TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The North Rim campground in the Grand Canyon National Park is closed for the remainder of this summer due to wildfires. Although less popular, the area offers beautiful scenery, a peaceful camping experience, and access to park facilities. Meanwhile, the more popular South Rim remains open.
In its official statement, the U.S. National Park Service announced the impact of the wildfires on July 13, 2025. This includes the closure of the North Rim and popular inner canyon routes such as the North Kaibab Trail, South Kaibab Trail, and the Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens. The burnt buildings include the Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging inside the North Rim park.
Also closed until further notice is Phantom Ranch, a historic lodge at the bottom of the canyon frequented by many visitors. The wildfires have also caused the closure of all inner canyon corridor routes and campgrounds in the park. Authorities have not announced when access will be restored.
"With continued active fire behavior and ongoing risks to personnel and infrastructure, the North Rim will remain closed to all visitor access for the remainder of the 2025 season," the statement quoted from NPS.GOV said.
Lodge located on the north edge of the Grand Canyon, United States. Shutterstock
Iconic Lodging
There were two wildfires in the area. The first is the Dragon Bravo fire, which began on July 4, and the White Saga fire, which started on Wednesday, July 8, 2025. The Dragon Bravo fire was the most extreme, spreading to about 5,700 hectares on Monday, July 14, 2025, due to wind gusts of up to 40 mph. As a result, more than 70 buildings, including the National Park Service administration building and visitor facilities, have been destroyed.
The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging on the North Rim, was also destroyed. The lodge was initially built in 1928, burned down in 1932, and rebuilt in 1937. This lodge is often a resting place for ambitious hikers and adventurous tourists. One of its attractions is the stunning views of one of the most remote and famous landscapes in the world. The lodge is reinforced with Kaibab limestone and timber from the surrounding Ponderosa pine forest.
In addition to the historic lodging, a water treatment facility on the North Rim was also damaged, releasing chlorine gas on the evening of July 12, according to Wildfire.gov, the U.S. government's wildfire information portal, cited from Travel+Leisure. There have been no reports of injuries or fatalities, and all personnel have been evacuated.