Inner Canyon Waterline Repairs Complete

Water has been fully restored to Manzanita Rest Area, Cottonwood Campground, and Phantom Ranch following the successful repair of a break in the Transcanyon Waterline. The pipeline was repressurized, water quality samples were cleared, and the water is once again safe to drink. Pumps at Havasupai Gardens are also operating and delivering water to the South Rim.

The break was caused by a rockfall near Roaring Springs and required a significant repair effort by the Water Utilities team. What initially appeared to be a straightforward repair became more complex after crews determined they needed to de-energize an electrical line attached to the pipeline, remove the damaged section of pipe, and weld a new section into place. Utilities staff also addressed a malfunctioning chlorine alarm at the pump house before the system could be safely repressurized.

Thank you to the Water Utilities team for their hard work over several days in challenging inner canyon conditions to complete the repairs and safely restore water service to visitors, residents, and park operations.

Meet Valerie Butterfield, new Grand Canyon museum curator

-Caroline Grass, Science Communications Assistant

Home to more than 1.6 million objects, the Grand Canyon Museum Collection is an invaluable resource for researchers and NPS staff. Now, leading the museum team as its new curator is Valerie Butterfield. She previously was the Museum Curator at Pipe Springs National Monument in northern Arizona.

“I came here because I needed a new challenge and this certainly presents one,” Butterfield said. “It’s a totally different experience, totally different collection and is beautiful.”

She added that part of the challenge is the span of time the collection covers. The period of significance at Pipe Springs was clearly defined at 20 years. “Here at the Grand Canyon, it’s 2 billion years and it covers a very broad range of topics and time periods and scientific importance and cultural interests,” Butterfield said.

With collections in archeology, ethnology, history, archive/manuscripts, biology, geology, and paleontology, a wide range of research is conducted to broaden the scientific understanding of the park and its resources. Every year museum staff receive more than 2,000 research requests.

In 2024, the museum team led 21 tours to park staff and new employees, and 391 Grand Canyon and 658 non-Grand Canyon individuals used the collection. Butterfield said the museum team is currently working to expand the exhibits open in the park to allow visitors to see more museum objects. To broaden access to the public, the museum is continuing to upload to NP Gallery, an online library of NPS images, video, audio, maps, and presentations.

Butterfield started this month and said she is excited and humbled to be in the position. “I’ve always been a museum nerd so I actually can’t believe I can get paid to live here and do this work,” Butterfield said. “I’d volunteer to do it, and they are paying me and I think that’s the most magical, dumb luck that I could have possibly imagined. I cannot believe my luck.”

A new photo album offers a look at the North Rim one year after the Dragon Bravo Fire, highlighting the landscape’s ongoing recovery through both aerial and ground-level photography.

Among the images is fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), a wildflower often associated with post-fire landscapes (pictured above). Fireweed is one of the first plants to colonize burned areas, earning its common name from its ability to rapidly establish after wildfire. Its bright pink blooms are a familiar symbol of ecological recovery.

The album also showcases regenerating vegetation, returning wildlife, and the mosaic of burned and unburned forest that supports ecological diversity across the North Rim. Together, these photographs document a landscape in transition and the early stages of its recovery while also showcasing the resilience of this fire-adapted ecosystem.

Explore the full photo album on the Grand Canyon National Park Flickr page here.

Special Evening Program – Friday, July 31

Join Artist in Residence alumnus Mark Chen for a behind-the-scenes look at his Pilgrimage of Light project, where celestial projections of galaxies and stars are cast onto Grand Canyon’s rock formations, creating a visual connection between the cosmos and the landscape.

Friday, July 31, 2026 | 8:00–9:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon Visitor Center

A photographic artist, educator, and author, Chen’s work explores the intersection of science, art, and the environment. During his 2023 residency at Grand Canyon, he expanded Pilgrimage of Light by photographing these celestial projections across the Canyon’s walls, creating compelling connections between the cosmos and the landscape.

More information can be found in the attached flyer here.

Hopi Artists Return to Hopi House

Hopi House will welcome father-and-son artistsRichard Dawavendewa and Sikuyva “SK” Dawavendewa for live demonstrations of printmaking, painting, and sketching on August 1-2.

Attendees will have the opportunity to watch the artists at work, learn about their creative process, and experience Hopi art and culture. Richard is an acclaimed printmaker and painter, while SK is a fine arts student at Arizona State University. Demonstrations will take placeFriday, August 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, August 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hopi House on the South Rim.

More information can be found in the attached flyer here.

TONIGHT! GCC Hosts Community Dinner at Maswik Lodge

The Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) will host its next Community Dinner on Thursday, July 30 from 6-8 p.m. at the Maswik Lodge. These gatherings are open to anyone in the community, including staff from NPS, GCUSD, Xanterra, Delaware North, GCC, the Forest Service, and local businesses. Come share a meal, reconnect with neighbors, and enjoy a welcoming space to unwind and support one another.

More information on future dates and locations for the GCC Community Dinners can be found in the attached flyer here.

Coffee with a Cop Returns August 4

Stop by Coffee with a Cop on Tuesday, August 4, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. outside the Village Market.

Whether you’re curious about law enforcement in the park or simply want to say hello, everyone is welcome to stop by and connect with the rangers who help keep our community and visitors safe.

Canyon Closet Announces August & September Hours

The Canyon Closet, a FREE community clothing resource, has announced its August and September hours. The Canyon Closet is also accepting used winter clothing on days they are open.

More details, including the schedule and location details of the Canyon Closet can be found in the attached flyer here.

Coconino County Seeks Election Board Workers for General Election

The Coconino County Elections Department extends its appreciation to everyone who participated in the recent Primary Election on July 21, including voters, polling location hosts, and election board workers.

The Elections Department is now recruiting election board workers for the upcoming General Election on Tuesday, November 3. Serving as an election board worker is an opportunity to support the election process and serve your local community. Employees and residents interested in learning more about eligibility, compensation, or how to apply are encouraged to learn more in the attached flyer here.

*New changes to operations are indicated in red.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Food Court, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Maswik Pizza Pub, 12-11 p.m.
• Bright Angel Fountain, current hours are from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Harvey House Café/Fred Harvey Burger Restaurant, Breakfast 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Dinner 4-9 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. (food until 8:30 p.m.)
• Arizona Steakhouse, Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Dinner 4:30-9 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.-9:30 p.m. (food until 9 p.m.), Outdoor patio from 12 p.m. until dusk (weather permitting)
• Fred Harvey Food Truck (located at Grand Canyon Visitor Center shuttle bus bay): 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (weather permitting)
• Canyon Food Cart (Rim Trail between Bright Angel and El Tovar Lodges: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (weather permitting)
• The Grand Canyon Kennel, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Delaware North

• Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast 7-10:30 a.m., dinner 5-9 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Coffee Shop, 6 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: 7 a.m.- 10 p.m. daily., Camper Services Grab n Go: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Other

• Grand Canyon Rec Center, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Clinic: 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Pharmacy hours: Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Canyon Adventures Cafe and bike rentals: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Kolb Studio, Visitor Center Plaza, Verkamp’s, and Yavapai Geology Museum: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
• The Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., CLOSED Saturday and Sunday
• Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Monday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday 5:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday 2-4 p.m.
• Summer Shuttle Bus Schedule (May 23 – Sep. 11, 2026)
• Hermits Rest (Red) Route: 8 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Village (Blue) Route: 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route: 5 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Tusayan (Purple) Route: Every 45 minutes from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Hikers’ Express: Daily departures from Bright Angel Lodge at 4, 5, and 6 a.m.

Desert View

• Desert View Watchtower, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. with last stair access at 6 p.m.
• Desert View Trading Post, ice cream, and coffee shop, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
• The Desert View Deli and Market, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Desert View Gas Station & Service Station Retail, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with 24-hour pay-at-the-pump access

North Rim

• General Store (adjacent to the campground), open through Oct. 15 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
• Gas Station – 24- hour self-serve pay-at-the-pump; gas and diesel available. Open through Oct. 15.
• The North Rim Campground open through Oct. 15, 2026. Reservations are available for booking at rec.gov.
• The North Kaibab Trail from Redwall Bridge to Cottonwood Campground will close on Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. to support Transcanyon Waterline construction. Traditional “Rim-to-Rim” hiking will not be possible after this date.

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

• A fawn on the side of the Cape Royal Road on July 15, 2026 (NPS Photo/M. Jenkins)
• A rare condor sighting over Station One and Park Circle on July 29 (NPS Photo/C. Stout)

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