North Rim recovery leaders address Kanab Chamber

KANAB – Coconino County leaders brought an update on recovery from last year’s devastating Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires to Kanab this month, telling local business leaders that reopening the Grand Canyon’s North Rim is only one piece of a much longer regional recovery.

About 50 people attended the Kanab Area Chamber of Commerce’s August luncheon at the Hampton Inn, where Coconino County recovery leaders discussed long-term recovery from the 2025 Dragon Bravo and White Sage fi res and emphasized that the Grand Canyon’s North Rim is open to visitors. Photo by Nicholas Meyeres.

Speakers at the Kanab Area Chamber of Commerce’s August luncheon at the Hampton Inn were Coconino County Emergency Management Director Tim Carter, Economic Development Director John Saltonstall and District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler.

The three presented details of the Grand Canyon Region Long- Term Recovery Plan: Dragon Bravo & White Sage Fires, developed following the 2025 wildfires that burned more than 200,000 acres across the North Rim and Kaibab Plateau.

The fires destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and caused widespread disruptions to tourism, recreation, ranching and communities across northern Arizona and southern Utah.

Coconino County adopted the recovery plan in March following public listening sessions, a community survey and input from local, federal and Tribal partners. The plan lays out action items addressing economic and tourism recovery, natural and cultural resources and other long-term needs.

Presenters emphasized that recovery will require participation beyond county government and encouraged communities and businesses throughout the region to remain involved. They also stressed a message particularly important to southern Utah’s tourism economy: The North Rim is open.

All paved roads within the park have reopened for the 2026 season, including Highway 67 and the roads to Cape Royal and Point Imperial. The entire North Kaibab Trail is open to foot traffic, and the North Rim Campground reopened June 1. Some trails and facilities remain closed, overnight lodging is unavailable inside the North Rim this season and visitor services remain limited as recovery work continues.

Fowler and Kane County Tourism Director Janette Peatross encouraged those attending the luncheon to help counter the lingering perception that northern Arizona and the North Rim remain closed to visitors.

The full recovery plan and additional resources are available through Coconino County’s Economic Recovery Resources webpage.