The National Park Service has announced that it will offer just four free entrance days in 2018, which is a drastic cut from the sixteen free days offered in 2017. The free entrance days will be Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15), the first day of National Park Week (April 21), National Public Lands Day (September 22) and Veterans Day (November 11.). No explanation was given for the change, but it can't be a coincidence that this cut comes on the heels of the plan to sharply increase entrance fees.

The North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program may initiate additional prescribed fires on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park between December and January. Working as the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program, fire managers from Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest plan to start the Bright Angel Prescribed Fire (Rx) as early as Wednesday, December 6. The Bright Angel Rx, located near the North Rim developed area, is comprised primarily of ponderosa pine and patches of mixed conifer forest.

All North Rim roads are closed for the winter. The North Rim reopens on May 15, 2018.

Hikers and cross country skiers will be able to enter the North Rim through the winter months with valid backcountry permits.

For campground use, backcountry reservations are required November 1 through May 15, as the North Rim Campground switches to primitive use with walk-in only sites and no running water. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open all year and can be reached at grca_bic@nps.gov or 928-638-7875. -NPS

Many national parks have direct connections to the military—there are dozens of battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans. In addition, every national park is part of our collective identity that defines who we are and where we came from as a nation. They are tactile reminders of the values, the ideals, the freedoms that our veterans protect.

National Park Service (NPS) and US Forest Service (USFS) fire managers, working together as the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program, anticipate initiating more prescribed fire (Rx) treatments this week as weather and fuel moisture conditions allow on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

WASHINGTON – As part of its commitment to improve the visitor experience and ensure America’s national parks are protected in perpetuity, the National Park Service (NPS) is considering increases to fees (to $70 per vehicle- BG) at highly visited national parks during peak visitor seasons. Proposed peak season entrance fees and revised fees for road-based commercial tours would generate badly needed revenue for improvements to the aging infrastructure of national parks. This includes roads, bridges, campgrounds, waterlines, bathrooms, and other visitor services.

Grand Canyon National Park has closed the yurt located at CC Hill on the North Rim effective September 21, 2017 for safety concerns. The yurt is scheduled for demolition later this fall. A park superintendent has the authority to "designate areas for a specific use or activity, or impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity" as outlined in 36 CFR 1.5(a)(1).

North Rim operations will begin seasonal shut-down of most visitor services on Sunday, October 15. Reservations for the 2017 season at the Grand Canyon Lodge, operated by Forever Resorts, go through October 15. 2018 reservations are ongoing. The last meal served at the Grand Canyon Lodge will be breakfast on the morning of October 16; no food service will be available in the park after this meal. The lodge gift shop will be open through October 31. Self-service gas and diesel fuel will continue to be available. Canyon Trail Rides will offer their last mule rides on October 15.

Grand Canyon National Park will join national park sites around the country in celebrating National Public Lands Day with free entrance to the park. Entrance fees will be waived for all visitors arriving to Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Fee-free days give more families opportunities to visit national park sites and enjoy our country's historical, cultural and natural resources.

Grand Canyon National Park will join national park sites around the country in celebrating Founder's Day with free entrance to the park. Entrance fees will be waived for all visitors arriving to Grand Canyon National Park on Friday, August 25, 2017. Fee-free days give more families opportunities to visit national park sites and enjoy our country's historical, cultural and natural resources.