Another U.S. National Park Remains Closed Indefinitely For Familiar Reasons That Still Feel Raw

Nationwide park lovers of the United States watched as the Grand Canyon’s most iconic historic lodge burned down on 12 July, 2025, as wildfires unfold all through the North Rim. Consequently, America’s most well-known nationwide park is closed at its North Rim for the remainder of the season, in line with the National Park Service (NPS).

Simply as parkgoers are nonetheless feeling uncooked over the fireplace destruction that ravaged the nation’s natural wonder of the world, the NPS has introduced in a brand new replace that one other nationwide park is to stay closed indefinitely for a similar cause we’re all too acquainted with by now: raging wildfires, brought on by the very same factor—lightening strikes. This announcement comes similtaneously the 2 wildfires which have been devastating Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, the Dragon Bravo Fireplace and the White Sage Fire.

The nationwide park in query, dubbed Colorado‘s Grand Canyon, is Black Canyon of the Gunnison, which has shut its doorways and canceled all campground reservations, with no reopening date in sight. Right here, we’ll focus on the closures, the timeline of the fireplace and estimated injury, per the NPS and different officers, and which leisure areas in and across the space guests can and can’t go to in the meanwhile.

The NPS Simply Introduced That Black Canyon Of The Gunnison Nationwide Park Will Stay Closed Indefinitely

On July 10, 2025, morning lightning strikes set off wildfires on the North Rim and South Rim of Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nationwide Park. On the time, workers and guests have been evacuated to security, and the park was thus closed till additional discover. Moreover, the official South Rim Fire Facebook page has been giving common fireplace containment and acreage updates, which is as follows over the previous few days:

• As of July 16, the fireplace was at 0% containment and 4179 acres
• As of July 17, the fireplace was at 0% containment and 4,179 acres
• As of July 18, the fireplace was at 14% containment and 4,227 acres
• As of 19 July, the fireplace was at 14% containment and 4,251 acres

The present deployment of workers within the park consists of, eight crews, 5 helicopters, 22 engines, 15 items of heavy tools, and 457 personnel.

Now, the NPS has supplied one other replace in a news release on 18 July—over per week after lightning first ignited the wildfires. 1000’s of acres of Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nationwide Park are nonetheless burning, and huge parts of the Black Canyon’s South Rim have been destroyed.

Consequently, the NPS stated in its replace information launch that there is no reopening date in sight for Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nationwide Park, as blazes proceed to burn uncontained on each the North Rim and South Rim of the canyon;

“A reopening date for the park can be thought-about when the fireplace is contained, and security assessments have been accomplished,” the NPS stated in its information launch.

The NPS additionally stated reservations for the South Rim Campground and Wilderness Permits are canceled till additional discover, with no re-opening date but supplied.

Along with the fireplace in Black Canyon of the Gunnison, two different fires are burning close by: the Deer Creek Fireplace, which began in Utah and has unfold into Colorado, and the Sowbelly Fireplace within the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Space. Montrose County officers stated in a information launch that every one three fires “stay largely uncontained, threatening houses, public well being, and pure assets throughout the county.”

Current reviews state that over 80% of the fireplace on the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is uncontained. On July 17, Montrose County officers additionally issued an area catastrophe emergency discover, adopted by an air quality health advisory from the Colorado Division of Public Well being and Setting on July 18 for components of Mesa and Montrose counties on account of wildfire smoke. Because the blazes proceed partially uncontrollably, simply how a lot injury has been completed up to now to the park? The Nationwide Park Service has outlined the destruction, each in its current information launch and at a public discussion board in Montrose, Colorado.

How A lot Harm Has The Black Canyon Of The Gunnison Fires Triggered?

On July 15, a public discussion board passed off in Montrose, Colorado, the place nationwide park officers defined the severity of the fireplace in Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Park Superintendent Stewart West declared that roughly 85% of the park’s south rim has burned, which The Montrose Press reported.

“It appears very totally different than if you noticed it final time,” West stated.

Per the NPS, preliminary assessments present that the South Rim Customer Heart, the administration constructing, and the doorway sales space have survived the blazes. Nonetheless, the power administration constructing, the Western Nationwide Parks warehouse, the welding store, a number of items of heavy tools, the South Rim Campground, and a number of loos and overlooks have burned, and have both been “closely broken” or “destroyed”, the NPS stated in its information launch.

And the fireplace is nonetheless lively; firefighting crews are deploying varied strategies to manage and subdue the fireplace. Helicopters dropped water on the fireplace’s southern aspect, whereas groups labored to take away brush and particles within the space to scale back the chance of the blazes spreading. In response to officers, the fireplace’s northwest aspect falls alongside “extraordinarily steep terrain,” a hazard creating additional challenges for groups on the bottom.

Though injury estimates for sure areas of the park have been declared, the NPS states that the entire estimated loss is unknown as a result of the fires are nonetheless burning. It additionally, subsequently, stated a reopening date for Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nationwide Park can be thought-about as soon as the fireplace is contained and a security evaluation has been accomplished.

“Because the fireplace continues to be lively and never contained, the park’s whole estimated loss is unknown. When the fireplace is 100% contained, formal injury and security assessments will start,” the NPS wrote in its assertion.

Nonetheless, regardless of the park’s closure till additional discover, different designated areas close by are nonetheless open to guests and are providing companies and actions as typical, with Black Canyon of the Gunnison park rangers having been briefly moved to a few of these areas.

Close by Curecanti Nationwide Recreation Space Is Nonetheless Open

The close by Curecanti National Recreation Area, which is co-managed with Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nationwide Park, continues to be open, in line with the NPS’ information launch. Mountaineering, boating, tenting, and stargazing are nonetheless potential regardless of the fires in close by Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Curecanti Nationwide Recreation Space Customer Data

Nonetheless, guests are suggested that there is a short-term ban on boating on the Blue Mesa Reservoir, west of Center Bridge, to ensure that air operations associated to the fires to proceed.

Displaced Black Canyon of the Gunnison park rangers can be internet hosting free astronomy programming at Curecanti Nationwide Recreation Space. The Black Canyon passport stamp can be obtainable regardless of the nationwide park’s closure.

A few of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Customer Heart workers have additionally been briefly moved to the Public Lands Heart at 2465 South Townsend Ave in Montrose, CO, the place they’re obtainable to supply customer companies. The customer heart is managed by the Bureau of Land Administration and is open Monday via Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM with a lunch break closure from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

So, in the meanwhile, till Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nationwide Park fires are contained, the park is opened, and deemed secure once more for guests, Curecanti could also be a really helpful various for these nonetheless hoping to take pleasure in this a part of Colorado’s nice outside.