(Monday, July 14, 2025) — The North Rim of the Grand Canyon has been closed for the 2025 season due to a devastating wildfire that has destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and other structures.
UPDATE ON THURSDAY, JULY 17 at 6 p.m., Mountain Standard Time: The fire has grown to nearly 12,000 acres and is still 0% contained.
Lodge destroyed
The Dragon Bravo Fire ignited from a lightning strike on July 4. High winds, dry brush, and hot temperatures fueled a rapid expansion. By morning, more than 500 acres were torched. The Grand Canyon Lodge, beloved for its rustic beauty and unmatched views, was gone.
“Gut punch”
“It just feels like a punch to the gut,” said Tim Allen, a Flagstaff resident who has visited the North Rim every summer for more than 20 years. “The lodge was the heart of the North Rim. I can’t imagine arriving there and not seeing it.” Allen related his thoughts in a story carried by kstp.com
The lodge, perched just steps from the canyon’s edge, was known for its massive limestone facade, sloped roof, and ponderosa pine beams. Inside, the “Sun Room” offered guests a panoramic first look at the canyon through nearly floor-to-ceiling windows—a moment many travelers never forgot.
Park officials say between 50 and 80 buildings were destroyed, including the visitor center, ranger residences, a wastewater treatment facility, gas station, and numerous historic cabins. Miraculously, there were no injuries or deaths. All guests, employees, and residents were safely evacuated.
Firefighters run out by chlorine gas leak
Firefighters worked through the night to try to slow the fire’s advance, using helicopters to drop water buckets near the lodge and Transept Canyon. But aerial firefighting efforts were hampered by a chlorine gas leak at the burned wastewater treatment plant. Crews were forced to evacuate from key positions for their own safety.
The fire’s behavior was described as “extreme and volatile,” driven by 20 mph sustained winds and gusts up to 40 mph. Fire officials shifted from their initial “confine and contain” strategy to full suppression as conditions worsened and the fire began racing toward the developed area.
The lodge wasn’t the only cultural treasure at risk. The North Rim houses generations of park archives, ranger offices, and rare structures—some dating back nearly a century. There’s no full accounting yet of what’s been lost, but the Park Service says much of it is gone.
One of the area’s more iconic items was a 600-pound bronze statue of “Brighty the Burro,” a tribute to a real donkey that lived on the North Rim in the early 1900s and inspired a beloved children’s book. The statue had long been a favorite photo spot for kids and adults alike. It’s unclear if it survived.
The fire is currently being fought with an aggressive full suppression strategy. Conditions remain challenging, with hot temperatures, low humidity, and dry fuels keeping the fire active. Crews have ordered retardant drops to the east near Roaring Springs, and hand crews and bulldozers are working hard to contain its spread.
Park closed “for the rest of the 2025 season”
With the fire still burning and risks from both flames and toxic gas, the National Park Service announced that the North Rim would remain closed for the rest of the 2025 season.
All access roads are closed, and popular inner canyon trails and destinations—including the North and South Kaibab Trails, Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens, and Phantom Ranch—are off-limits until further notice. River rafters are being advised to bypass Phantom Ranch entirely.
Loss runs deep
The North Rim has always offered a quieter, more reflective experience than the South Rim. Fewer crowds, more isolation, and a deep sense of connection with nature. For many visitors, its loss is more than just physical.
“I don’t know if it will be rebuilt in my lifetime,” said Carney. “But I’m grateful we were able to walk through that lodge one more time. My son got to feel what made it so special.”
For the latest fire information and updates, visit the Dragon Bravo Fire InciWeb page.
Other news:
Also, the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest is now closed to visitation.
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RVT1218b
Thank you for tbe sobering news, Russ and Tina. DW had visited there as a child. I still haven’t gotten there and clearly won’t for a good while longer. Have a great week and safe travels!
Thanks for this report. A real shame losing all that history.
Been there twice, heartbreaking. Just more deep state warfare. Add it to the list, Paradise CA, Lahaina town, Palisades CA, Helene flooding in the Carolinas, Texas flooding. They’re killing us and destroying our national treasures, conveniently blaming it on the weather. “He who controls the weather controls the world” LBJ 1962.
So who are you saying controls the weather ???
Follow the money, Don
Lightning strikes caused the fire
everyone get your foil hats…geez, this is really out in left field. It was a lightning strike that started the fire.