Dragon Bravo Fire destroys 50-80 structures at Grand Canyon North Rim; historic lodge gone

[essentialsaltes]

The park initially managed it as a controlled burn but then shifted to suppression as it rapidly grew, fire officials said.

 

[wing2000]

....this is so sad.

Seven years ago my son and I camped near the North Rim Lodge and watched a sunset from the deck over looking the canyon. Visting the lodge, build in 1928, was like stepping back in time.

The next morning, we hiked across the canyon to the South Rim.

 

[essentialsaltes]

....this is so sad.

Seven years ago my son and I camped near the North Rim Lodge and watched a sunset from the deck over looking the canyon. Visting the lodge, build in 1928, was like stepping back in time.

The next morning, we hiked across the canyon to the South Rim.

Hiking across! I've never ventured very far down, because climbing back out must be a chore, but I'm sure it's worth it.

I do remember visiting the North Rim after visiting Zion NP in Utah. It was spring break and there was snow here and there.

 

[wing2000]

Hiking across! I've never ventured very far down, because climbing back out must be a chore, but I'm sure it's worth it.

I do remember visiting the North Rim after visiting Zion NP in Utah. It was spring break and there was snow here and there.

Years ago, my son's Boy Scout Troop would back pack into the Grand Canyon every February....so hiking across the canyon (R2R as it's known) with day packs was less challenging....though I told him to go ahead as we started up the last 2500' to the top of the S. Rim. I could not begin to compete with his 19 year old legs.

 

[FreeinChrist]

This is heartbreaking. My husband and I used to go to the Grand Canyon every few years to hike and reflect on how insignificant our lives are in the space of time. Mostly it was to the South Rim as it was closer and easier, but other times we went to the North Rim. Each is unique. The meadows enroute to the North Rim were lovely. Sometimes we took time to go to the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. Some images are below:

 

[FreeinChrist]

Some images of the North Rim and the lodge, though it more spectacular in person that via a camera. The thunderstorms there were impressive.

 

[wing2000]

Sunset at the North Rim Lodge - May, 2019

 

[Chesterton]

I do remember visiting the North Rim after visiting Zion NP in Utah. It was spring break and there was snow here and there.

Funny you mention snow there. I once visited the canyon in the middle of July. Went to the south rim and it was a normal hot day as you'd expect. Then we drove to the north rim and it was very cold. People at the lodge were bundled up and sitting around a fire. We were in shorts and t-shirts and couldn't even stay outside long because we were literally shivering. On a July afternoon. In Arizona. Weird.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Elevation of the North Rim is 1000 feet higher than the South, at 8200 feet, 1.5 miles high.

When you hike down to the Colorado River, you go through about 5 major ecological systems . It is interesting.

Phoenix is hot in July, but the North Rim an be quite a bit cooler.

 

[RileyG]

The park initially managed it as a controlled burn but then shifted to suppression as it rapidly grew, fire officials said.

How awful!

 

[essentialsaltes]

Grand Canyon ‘Megafire’ Explodes in Size and Is Now Creating Its Own Weather​

The Dragon Bravo wildfire has been burning for over a month, and U.S. firefighting agencies are too understaffed to stop it.

The northern Arizona “megafire” is now the largest active blaze in the continental U.S. and the largest of 2025 so far.
[The Gifford Fire in California may be catching up.]

With wildfire season in full swing, federal agencies that fight wildfires are navigating devastating staff cuts. Under the Trump administration, the Park Service has lost 24% of its permanent workforce, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. A recent ProPublica investigation found that over one-fourth of the Forest Service’s firefighting jobs were vacant as of July 17.