ends Oct. 15, as do ranger-led programs and most concessionaire services. The rim is open for day use until the highway closes. Everything reopens May 15.

For now, the park said it can do a better job of focusing on the dayuse, rather than the months-long closure.

“That’s a low-lying fruit we can tackle this year,” said park spokeswoman Kirby-lynn Shedlowski. “Longer-term stuff is going to be understanding what is the true capacity of the North Rim.”

Another meeting is planned next month. Johnson said she wouldn’t expect any major changes for five to 10 years.

The North Rim gets about 10 percent of the Grand Canyon’s

6.25 million visitors. It sits at more than 8,000 feet in elevation and is bordered by national forest land where a bison herd roams. It has few amenities — a lodge rebuilt in 1936 that’s been designated a national historic landmark, a gas station and a developed campground.

Dirk Clayson, chairman of the Kane County Board of Commissioners in southern Utah, said nearly half of visitors to southern Utah are drawn in by the Grand Canyon but cannot get there in winter, even with scant or no snowfall.

Those who visit the North Rim typically aren’t seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, Shedlowski said, and are looking for a quieter experience.

The Associated Press Tourism officials say climate change — less snowfall — is on their side as they push to extend the season on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.