Grand Canyon Star Party returns to South Rim, North Rim canceled

The canyon’s summer astronomy tradition is back on the South Rim, and that is where the planning needs to start. The 36th annual Grand Canyon Star Party will run June 6-13 at Grand Canyon National Park, with amateur astronomers bringing telescopes and expertise from around the world. The North Rim will not host a star party this year because of the Dragon Bravo Fire.

That split matters for anyone building a June itinerary. The South Rim program is the reliable bet for evening viewing, while the North Rim remains in a slower recovery cycle after the fire. The National Park Service says the North Rim is scheduled to reopen May 15, weather and conditions permitting, but the broader visitor experience is still being restored in stages. Superintendent Ed Keable has said the park’s goal is to provide access “as quickly and responsibly as possible.”

On the South Rim, the nightly rhythm is set. A guest speaker begins at 8 p.m. in the Canyon Visitor Center Plaza, telescope viewing follows behind the building, and green-laser constellation tours are scheduled for 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Parking is available in Lots 1 through 4, or visitors can use the free Village Route shuttle. The last Village Route bus leaves the Visitor Center at 9:30 p.m., and the park says telescope viewing is best after 9 p.m. White lights are not allowed in the Telescope Lot, which is exactly the kind of detail that can make or break an astronomy night when the crowd starts clustering around the eyepieces.

The North Rim cancellation traces directly to the Dragon Bravo Fire, which ignited July 4, 2025. Park officials say it burned 149,399 acres, including 71,129 acres inside Grand Canyon National Park, and destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge along with numerous historic cabins in the North Rim developed area. The North Rim developed area, including the lodge, visitor center, campground and Bright Angel Point, remains closed until further notice because of fire damage. The North Kaibab Trail will reopen May 15 for foot traffic only, with stock use suspended for the season, and trail maintenance and rehabilitation will continue through 2026 with possible temporary closures or delays.

For travelers, the message is clear: if the goal is a full evening built around telescopes, speakers and a social, park-wide stargazing scene, aim South Rim. The South Rim is carrying the Grand Canyon’s public programming this summer, while the North Rim is still working back from a fire that changed the pace of reopening across the plateau.