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All Grand Canyon South Rim hotels reopen Wednesday to overnight guests after waterline repairs

El Tovar Hotel
National Park Service
El Tovar Hotel at Grand Canyon Village.

There's some good news for holiday travelers headed to the Grand Canyon. All South Rim lodges will reopen this Wednesday to overnight guests after crews completed major repairs to a waterline.

El Tovar, Bright Angel and Yavapai are once again taking reservations after they all closed earlier this month.

The park will continue to operate under enhanced water restrictions.

Key updates for South Rim from Grand Canyon National Park

Overnight accommodations: Beginning Dec. 17, overnight accommodations will resume at park lodges. This includes facilities operated by Xanterra, such as El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, as well as Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village. Reservations are now open, and visitors can book stays at these locations.

Camping: Dry camping will still be permitted, and water spigots at Mather Campground and Desert View Campground will remain turned off. However, visitors can access water at the dump station adjacent to the Mather Campground Kiosk.

Fire restrictions: Fire restrictions will continue for the South Rim, prohibiting all outdoor wood burning, charcoal fires, and campfires in South Rim and inner canyon areas to support water conservation efforts.

Ongoing conservation measures: Visitors and residents are encouraged to continue practicing water conservation:

  • Limit showers to 5 minutes or less.
  • Turn off faucets while shaving or brushing teeth.
  • Flush toilets selectively.
  • Wash laundry with full loads.
  • Report leaks to park authorities.
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KJZZ senior field correspondent Kathy Ritchie has 20 years of experience reporting and writing stories for national and local media outlets — nearly a decade of it has been spent in public media.