Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Sept. 1-5, 2025

Dragon Bravo Fire Update – Sept. 4

As of Thursday, Sept. 4, the Dragon Bravo Fire is now 80% contained. With recent monsoon rains lowering fire danger, all fire restrictions on the Kaibab National Forest have been lifted, and Grand Canyon National Park has returned to Stage 1 restrictions.

Crews continue to make significant progress on recovery operations, focusing on removing hazardous trees, clearing roads, and repairing infrastructure. Work has been divided into three divisions:

• North Repair: Clearing hazardous trees along Highway 67, Road 611, and nearby areas, hauling out an average of 30 truckloads of debris each day.

• South Repair: Nearly completed clearing Highway 67, with efforts now focused on Cape Royal Road and other areas.

• Fire Suppression/Patrol: Monitoring for and extinguishing remaining hotspots with support from two Type 3 helicopters.

On Friday, August 30, NPS and Aramark, in coordination with the Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT), began reentry property retrieval for displaced employees. This week, approximately 75 employees were able to safely retrieve belongings, with access limited to displaced staff and those with administrative duties on the North Rim. These reentry operations will continue in the coming weeks.

For the latest fire information updates, please visit the CIMT Inciweb page here.

The DOI’s Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team has concluded its post-fire assessment of the Dragon Bravo Fire and provided its outbrief to Grand Canyon National Park leadership on Tuesday, September 4.

The Dragon Bravo Fire burned a total of 149,399 acres, including 71,129 acres of park-managed land. Thanks in part to long-term fuels management efforts, the majority of the fire burned in a low-to-moderate severity mosaic pattern—68% of park lands experienced low severity, 24% moderate severity, 1% high severity, and approximately 7% remained unburned. This pattern reflects the resilience of fire-adapted ecosystems across the plateau.

The BAER Team was mobilized to evaluate the fire’s short-term effects on life, property, and critical natural and cultural resources. From August 19–26, the team conducted fieldwork in coordination with Grand Canyon staff, Tribal representatives, and interagency partners. Their findings were organized around three central themes:

• Natural and Cultural Resources – The fire’s mosaic pattern is expected to stimulate natural regeneration and renew ecological and cultural processes. The team also documented early signs of recovery, including resprouting vegetation in several burned areas.

• Infrastructure and Built Environment – Some facilities and structures sustained significant losses, representing the fire’s most severe post-fire impacts.

• Recreation Resources – Visitor areas and trails face short-term challenges, but with thoughtful management and timing, conditions will support the safe reopening of recreation opportunities as quickly as possible if key logistical challenges are overcome.

Based on these assessments, the team recommended a set of emergency stabilization and rehabilitation treatments aimed at reducing risks of erosion, invasive species, and damage to key resources. Of the 21 recommended actions, 15 are considered emergency stabilization treatments that can be implemented immediately, while six qualify as longer-term rehabilitation measures.

While the BAER Team’s rapid assessment provides essential guidance for immediate recovery actions, further resource-specific reviews will be conducted in the coming months to address additional needs. Grand Canyon staff will now evaluate the team’s recommendations and begin implementing eligible treatments under the Department of the Interior’s Post Wildfire Recovery Program.

More updates and information on the DOI BAER Team’s work can be found on Inciweb here.

Grand Canyon Music Festival concerts this weekend

The festival showcases a variety of music types, including classical, contemporary (modern composers and new works) along with Jazz and Blues.

All performances take place in Shrine of the Ages Auditorium. Evening performances are scheduled to take place on Fridays and Saturdays – beginning this Friday (August 29th) and running through Saturday, September 13, Doors open at 7 p.m., and the performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation with a suggested donation of $20. Details: https://grandcanyonmusicfest.org/concerts/

This Week’s Music Festival Concerts:

• Friday, September 5 (7:30 p.m.) David Koerner and Friends Seasonal Transitions: Summer to Winter— Astronomer/composer/pianist David Koerner shares the beauty and wonder of northern Arizona’s night sky through his music for solo piano, “Summer Triangle” and “Winter Triangle.” We’ll explore the transitions of the seasons with Michael Begay’s String Quartet “Hai,” a Navajo perspective on the seasonal transition, and Edie Hill’s “Cold Blue Night,” a haunting aural representation of winter’s cold beauty for solo flute.

• Saturday, September 6 (7:30 p.m.) Global Folk Melodies: Homeland— with cellist Karlos Rodriquez, violinist Steven Moeckel, pianist Silvan Negruțiu, and Robert Bonfiglio, harmonica. Program includes: Enrique Granados Spanish Dance Opus 37 No. 5, “Andaluza,” Antonín Dvořák Piano Trio in E Minor, Opus 90 “Dumky,” Béla Bartók Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56, Arvo Pärt “Spiegel im Spiegel,” and Alexander Tcherepnin “Adagio from the Concerto for Harmonica”.

Fall Shuttle Bus schedule begins this Saturday, Sept. 6

The fall schedules begin on September 6 and run through November 30.

• Village (Blue) Route: first bus is at 7 am – last bus at 9 p.m.
• Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route: first bus is at 6 a.m. – last bus in Sept.: 7:50 p.m., Oct: 7:20 p.m., Nov: 6:35 p.m.
• The Hermit Road (Red) Route schedule is slated to remain the same. First bus is at 8 a.m. – last bus, one hour after sunset.
• Starting on Saturday, September 7, the Hiker Express bus will leave the village at 6, 7, and 8 am, each morning.
• The last day for the Tusayan (Purple) Route is this Friday, September 5. The route is scheduled to resume during summer 2026.

Beginning on September 6, the full schedule can be viewed on the park’s website here.

On August 28, 14 interns and seasonal staff joined the Grand Canyon Tribal Program for a mentorship trip to Wupatki, Sunset Crater, and Walnut Canyon National Monuments.

Participants met with staff at each site to learn about Tribal engagement, career paths, and the differences between working at a national monument and a national park. Highlights of the day included meeting the Hopi Ancestral Lands crew at Wupatki Pueblo, walking the Island Trail at Walnut Canyon, and visiting with “Ruff Buff” at Sunset Crater to hear about collaborative efforts with Tribal communities.

The monthly mentorship program brings together staff from across multiple park divisions—including Vegetation, Facilities & Maintenance, Fire, Hydrology, Fisheries, Education, Interpretation, and Archaeology—for community building, professional development, and hands-on learning opportunities.

Employees interested in getting involved in future mentorship meetings can contact the Tribal Program team at GRCA_Tribal_Program@nps.gov.

An asphalt paving project will take place next week along the Rim Trail within Xanterra’s land assignment, requiring short-term closures in two phases to complete milling, repaving, and sealing work.

Phase 1: Monday, Sept. 8 – Tuesday, Sept. 9

• The Rim Trail will be closed from the fork in the trail near Kolb Studio eastward to the west edge of the flagstone surface at Bright Angel Lodge. This section will reopen the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 10.

Phase 2: Wednesday, Sept. 10 – Thursday, Sept. 11

• The Rim Trail will be closed from the east edge of the flagstone surface eastward to Hopi House. This section will reopen the morning of Friday, Sept. 12.

Detours will be clearly signed, and access to all buildings will remain open throughout the project. Work areas will be secured with barriers and caution tape for public safety.

Employees and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and use detour routes during this time.

Grand Canyon Incident Report Available

Grand Canyon Law Enforcement has combined significant incidents from all districts including the South Rim, Canyon District, and the North Rim.

See the latest Incident Report:

Grand Canyon Incident Report ending on 9-1-2025

Cultural Demonstrators at Desert View Watchtower

Demonstrations take place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Desert View Watchtower.

➡️ Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 4, 5, and 6:

• Bradford Kaye – is a contemporary Hopi kachina carver, who handcrafts expressive sculptures using cottonwood root and natural pigments to create figures that reflect both Hopi traditions and his own dynamic style.

• Frank Fowler – A Diné (Navajo) fine art painter blending traditional Diné themes with contemporary expression, Frank’s work often explores the natural world in relation to Navajo identity.

➡️ Monday and Tuesday, September 8 and 9

• Steve LaRance – A master Hopi silversmith makes distinctive tufa-cast jewelry using traditional symbols like those found in petroglyphs. His designs are inspired by historical cast jewelry and executed in creative contemporary ways.

• Beverly Blacksheep – Diné (Navajo) painter, inspired by her heritage and the desert landscape, blends vibrant and soft colors with geometric motifs reminiscent of Navajo weavings, creating a deep sense of harmony with Mother Earth.

More information on the Cultural Demonstration Program can be found here.

Astronomer in Residence Laura-May Abron’s Evening Programs

Saturday, September 6: Not Just Stars…Star Systems! (Visitor Center Theater – 8 p.m.) “Born too late to explore earth, born too early to explore the galaxy.”? Not quite. Join us as we discover not just our planetary neighbors, but the exotic planets hiding in Grand Canyon’s dark skies. An outdoor constellation tour will follow the theater presentation.

Sunday, September 7: Full Moon Gathering at Mather Point (6:30 p.m.)

Join us as at Mather Point as the Grand Canyon greets the Full Moonclimbing into the twilight. Together we’ll explore its beauty, history, importance to life on Earth, myths, and how its own Grand Canyons were formed. Bring pen and paper and sketch your favorite feature!

Sunday, September 7: Common Skies, Countless Eyes program (Visitor Center Theater – 8 p.m.) From sunspots and comets to supernovae and auroras, our ancestors marveled at these cosmic phenomena long before telescopes were ever invented. Join us on a journey to learn how you can become an observer and partake in this long human tradition.

Astronomer in Residence, Laura-May Abron, a French-US astronomer, science communicator and artist from Paris, works at Griffith Observatory on asteroid research, and has had her science art featured by NASA, New Scientist, Spaceweather.com, and international galleries.

More information on these programs can be found on the park website here.

Steve, an award-winning artist of Hopi descent from Upper Munquapi village, has captivated audiences for over 30 years with his remarkable artistry. Join us for a special flute concert along the rim of the Grand Canyon.

Performance Schedule

• Desert View Watchtower – Monday, September 8, at 6 p.m.
• Canyon Rim Trail near Hopi House – Tuesday, September 9, at 6 p.m.

Cultural Demonstrator at Hopi House – Saturday and Sunday, September 13, 14

It is with great pleasure that Hopi House welcomes back highly acclaimed Santa Clara fashion designer and contemporary painter, Michelle Tsosie Sisneros. Along with demonstrating her painting techniques, Michelle is bringing a wide assortment of her clothing designs for guests to choose from. Her prints and notecards will also be available.

“I am a painter and an Indigenous Clothing Designer. I have integrated other art forms into my professional art life such as jewelry and pueblo pottery; these mediums have served my creative process in many challenging ways such as form and technique. I paint in acrylic, watercolor, pastel, and various printmaking forms. My imagery reflects unique blend of traditional stories of spirit animals such as deer, buffalo, and birds in whimsical forms with colorful background landscapes as well painting the strength of women in our traditional and contemporary lifestyle settings.“

A flyer for this event can be found here.

Community Blood Drives on Sep. 5 and 6 in Grand Canyon and Tusayan

The Grand Canyon Rec Center and the Tusayan Fire Department will host their own respective blood drives through Vitalant on Friday, Sept. 5 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Rec Center and on Saturday, Sept. 6 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Tusayan Fire Department.

Appointments are suggested, and to schedule, individuals can visit www.donors.vitalant.org. Vitalant is the supplier to 96% of Arizona hospitals including the Flagstaff Medical Center.

More information can be found in the attached flyer here.

McDonald’s Fundraiser for 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip

The 8th-grade class is continuing its fundraising efforts for their upcoming trip to Washington, D.C.! Visit McDonald’s on Friday, Sept. 5, from 4–7 p.m., where a portion of the proceeds will support the students’ journey to our nation’s capital.

More information can be found in the attached flyer here.

Canyon Closet Announces September and October Hours

The Canyon Closet, a FREE community clothing hub here on the South Rim is open every Wednesday from 4-5:30 p.m. as well as selective Fridays in September and October.

The Closet is located at the Grand Canyon High School building upstairs. Parking is available at the Rec Center by walking on the track around the soccer field OR parking near the Catholic Church off of Boulder Street.

More information on the Canyon Closet can be found in the attached flyer here.

Save the Date! Indigenous Peoples’ Day Community and Culture Event

The Town of Tusayan is hosting an Indigenous Peoples’ Day Community & Culture Celebration on Monday, October 13 beginning at 4:30 p.m. Free food, Native American dancers, a drone light show, activities will be featured. This event is free and open to the community.

More information on this event can be found in the attached flyer here.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Food Court, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Maswik Pizza Pub, 12-10 p.m. (food until 9:30 p.m.)
• Bright Angel Fountain, 5:30 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.-10 p.m. daily, (food until 9 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.-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 4:30-8:30 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 11-9 p.m.
• Coffee Shop, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.
• The Canyon Village Market, 6:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Deli 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Camper Services, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
• Mather Campground Store, 7 a.m.-8 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: Verkamp’s & 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 Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Monday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday 5:30-7:30 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 Summer Schedule (May 24-Sep. 5, 2025)
• Hermits Rest (Red) Route: 8:00 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Village (Blue) Route: 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
• Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route: 6:00 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Hikers’ Express: Daily departures from Bright Angel Lodge at 4, 5, and 6 a.m.
• Tusayan (Purple) Route, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. with service every 45 minutes
• Inner Canyon:
• CLOSED: River Trail east of River Resthouse to South Kaibab Trail junction: Oct. 21, 2024-Oct. 31, 2025
• CLOSED: Silver Bridge: Oct. 21, 2024-Nov. 26, 2025
• CLOSED: South Kaibab Trail below TipOff through Oct. 31, 2025

Desert View

• Desert View Trading Post, ice cream, and coffee shop, 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Desert View Watchtower and store, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. with the last tower access at 5 p.m.
• The Desert View Deli and Market, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Desert View gas station (24 hours), retail: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

• Do you see the rainbow? Sunrise from Grandeur Point on Thursday, Sept. 4 (NPS Photo/J. Baird)
• A Dusky grouse in the North Rim Administrative area on Sept. 4 (NPS Photo/N. Powell)
• DOI BAER Team on the South Rim (DOI BAER Team Photo)
• Tribal Program Mentorship Trip to Flagstaff Area Monuments, Aug. 2025 (NPS Photo)
• Rim Trail paving project map (NPS)
• Beverly Blacksheep painting – demonstrating at DV Watchtower on 9/8-9
• Full moon as seen from the South Rim, Sept. 2024 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)