Visiting the Grand Canyon is a favorite past time of mine. Being located about an hour and half from where I live, my husband and I usually make the trek to the South Rim several times a year to enjoy the ever-changing views the Canyon has to offer.
Upon hearing that parts of the Canyon Park would be opening for limited hours during the COVID 19 sequester, we decided to break out, so to speak, and enjoy some cooler weather and wide-open spaces.
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon and Park entrance are surrounded by densely forested areas of the Kaibab National Forest. There are many dirt Forest Service side roads to pull off with ample dry camping pull-outs. Since all lodging in the Park is closed and most of the lodging in the town of Tusayan, located just outside of the park is also closed, it seemed that this would be the perfect time to take an inaugural trip in our new (to us) travel trailer.
Since this was the first time the Park would have been open since the total government shut down due to COVID 19, we thought that traffic would be light in the Canyon, providing a nostalgic trip reminiscent of the times when we would visit the Park and have it mainly to ourselves.
Only open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., we arrived at about 7:30 and were amazed at the line of traffic entering the Park. The points that anyone can visit were limited to several of the turnouts along what is Highway 64 East or Desert View Drive. Driving along we decided not to stop at the first two open turnouts because there were people everywhere and vehicles were on two deep in some places.
We decided to drive further down the road to see how far we could go down 64. It was not long before we came upon a roadblock that directed us to turn around. We decided that this was actually a better route as the viewpoints and pull-outs were less crowded at the easterly end. This route allowed us to stop and get out. There were still quite a few people; sometimes the cars were visibly alternating parking spaces to adhere to social distancing while at other turnouts the cars were right next to each other, but at least there was more room to get out. No matter we came to see the Canyon decided to join the many others who came to enjoy this national treasurer. The views of course were breathtaking. Any time of year is an inspiring time to visit the Canyon, and this time of year, the crystal blue skies offer views that seem to go on forever, allowing you to gaze hundreds of feet down into the Canyon where the mighty Colorado River seems to flow an emerald green.
We stopped at about 3 of the turnouts, taking time to breathe in what seemed like freedom. We ended up leaving the Park about 11:00 a.m. and sure enough, the Park entrance was closed and visitors trying to enter the Park were being re-routed around the entrance, I guess to wait for the next day’s opening.
I understand that now, the Park, following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local public health authorities, are increasing access and services in a phased approach across all units of the National Park System including the Canyon. The Canyon website states that you must enter South Entrance between 4 am and 2 pm (Saturday, May 30, through Thursday, June 4, 2020) Day hiking on rim and inner canyon trails is permitted. Some visitor facilities are open. Desert View and North Rim remain closed during this period.
It’s an unsure world we live in and things seemed to be topsy-turvy and upside down, so if you do decide to take a trip to the Canyon, make sure you check their web site or call first. Guidelines for the Park can change at any time along with visitor accommodations and services in the Park and Tusayan. www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
