Grand Canyon Reopens Several Inner-Canyon Trails

Park crews have restored sections of Bright Angel Trail and other routes, though livestock passage on Bright Angel remains closed.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hiking

Wide view of a narrow dirt switchback trail cut into layered red sandstone canyon walls under warm late-afternoon light, with hazy depth receding into the distance. — Park crews have restored sections of Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, reopening inner-canyon routes while livestock passage on the trail remains closed. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Grand Canyon National Park has reopened South Kaibab Trail below the Tipoff and the River Trail, and Bright Angel Trail is open to hikers between the Mile and a Half Resthouse and Havasupai Gardens. Bright Angel Trail remains closed to livestock passage in that section, and Black Bridge, Silver Bridge, Phantom Bridge and North Kaibab Trail stay closed.

Why it matters

Park service crews have been working to restore Bright Angel Trail after recent weather caused rockslides, and the reopenings give hikers access to key inner-canyon routes. Visitors planning trips that depend on mule or livestock travel should note that those services are still unavailable on Bright Angel.

Park status updates list three inner-canyon routes as reopened and four trails or bridges as still closed. Bright Angel Trail remains closed to livestock passage between the Mile and a Half Resthouse and Havasupai Gardens, with no repair timeline announced.

The players

Grand Canyon National Park

A U.S. National Park in northern Arizona managed by the National Park Service, known for its vast canyon system and extensive hiking trail network.

The details

Recent weather caused rockslides on Bright Angel Trail, and crews have been working to restore it. The reopened routes were not affected by August's flood or the 2025 Dragon Bravo fires, while the North Rim renovations remain subject to a public comment period.

August: flood damaged canyon areas, including the North Rim.
2025: Dragon Bravo fires caused extensive North Rim damage.
Remainder of the winter: water remains off at the Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses and Havasupai Gardens.

Trail Access Outlook

The reopenings come after a year of compounding disruptions, from the 2025 Dragon Bravo fires that devastated the North Rim to August's flood. Trail access at the canyon is recovering unevenly, with some routes restored while others remain closed for the coming months.

Hikers planning inner-canyon trips can now use South Kaibab, River Trail and the open section of Bright Angel, but should not expect livestock passage on Bright Angel or access across Black Bridge, Silver Bridge, Phantom Bridge or North Kaibab Trail. Water is off at several resthouses and Havasupai Gardens for the rest of winter, so carry all needed supplies.

The takeaway

Check current trail status before setting out, since reopened routes can change with weather and repair progress. Pack extra water for any hike that passes the resthouses or Havasupai Gardens this winter.