On August 8, members of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition and leaders from conservation, sportsmen, recreation, faith and outdoor organizations joined President Biden as he used his authorities under the Antiquities Act to protect 917,618 acres adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park as Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. This includes nearly 40 miles of the Arizona National Scenic Trail along Passages 36 (Coconino Rim) and 37 (Grand Canyon - South Rim). The national monument designation honors the tribes’ deep cultural ties to the Grand Canyon and will protect the area from future uranium mining while also enhancing the cultural, natural, recreational, scientific and economic resources of the region. The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition consists of representatives of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiutes, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. For a map of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, click here.
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Location
- Grandview Lookout Tower to South Kaibab Trailhead
Length
- 22.5 miles
Southern Trailhead: Grandview Lookout Tower
- GPS Coordinates: 35.95746° N, 111.95547° W
Access
Follow Grand Canyon National Park’s Rim Drive (AZ 64) to its southernmost dip, about 11 miles east of Grand Canyon Village. From this junction, follow FR 310 (Coconino Rim Drive) 1.3 miles south to the trailhead.
Northern Trailhead: South Kaibab Trailhead
- GPS Coordinates: 36.05335° N, 112.08344° W
Access
There is no overnight parking or camping at the trailhead. You must take a shuttle from Grand Canyon Village, near the intersection of US 180 and AZ 64. Information is available within the Park Guide you’ll receive at the entrance kiosk, and also at the Visitor Center.
Trail Route Description
Passage 37 begins at the Grandview Lookout Tower, follows the Tusayan Bike Trails toward Tusayan and then enters Grand Canyon National Park. In the park it makes use of old double tracks and bike paths as it winds its way toward Yaki Point and the South Kaibab Trailhead. This section passes through beautifully forested terrain with minimal changes in elevation.
The Grandview Lookout Tower is a fire lookout located in Kaibab National Forest. Those brave enough to climb the staircase inside of the 80ft steel tower will find breathtaking panoramic views overlooking the surrounding pine forest and out to the Grand Canyon.
After entering the national park the route joins the paved Greenway Trail, passes trails connecting to Mather Campground, and Grand Canyon Village as well as the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
Difficulty
- Easy to Moderate
Season(s)
- All year. Snow may be present after winter storms
- Current weather forecast
Water
Water is available in Tusayan and the Grand Canyon Village. Water may also be available in the stock tanks along the trail and seasonally in some of the drainages the trail crosses. Check the online Arizona Trail Water Report for current information at https://aztrail.org/explore/water-sources/.
Notes/Warnings:
- All water found in creeks and springs on this passage should be purified prior to use.
- There is a fee for entering Grand Canyon National Park. Contact the park service for details.
Resources
- Map of Passage 37
- USGS Topographic Maps: Grandview Point, Tusayan East and Phantom Ranch
- Kaibab National Forest map
- Grand Canyon National Park map
- BLM Information Center maps
- Section Hiking article by Abigail Kessler
For more information
- The Passage Steward
- Kaibab National Forest, Tusayan Ranger District, P.O. Box 3088, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 (928) 638-2443.
- Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 (928) 638-7888.
- BLM Information Center (602) 417-9300.
Current Passage Info
New National Monument Proposal Would Protect Forty Miles of the Arizona National Scenic Trail South of Grand Canyon National Park
April 12, 2023
Yesterday, tribal leaders of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, joined by Congressman Raúl Grijalva and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, launched an effort to call on President Biden to use his authorities under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai Tribe, and I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” for the Hopi Tribe. The proposal builds on the tribes’ longstanding effort to permanently protect the region. Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument would include 1,102,501 acres adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park and includes 40 miles of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The national monument designation would honor the tribes’ deep cultural ties to the Grand Canyon and protect the area by making the temporary 20-year mining moratorium permanent, while also enhancing the cultural, natural, recreational, and scientific resources of the region. The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition consists of leadership representatives of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian...
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Uranium Mine Gears Up Near Arizona Trail and Grand Canyon
December 7, 2022
The Pinyon Plain Mine (formerly Canyon Mine) appears to be gearing up for uranium mining operations fewer than 10 miles from the south rim of the Grand Canyon, and less than four miles from the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Hundreds more uranium mines could eventually be developed on public lands near Grand Canyon National Park if the Senate fails to pass Senate Bill 387, the Grand Canyon Protection Act. Operators of the controversial uranium mine recently posted a job ad on Craigslist to recruit new miners, after its owner announced a deal that could ramp up operations at the mine as soon as 2023. Increased activity has been observed inside the mine fence. The Senate has only a few weeks left to pass the Grand Canyon Protection Act, which would permanently ban new uranium mines on just over 1 million acres of federal public lands near the Grand Canyon. The bill has already passed the house twice. As longtime residents of the Grand Canyon, the Havasupai Tribe, its leaders, and elders have fought against uranium mining for decades. “It is time to permanently ban uranium mining — not only to preserve the Havasupai Tribe’s cultural identity and our existence as the...
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US House of Representatives Passes Grand Canyon Protection Act
February 27, 2021
The Grand Canyon Protection Act passed the U.S House of Representatives today! This important conservation legislation would protect the Arizona Trail from dangerous uranium mining north and south of Grand Canyon National Park. Thank you, Congressman Raul Grijalva, and all Representatives who voted in favor of the Act (Gallego, Kirkpatrick, O'Halleran, Stanton). Now, it’s on to the Senate. Please encourage your Senators to protect public lands, water sources, indigenous rights, wildlife, and Arizona’s outdoor recreation economy by voting in support of the Grand Canyon Protection Act. With support from Arizona Senators Sinema and Kelly, we are hopeful to see this signed into law soon.
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