Changes A-Comin’
Grand Canyon’s New General Management Plan

   OK—Here’s the scoop: Last year almost 5 million visitors went to Grand Canyon, and it’s pretty clear this number is going to increase. Grand Canyon can’t handle all those people unless some significant changes are made to take the park into the 21st century. The nps recently released the Draft General Management Plan, which contains 5 alternative plans for redesigning the park. These range from no action to increased development. A few of us went to the scoping meetings held in Kanab, Tusayan, Flagstaff and Phoenix. It’s clear the nps put a lot of effort into these ideas, and that they have their work cut out for them. The following is a brief summary of Alternative 2.the Park’s “proposed action.”

   Summary of Concepts and Philosophy:

   This action focuses on the next 10 to 15 years, and emphasizes the regional context of gcnp. Any proposals for resource preservation or visitor use will take into account environmental effects on the park as well as the region. The most appropriate locations for certain facilities would be considered in a regional context, and developed with the cooperation of adjacent political entities. Existing structures within the park will be adaptively reused or removed. The number of visitors to any one area would be limited based on desired visitor experience for that area and the need to protect the area. Most of the park’s developed areas would be accessible only through public transport, hiking or biking, and alternative modes of transportation to private vehicles will be emphasized within the park.

   Specifics

   GRAND CANYON VILLAGE

   The changes to this area would include building a gateway/information center at Tusayan, as a mandatory stop for all park visitors, and an orientation/transit center near the rim at Mather Point. This center will be the primary place for people to learn what there is to do at the canyon (it will include an outdoor plaza, parkwide information desk, backcountry permitting station, lodging information, phones). A “well-screened” parking lot for 1, 225 private vehicles and 60 tour buses will be built near this.

   The main village, and the road from Mather to the village, will be accessible only by shuttle, bike or walking. New road sections would be built away from the rim so any private vehicles could avoid the section between Mather and the village. West Rim Drive will be year-round public transit only. Bikes will be permitted on all roads. An off-road bike trail system will be created to link Hermit’s Rest and Desert View. Some road sections at Mather Point, Desert View and Hopi Overlook will be converted solely to bike paths. A few overlooks will be added along the East Rim for bike and pedestrian use only. The pedestrian rim trail system would be expanded. Interpretive facilities will be concentrated in the Powerhouse area of the historic village, and will be housed in converted historic structures. These facilities will include: an education center, a children’s museum, artist in the park facility, American Indian cultural facility, film and theater space, and Grand Canyon Field Institute classrooms.

   All visitor services will be concentrated in the historic village, with services not relating to visitors relocated away from the village. Gift shops will be reduced in number, and sale items will be changed to reflect the type of things that were historically sold. Hermit’s Rest and Lookout Studio will be returned to their original historic functions and characteristics.

   The Kachina and Thunderbird lodges will be removed and the area converted into outdoor seating, dining and program space, and revegetated. New rooms will be added at Yavapai West, and some historic buildings will be converted to lower priced visitor lodging. The total number of rooms added at the village area will be about 240.

   DESERT VIEW 

   A bypass will be constructed on Highway64 around Desert View to eliminate traffic in the developed areas. The present road would become a spur road and bike trail. A new entrance station will be put in to the east and the old one removed and revegetated.

   An orientation/transit center will be built away from the rim, which will serve as the main hub for the east rim area. Most visitor services will be moved further away from the rim. Desert View Watchtower will be returned to its original character and function, with some interpretive exhibits. The Trading Post will be moved southeast of Babbitt’s Store. The camping area would be increased from 50 to 100 sites in the area where previously existing campground facilities are. 

   NORTH RIM

   Gateway information at Jacob Lake would be expanded to include more parking and restrooms, information and trip planning, backcountry permits, small-scale interpretive exhibits, lodging and camping check-in and phone connections for lodging and camping reservations.

   Visitors would be encouraged to use a new public transit system for the Walhalla Plateau and required to use it for Bright Angel Point. Overnight visitors will receive a pass to drive their own cars. Hiking and biking will be encouraged. Vehicles longer than 22’ would be disallowed. A bike trail would be developed to link CC Hill, Bright Angel Point and all overlooks on the Walhalla Plateau. About 10 miles of rim hiking trail would be constructed, linking Vista Encantadora and Point Imperial, and another to link CC Hill, GC Lodge and the Transept Trail. A few short sections of mule-use trail would be added to connect the mule staging area to the North Kaibab Trailhead and the Uncle Jim Trail.

   A small orientation center would be built on CC Hill. It will blend into the landscape and provide an information desk, book sales, backcountry permitting station, mule ride/tour bus info, outdoor seating, picnic areas, restrooms. A parking lot will be built there, and the parking lot at the North Kaibab Trailhead will be removed and revegetated.

   All lodging services will remain and approximately 20 historic frame cabins will be converted from employee housing to visitor housing. Some cabins will be razed and the area revegetated. The campground will be redesigned and revegetated. The number of campsites may decrease.

   The existing gas station will be adaptively reused for a bike rental shop. Picnic sites will be added near the North Kaibab Trailhead, and redesigned elsewhere.

   Off-season, the usfs and the nps will provide a system of winter huts outside the park for skiers. Within the park, a few portable huts would be located at prime overlooks and other areas accessible to skiers.

   TUWEEP

   All access roads will remain unpaved. Vehicle size will be limited to 22’ in length. The parking lot at Toroweap Overlook will be removed and the area revegetated. A new lot will be provided at the entry to the Saddle Horse Canyon Trail. The existing road from the proposed parking area would be converted to a pedestrian trail, and a new loop trail would be built from the west side of the new parking lot to connect the Saddle Horse Canyon Trail and Toroweap Overlook.

   A camping reservation system could be established for the Tuweep Campground during high use season. The two campsites at Toroweap Overlook would be removed, and replacement sites provided at the existing campground.

   CORRIDOR TRAILS

   Sections of existing trails would be hardened with a natural material that blends in with the environment, and provides good traction. Some trails would be rehabilitated. Concessioners would be more responsible for corridor trail maintenance. The Hermit and Grandview trails would be suggested as alternatives to the main corridor trails for visitors with experience, but use would not be increased enough to alter their character. Mule use would be reduced to 40-visitor mule trips on the Bright Angel Trail and 20 on the South Kaibab Trail. Mule use and trail impact would be monitored on the North Rim and mule use could be decreased if impact warranted it. The old Bright Angel Trail would be upgraded for user safety and to take more hikers.

   Visitor programs would be provided at Indian Gardens, and a small amphitheater added near the picnic area. The roving interpreter program would be expanded.

   Overnight accommodations at Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground may be reduced. Indian Gardens and Cottonwood would remain the same size.

   COLORADO RIVER

   Not much in here about the river. But quite a bit about wilderness: “...All actions proposed in this document, and all future implementation plans based on it (such as the Backcountry Management Plan, the Colorado River Management Plan, and the Fire Management Plan), will be consistent with nps wilderness policy requirements.” As regards wilderness and the river, “...A wilderness experience will be provided on the river, and the nonconforming use of motorboats and generators will be among the subjects addressed in the updated plan...”

   That’s the general picture. The comment period is already over, but we felt you should know about some of the changes that might be coming to the park. Might be a pretty different place in another 10 years. Grand Canyon River Guides has sent comments to the park. We’ll keep you posted.

Christa Sadler