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Grand Canyon closes North Rim road, trails due to wildfire

(Rick Hossman | The Associated Press) In this Feb. 22, 2005, file photo, with the North Rim in the background, tourists hike along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon, Ariz. Crews are drilling at the bottom of the Grand Canyon to test the idea of shifting the area where water is drawn to serve millions of people at the park’s popular South Rim. The national park’s water supply comes from a natural spring that flows through 12.5 miles of pipeline. But the 1960s aluminum pipeline to the South Rim twists and turns around trails and through rocky terrain, frequently breaking and leaking.

Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz. • Grand Canyon National Park is closing a scenic road to a North Rim vista and two trails because of a lightning-caused wildfire that has grown to 3.5 square miles.

Park officials said Cape Royal Road, Cape Final Trail and Cliff Spring Trail would be closed Saturday night for public and firefighter safety.

The closure does not affect most North Rim facilities, including lodging and other services near Bright Angel Point.

The fire started July 21. Fire managers are following a strategy of confining and containing the fire while trying to protect "specific natural and culture resources."

Park officials say smoke from the fire is visible from both rims and that visitors may see smoke or haze in the canyon.

By The Associated Press