Grand Canyon information

Grand Canyon information

 Call 928-638-7888 for Grand Canyon National Park information and to check road conditions. The park's Web site is www.nps.gov/grca.

 Arizona highway information is available by calling 511 locally, or 888-411-ROAD, or on the Web at www.az511.gov.

The vehicle entry fee to the Grand Canyon is $25; the U.S. annual $80 multi-agency access pass is accepted.

 The Grand Canyon's South Rim is open year-round, though access roads (notably Arizona 64) may close temporarily due to wintry conditions.

 The North Rim is closed from mid-October to May, depending upon snow conditions.

 Day hikes do not require a permit or fee. Overnight hiking requires a $10 back-country permit plus a $5 per person per night user impact fee. Overnight requests and reservations can be made up to six months in advance by contacting:

Backcountry Information Center, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

 Lodging is available in nearby communities and in Grand Canyon Village. In the village, room rates run from $69 to $180 per night. Facilities like the Bright Angel Lodge (and cabins) and El Tovar Hotel, as well as the Phantom Ranch dormitory and cabins at the canyon floor, are operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts.

For same-day reservations, call 928-638-2631.

For advance reservations, call 888-297-2757.

On the Web, check www.grandcanyonlodges.com.

Same-day inquiries can also be made at the transportation desks in the Bright Angel, Maswik or Yavapai lodges.

 Camping is permitted only in designated campsites in Grand Canyon National Park. Mather Campground is open year-round; in winter, register at an automated machine at the campground office: $15 per night; $7.50 for seniors or those with access passes.

For advance reservations at other times of year (up to six months in advance), call Reserve America at 877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov.

There is also a trailer village at Mather Campground, with fees of $32 per site per night for two people, plus $2 for each additional person over 16. Reservations can be made through Xanterra Parks & Resorts, 928-638-2631.

Desert View campground near the east entrance is closed during the winter, until mid-May.

 Though the number of passenger cars is reduced, the Grand Canyon Railway between Williams, Ariz., and Grand Canyon Village continues in the winter. Call 800-THE-TRAIN or visit www.thetrain.com for information and reservations.

Sources: Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park