Planning A Visit To Grand Canyon National Park? Don't Count On Staying On The South Rim
So 2025 hasn't been a great year for Grand Canyon National Park. On July 4, a devastating fire ignited on the park's North Rim. The Dragon Bravo Fire burned multiple buildings and caused a chlorine gas leak that required the area to be evacuated. The historic Grand Canyon Lodge, one of the most beautiful lodges in and around the Grand Canyon, was destroyed and multiple watersheds were impacted, which could lead to flash floods during monsoon season. In October, the Grand Canyon faced staffing challenges amid the government shutdown. Now, park officials have announced that all of the lodging on the South Rim will temporarily close starting on December 6, 2025 due to water supply issues.
In a press release on December 2, 2025 the Grand Canyon Office of Communications announced that it will, "implement additional water restrictions on the South Rim." The decision was made in response to, "significant breaks in the 12½ mile-long Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water from the canyon for use in the park."
As part of the water restriction efforts, overnight accommodations on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will be temporarily closed. If you've been planning a trip to the Grand Canyon this December, it's crucial that you contact the property to check to see whether your stay has been impacted. You will likely need to seek lodging outside of the national park in the nearby town of Tusayan.
Grand Canyon lodges and hotels to close while repairs are made
According to the National Park Service's recent press release, water supply issues have been ongoing since November. At this time, zero water is being pumped to the popular South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Transcanyon Waterline was constructed in the 1960s, and for decades it has provided all of the potable water to the South Rim and inner canyon of Grand Canyon National Park. Now, it is no longer performing its intended function properly. "The waterline has exceeded its expected lifespan and experiences frequent failures, which require expensive and continuous maintenance work to repair leaks," the NPS stated in their announcement.
Due to the lack of water during repairs, multiple hotels and lodges located on the South Rim are being forced to shut down. El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Yavapai Lodge, and Trailer Village will all be closed starting on December 6, 2025. There is no official reopening date at this time, but SFGATE reported that guests with reservations at a few of the aforementioned hotels were sent an email announcing closures from December 6 to 8. Guests were told that reservations during that window will be automatically canceled and refunded.
What to do if your plans to visit the Grand Canyon are disrupted by the closures
The hotel and lodge closures are not expected to last very long, even though reopening dates have not been confirmed. According to SFGATE, park officials said that the repairs to the waterline could be completed in just a few days. After repairs are finished, crews will need to flush the lines.
If you're planning on camping in the Grand Canyon National Park, be aware that only dry camping will be permitted during the repairs. "Spigot access at Mather Campground on the South Rim will be turned off, though faucets in bathrooms will remain operational. Water spigot access will be available at the Mather Campground check-in kiosk," the NPS press release states. Additionally, no fires will be permitted at the South Rim or within the inner canyon. Food and beverage services at the South Rim will remain in operation.
If your plans have been disrupted by the hotel closures, your best bet is to delay your trip until hotels and lodges are able to reopen, or to seek accommodations in the nearby town of Tusayan, which officials say will not be affected by the repairs. For more information on where to stay outside of the park, check out the official Grand Canyon National Park website.