Grand Canyon · Tusayan, AZ (Hwy 64 / 180)

Grand Canyon South Entrance: this week

Open 24/7 — day use, bring water Week of Nov 9–15, 2026

The South Entrance just north of Tusayan is the main gate into Grand Canyon's South Rim (NPS says it gets the most traffic). It leads to Grand Canyon Village, the main visitor center and the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailheads.

This week's conditions Risks here now Get GOES before you lose signal

When signal drops, GOES steps in.

High altitude, icy rim paths and no water below the rim this season. Download GOES in Tusayan; its altitude, cold and dehydration guidance works offline.

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Official conditions

This week at the South Entrance

From NPS pages and alerts fetched Nov 12, 2026. Each line links to its source.

OpenOpen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Credit cards and America the Beautiful passes accepted; cash is not accepted. NPS NPS API
Heads-upNPS notes this station has the longest lines, with waits of up to 2 hours between 9:30 am and 4 pm. That's NPS's general guidance, not a live wait time. Desert View (East) usually has shorter waits. NPS API
Heads-upOvernight accommodations are suspended; only dry camping is allowed. Food and beverage services, the Grand Canyon Clinic and the Post Office remain open. NPS alert NPS news
InfoStage 2 fire restrictions were lifted on the South Rim Nov 4; Stage 1 remains. Campfires at Mather Campground are allowed only in established rings. NPS news
OpenOpen trails: Bright Angel to River Resthouse, Plateau Point, River Trail, South Kaibab to the Black Bridge, and Tonto Trail (Tip-Off to Havasupai Gardens). Expect intermittent closures for Bright Angel Trail repairs. NPS NPS news

Entrance fee: Private vehicle $35 (cash is not accepted at the entrances). Non-US residents 16+ pay an additional $100 nonresident fee unless entering with an annual / America the Beautiful pass. NPS fees NPS API

Weather

Forecast near the South Entrance

Snapshot from the National Weather Service, fetched Nov 12, 2026. Live forecast loads below if you're online.Full NWS forecast

Period	Temp	Forecast	Wind
Tonight	28°F	Clear	7 mph
Thursday	60°F	Sunny	5 to 8 mph
Thursday Night	30°F	Partly Cloudy	6 mph
Friday	57°F	Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers	3 to 8 mph
Friday Night	36°F	Showers And Thunderstorms	5 to 8 mph
Saturday	48°F	Showers And Thunderstorms	2 to 10 mph
Saturday Night	26°F	Mostly Clear	2 mph
Sunday	50°F	Mostly Sunny	1 mph

Know the risks

What actually matters here in mid-November

The goal is a good trip, not a scary one. These are the hazards NPS highlights for this area and season, and what to do about each.

Dehydration in high, dry air

At 7,000 feet in desert air you lose water fast, and the park is asking everyone to bring their own. Inner-canyon water stations are off. NPS NPS

In GOESHigh Altitude Illness: personalized altitude risk

Cold mornings and icy rim paths

NWS forecast for the South Rim this week: lows near 28–30°F, highs around 57–60°F, and showers and thunderstorms Friday night into Saturday. Freeze/thaw increases rockfall on trails. NWS NPS

In GOESEnvironmental Health: hypothermia and frostbite assessments

Hiking down is the easy half

NPS: rescue is not guaranteed and response can be delayed. If you feel nauseated, dizzy or exhausted, stop, rest, and slowly eat and drink. Don't force fluids; drinking too much can cause hyponatremia. NPS NPS news

In GOESOffline interactive health assessment + 50+ visual how-to guides

Before you go in

Checklist for the South Entrance

Water for everyone, plus treatment if hikingStage 4 restrictions; inner-canyon water is off.
Book a bed outside the parkOvernight lodging in the park is suspended.
Card, not cash, at the gateCash isn't accepted.
Traction devices for icy walkwaysNPS recommends them in winter.
Download GOES in TusayanBefore you're on the rim or below it.

Follow official NPS rules, posted closures and ranger instructions. They override anything on this page.

Park-wide

Grand Canyon risks everywhere in the park

Water: bring your own

Stage 4 restrictions are in effect on the South Rim. Inner-canyon water is off everywhere (1.5 Mile and 3 Mile resthouses, Havasupai Gardens) for the rest of the winter. Potable water tanks are at the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailheads. Carry all your water or a reliable treatment method. NPS NPS news NPS alert

In GOESOffline interactive health assessment + 50+ visual how-to guides

Elevation

The South Rim is about 7,000 ft and the North Rim about 8,000 ft. NPS warns the altitude and dry air can cause dehydration, nausea, shortness of breath and exhaustion, so take your time at overlooks. NPS

In GOESHigh Altitude Illness: personalized altitude risk

The rim edge and ice

Stay on trails and walkways, at least 6 feet from the edge, and never climb railings. In winter, walkways can be icy; NPS recommends over-the-shoe traction and hiking poles. NPS

In GOESOffline interactive health assessment + 50+ visual how-to guides

Inner canyon hiking

Temperatures rise about 5.5°F for every 1,000 ft you descend. Rescue isn't guaranteed and response can be delayed. Rockfall is common during or after rain and freeze/thaw, and flash floods can hit with no warning. NPS NPS news

In GOESEnvironmental Health: hypothermia and frostbite assessments

NPS alerts

All active Grand Canyon alerts

Pulled from the NPS Data API on Nov 12, 2026; the same alerts appear on nps.gov/grca.

Park ClosureINNER CANYON TRAIL CLOSURES. Current trail closures: the entire North Kaibab Trail (including Cottonwood Campground), Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, Silver Bridge, and the Black Bridge. Please do not attempt to access the closed areas.
CautionOvernight Lodging Suspended and Parkwide Stage 4 Water Restrictions. Grand Canyon National Park has implemented Stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim due to extensive flash flood damage to the Transcanyon Waterline. Overnight accommodations are suspended, and only dry camping is allowed. The park remains open for day use, with food and beverage services, the Grand Canyon Clinic, and Post Office remaining open. Visitors are asked to bring water with them when visiting the park. More
DangerINNER CANYON WATER SHUTOFFS. Beginning Sep. 6, no potable water will be available in the inner canyon, including along the Bright Angel Trail (1.5 Mile Resthouse, 3-Mile Resthouse, Havasupai Gardens day use and campground). All backpackers and hikers should carry water filtration and treatment OR carry all water with them. More
CautionCritical Backcountry Updates/Closures. Visit this link for the inner canyon weather forecast, current trail closures, today's heat risk, and drinking water availability. More

Your outdoor safety companion

When signal drops, GOES steps in.

High altitude, icy rim paths and no water below the rim this season. Download GOES in Tusayan; its altitude, cold and dehydration guidance works offline.

Works with no cell service: interactive health assessment and 50+ visual how-to guides, available offline.
Location-specific risks: wildlife (bears, venomous snakes), hypothermia, frostbite, heat illness, altitude, ticks, poisonous plants, UV and smoke/air quality.
200+ prevention tips across 60+ medical topics, also available offline.
Built by wilderness medicine physicians: founded by Dr. Grant Lipman, former Stanford Emergency Medicine professor and director of its wilderness medicine fellowship; Chief Medical Officer Dr. Colin Little, MD, FAWM.

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Free to download. Premium features need a monthly or annual subscription after a 7-day free trial. GOES provides guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Follow official NPS rules and ranger instructions.

Other Grand Canyon entrances

South EntranceOpen 24/7 — day use, bring water
Desert View (East) EntranceOpen 24/7
North Rim EntranceLimited day use — no services, closing soon

Grand Canyon overview, closures and park-wide risks →

Sources

Where this week's information comes from

Fetched Thu Nov 12, 2026 (JST), which is Wed Nov 11 evening in US time zones. We don't publish wait times, bear sightings or conditions we can't source. Check the official pages before you go — they're updated more often than we are.