Grand Canyon National Park Night Sky Programming – 2025 Season Kickoff!

We’re excited to kick off our 2025 night sky programming season at Grand Canyon National Park! Join us for our first stargazing event on Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

These programs celebrate the park’s stunning dark skies and offer a chance to learn more about the cosmos through ranger talks, telescope viewing, and celestial storytelling. Events will be held throughout the week—not just on weekends—now through the end of the year. Topics, times, and locations may vary.

To stay up to date on upcoming night sky events, scan the QR-code flyer posted in park buildings or visit our webpage directly:

👉 Upcoming Night Sky Events – Grand Canyon National Park (nps.gov)

The QR code links to a regularly updated schedule of programs and celestial highlights. Flyers are reusable and available throughout the park to help you plan your visit under the stars.

Thank you for supporting Grand Canyon’s dark skies, and we look forward to seeing you at a night sky event soon!

New ‘Behind the Scenery’ podcast – Featuring Ed Kabotie

In this powerful episode of Behind the Scenery, listeners are invited into a reflective conversation with Ed Kabotie—an artist, musician, and educator from the Hopi village of Shungopavi and the Tewa village of Santa Clara.

Hosted by Ranger Alicia, the conversation explores Ed’s family roots in art, including the influential work of his grandfather, renowned for the Watchtower murals at the Grand Canyon. Ed speaks candidly about the impact of boarding schools, generational resilience, and the ways his Hopi and Tewa heritage inspire both his music and visual art. His music draws from Indigenous history, environmental and social justice, and the spiritual connection to the land—especially the Colorado Plateau and the Grand Canyon. Ed’s evolving sound has been shaped by rock, reggae, and traditional melodies, resulting in a unique blend that honors the past while calling for conscious thought and healing in the present.

• Listen/download on NPS Podcasts
• or on Apple Podcasts

Join Lowell Observatory and Grand Canyon Conservancy on Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. for “Saving the Night: Protecting Dark Skies in Our National Parks,” an expert-led virtual panel discussion on dark sky conservation, the impact of artificial light, and the future of stargazing.

Join former Grand Canyon Astronomers in Residence Dean Regas, Lauren Camp, Kevin Schindler, and Dark Sky Ranger, Rader Lane for a fascinating discussion during National Park Week and International Dark Sky Week. This event will highlight the importance of preserving natural night skies for wildlife, ecosystems, and future generations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how you can help protect Grand Canyon’s world-famous dark skies!

• The livestream may be viewed on one of the following platforms: Lowell Observatory YouTube
• Grand Canyon Conservancy YouTube
• Lowell Facebook Event
• Grand Canyon Conservancy Facebook Event

See the back-to-back author events on April 24 & 25 as Tom Myers and Kevin Fedarko share powerful new works that dive deep into the spirit, history, and soul of the Grand Canyon. From The Grandest Trek to A Walk in the Park, experience two unforgettable nights of storytelling, connection, and celebration of canyon country.

The Grandest Trek: An Evening with Tom Myers on April 24 at NAU’s Cline Library

Join author Tom Myers for a special evening as he presents his newest and most powerful work, The Grandest Trek, on Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Northern Arizona University’s Cline Library (Flagstaff).

Nearly a decade in the making, The Grandest Trek is Myers’ magnum opus—a deeply moving exploration of friendship, loss, and the profound connection between people and the Grand Canyon. This is not a simple retelling of adventures, but a heartfelt tribute to those who have walked the canyon’s paths and an introspective journey into the emotional landscapes shaped by wild places.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event, with all proceeds benefiting the Grand Canyon Conservancy. This event is free and open to the public. More information can be found in the attached flyer or on the Cline Library website here.

A Walk in the Park: An Evening with Kevin Fedarko on April 25

New York Times bestselling author Kevin Fedarko will be sharing stories from his newest book, A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon on Friday, April 25 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center Theater.

Copies of the book will be for sale at GCC’s bookstore. This is your chance to get your very own signed copy! This event is free and open to the public.

More information on this event can be found on GCC’s website here.

2024 Special Agent of the Year: Abby Confer, Grand Canyon National Park

During a recent annual NPS Investigative Services Branch (ISB), Special Agent, Abby Confer, received an award as ISB’s Agent of the Year. Agent of the Year is a peer award; agents are nominated by their colleagues to honor and celebrate outstanding investigative work.

From ISB: “Special Agent Abby Confer is a high-performing investigator who often flies below the radar. She consistently and successfully works cases, yet she doesn’t draw attention to herself. Her partners recognize her for always being available to work cases, responding to complex scenes in the middle of the night, and fighting for the safety of and justice for victims. She does the job from a place in her heart with a strong moral compass. When she sees a wrong that has been committed, she fights to make it right, especially when it comes to crimes against children.

Special Agent Confer achieved an amazing outcome on a voyeurism case in the Corridor of Grand Canyon National Park – one of the most complicated cases in ISB history, with hundreds of victims and widespread interest both in the media and across the Department. Special Agent Confer’s professionalism, attention to detail, and investigative expertise also resulted in the multi-count conviction in a domestic violence/child endangerment/arson case in 2024. The perpetrator received a substantial jail sentence, the two child victims were protected, the two adult victims were afforded justice, and the residence owner received restitution. This case was successful due to a very skilled in-custody suspect interview, proper and thorough evidence collection, management of multiple complex crime scenes, interagency work with the ATF, and close coordination with USAO. Special Agent Confer arranged for recognition of the multiple US Park Rangers that assisted in the investigation.

Additionally, Special Agent Confer worked with Coconino County (AZ) in 2024 to accept cases of sexual assault, child abuse, and physical assaults that were declined at the Federal level. This arrangement has already been successful in bringing justice for victims through the state of Arizona that would have otherwise been closed as declined from the US Attorney’s Office.”

Easter Pancake Breakfast and Egg Hunt—April 19​

Join the fun on Saturday, April 19 at the Grand Canyon School Cafeteria for the annual KLC Pancake Breakfast fundraiser and easter egg hunt. Breakfast will begin at 9 a.m. with an easter egg hunt for all ages on the school grounds to follow.

A bake sale will also be taking place in the cafeteria from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (or until sold out).

More details, including a full flyer is available here.

Bake Sale Fundraiser for 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip—April 19

The 8th grade class is continuing its fundraising efforts for their upcoming trip to Washington D.C. Visit the General Store in the park on Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

More information can be found in the attached flyer here.

Grand Canyon Fix-It Clinic at Rec Center—April 25

Delaware North and Xanterra will be hosting a Fix-It Clinic on Friday, April 25 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Rec Center.

Bring your broken household items to the event where a team of “fixers” will try to repair it for you, free of charge, or give suggestions on how to fix it. Some ideas include: toys, jewelry, clothing, bikes, electrical items, furniture, small appliances, and vacuums. All community members are welcome and volunteer “fixers” are also needed.

More information can be found in the attached flyer here.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Food Court, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Maswik Pizza Pub, 4-9 p.m.
• Bright Angel Fountain, 5:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Harvey House Café/Fred Harvey Burger Restaurant, Breakfast 6:30 a.m.-10 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Dinner 4-9 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, (food until 9 p.m.)
• Arizona Steakhouse – Lunch 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Dinner 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
• El Tovar Dining Room and Lounge – Breakfast 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dinner 4:30-9:30 p.m., Lounge 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (food until 9:30 p.m.)
• The Grand Canyon Kennel, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Rec Center, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
• Fred Harvey Food Truck at Grand Canyon Visitor Center, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Delaware North

• Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast 7-10:30 a.m., dinner 5-9 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-9 p.m.
• Coffee Shop, 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• The Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Deli 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Camper Services, daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Other

• Grand Canyon Clinic: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Canyon Adventures Bike Tours and Cafe: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Verkamps 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Yavapai Geology Museum-8 a.m.-7 p.m., Visitor Center Plaza-8 a.m.-7 p.m., Kolb Studio-8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• The Verkamp’s Restroom and the adjacent parking area behind the Verkamp’s Visitor Center will be closed from April 14 to May 9, 2025, for roof replacement. During this time, parking will not be available at this location.
• The Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Monday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday 5:30-7 p.m., Saturday 2-4 p.m.
• Canyon Community Yoga & Wellness (at the Rec Center): Full class schedule can be found here. Use discount GCLOCALS at checkout.
• Shuttle Bus Spring Schedules (March 1 – May 23, 2025)
• Hermits Rest (Red) Route: 8:00 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Village (Blue) Route: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route: 6:00 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Hikers’ Express: Daily departures from Bright Angel Lodge at 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 a.m.
• Inner Canyon:
• Bright Angel Trail from Havasupai Gardens to Silver Bridge, closed Oct 21, 2024, to May 14, 2025
• Silver Bridge, closed Oct 21, 2024, to May 14, 2025
• Bright Angel Campground, closed Nov 4, 2024, to May 14, 2025

Desert View

• Desert View Trading Post and ice cream and coffee shop, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Desert View Watchtower and store, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the last tower access at 5 p.m.
• The Desert View Deli and Market, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Desert View gas station (24 hours), retail: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

North Rim

• The Supai Tunnel Compost Toilet Facility, located 1.5 miles below the North Rim on the North Kaibab Trail, will be closed from April 6 to May 6 for maintenance and repairs.

Please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website for a complete list of closures and available amenities.

• Morning views from the South Rim on April 18, 2025 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
• Dark sky programming at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center (NPS Photo)
• Abby Confer receiving ‘Agent of the Year’ Award (NPS Photo)