SR 67

State Route 67's remote location is among its attractions

State Route 67's remote location is among its attractions

State Route 67's remote location is among its attractions

May 8, 2017

By Peter Corbett / ADOT Communications

An ADOT video crew recently drove scenic State Route 67 between Jacob Lake and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. You can enjoy footage from that trip above.

As of Monday, May 15, with park facilities reopening, you'll be able to do the same through SR 67's winding path through alpine meadows and forest.

The highway’s winter-season closure started Dec. 1. When park facilities shut down for the winter, and with an average of nine feet of snow falling each year, ADOT blocks the 40-plus-mile-long highway just south of US 89A rather than plowing it.

The North Rim accommodations, which are open from mid-May to mid-October, attract a fraction of Grand Canyon National Park’s 5 million visitors each year. The area's remote setting, more than 200 miles and a four-plus-hour drive from the South Rim, which is accessible throughout the year via SR 64, is among its attractions.

If you're interested in taking SR 67 to the North Rim after the route reopens next week, you need to get to US 89A either from the east (off US 89 south of Page) or from the west, often through Fredonia. Then head south from Jacob Lake and enjoy the view.

Back To ADOT Blog

ADOT set to reopen routes to lakes in White Mountains

ADOT set to reopen routes to lakes in White Mountains

ADOT set to reopen routes to lakes in White Mountains

April 11, 2017

PHOENIX – After a long winter’s nap, three state highways to lakes in the White Mountains are scheduled to reopen Thursday, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

They are: State Route 261 between Eagar and Big Lake; State Route 273 between Sunrise Park and Big Lake; and State Route 473 between State Route 260 and Hawley Lake.

Another highway that closes for the winter, State Route 67, leading to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, is anticipated to reopen in mid-May.

Before heading off to enjoy the mountains, motorists should do the following:

Make sure all occupants in a vehicle are buckled in.
Check tire pressure, fluids and more to make sure a vehicle is in proper running condition.
Be patient, including not following other vehicles too closely and building in extra travel time.
Get enough sleep before the trip.
Bring extra water and food.
Never drink and drive.
Check for information about highway restrictions and more by visiting az511.gov, calling 511 or following ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT).

An ADOT snowblower in action can be a sign of spring

An ADOT snowblower in action can be a sign of spring

An ADOT snowblower in action can be a sign of spring

March 21, 2017

By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications

The photos above showing a snowblower in action don't exactly scream "spring has sprung," but that's exactly why this work is happening on State Route 67 north of the Grand Canyon.

A Fredonia-based ADOT maintenance crew is clearing snowdrifts – some as deep as 5 feet – from the closed highway a little early this year so it will dry out for crack-sealing before we open SR 67 for the season in mid-May.

When facilities at Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim are closed for the winter, ADOT closes the 40-plus-mile-long SR 67 south from Jacob Lake.

The North Rim averages 9½ feet of snow each winter. The amount of snow that falls in the area is why ADOT stations one of its two snowblowers there. The other is in the White Mountains near Sunrise Ski Park and Resort.

Back To ADOT Blog

Scenic highway to Grand Canyon's North Rim going on ice for winter

Scenic highway to Grand Canyon's North Rim going on ice for winter

Scenic highway to Grand Canyon's North Rim going on ice for winter

November 29, 2016

Road Closed

By Peter Corbett / ADOT Communications

Grand Canyon National Park attracts 5.5 million visitors annually, but only about a tenth of them tour the North Rim. And none of those visit the North Rim in the winter.

With tourist amenities at and near the North Rim closed for the season, ADOT closes State Route 67, the 40-plus-mile route south from US 89A at Jacob Lake. This year's closure is scheduled to begin Thursday, Dec. 1. Note that State Route 64 to the park's South Rim remains open all year.

Snow being cleared.

With the North Rim hibernating for the winter, ADOT locks a gate on SR 67 a half mile south of Jacob Lake. Then the snow piles up and up.

The North Rim averages 9½ feet of snow annually, nearly 2 feet more than Buffalo, New York, according to the National Weather Service. A record 24 feet fell in 1979. The heaviest single-day snowfall hit Feb. 18, 1932, when 4 feet piled up on the North Rim.

“Some storms we’ll get 12 inches of snow, and with drifting we can’t get it off the highway with a plow truck,” said Tammie Zaccaria, ADOT highway operations supervisor in Fredonia.

SR 67 is a National Scenic Byway that passes through alpine meadows and the national forest with stands of ponderosa pine, fir, spruce and aspen trees. There is no commercial development along the route except for one lodge and a nearby store.

Reopening SR 67 in the spring is a heavy lift that starts in mid-April. ADOT uses a bulldozer and a six-wheel-drive grader with a V-plow and wing-plow to clear the snow and trees that blow down over the winter, said Zaccaria, who has been with ADOT for 25 years.

The highway is scheduled to reopen in mid-May along with the North Rim lodges, campgrounds and other amenities.

Back To ADOT Blog

State Route 67 to Grand Canyon’s North Rim to close for winter

State Route 67 to Grand Canyon’s North Rim to close for winter

State Route 67 to Grand Canyon’s North Rim to close for winter

November 29, 2016

PHOENIX ‒ State Route 67 leading to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will close for the winter on Thursday, Dec. 1.

The highway will be blocked to traffic about a half mile from its junction with US 89A at Jacob Lake. With park facilities closed for the winter, the Arizona Department of Transportation doesn’t clear snow from the highway, which leads 43 miles south from US 89A.

The North Rim averages more than 9 feet of snow annually, according to the National Weather Service.

SR 67 is scheduled to reopen in mid-May along with North Rim lodges, campgrounds and other amenities.

State Route 64 remains open all year to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim.

In addition, State Route 473, a 10-mile-long highway that provides direct access to the Hawley Lake recreational area in the White Mountains, is scheduled to close on Thursday, Dec. 1. Also in that area, SR 273 and SR 261 are scheduled to close Dec. 31 unless a severe storm occurs before then.

In southern Arizona, the upper, unpaved portion of State Route 366 that leads to Mount Graham near Safford has already closed for winter. Motorized vehicles aren’t allowed on SR 366 past a locked gate a half mile past the Coronado National Forest’s Shannon Campground, but hikers, mountain bikers and cross-country skiers can still use the area.

Both SR 473 and upper SR 366 will reopen in the spring, along with other local highways that close during the winter.

Tips on winter driving are available at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Drivers can call 511 or visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov for the latest highway conditions around the state. The website features camera images along state highways that give drivers a glimpse of weather conditions in various regions.

ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook page (/AZDOT) are excellent sources of information and interaction on traffic conditions around the state.

For more information about ADOT, visit azdot.gov.

State Route 67 to Grand Canyon’s North Rim reopens Sunday

State Route 67 to Grand Canyon’s North Rim reopens Sunday

State Route 67 to Grand Canyon’s North Rim reopens Sunday

May 13, 2016

PHOENIX ‒ State Route 67, the winding 40-mile highway from Jacob Lake to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, will reopen for the summer this Sunday, May 15.

The road, which connects with US 89A, has been closed since Dec. 1. The Arizona Department of Transportation doesn’t clear snow from SR 67 during the winter because visitor accommodations at the North Rim are closed.

The lodge and visitor center at the North Rim also reopen for the summer on Sunday.

To reach the North Rim from Flagstaff, take US 89 north about 110 miles to Bitter Springs, head west on US 89A for about 60 miles to Jacob Lake and then go south on SR 67.

State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon closed for winter season

State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon closed for winter season

State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon closed for winter season

December 1, 2015

PHOENIX ‒ The Arizona Department of Transportation has closed State Route 67 between Jacob Lake (US 89A) and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park for the winter season effective Tuesday, Dec. 1.

ADOT doesn’t clear snow from SR 67 during the winter since North Rim visitor accommodations are closed. The highway reopens each spring, usually around mid-May. US 89A remains open during the winter.

In addition, State Route 473, a 10-mile-long highway that provides direct access to the Hawley Lake recreational area in the White Mountains region, is closed for the winter.

ADOT reminds motorists heading into snow country to drive with caution and follow this advice:

Slow down. Drive defensively. Be patient and allow additional time for your trip. Never pass a snowplow.V
Pack an emergency kit, a fully charged cellphone, extra clothing, water and snacks.
Leave sufficient space between your vehicle and those ahead of you. Give yourself plenty of room and time to stop or to avoid hazards.
If stopped on the roadway, leave room for emergency vehicles to get around you.
Make sure your vehicle has plenty of fuel.
If you slide off the roadway, stay with your vehicle. The Department of Public Safety or ADOT will respond.
Check weather and road conditions before you travel. Let someone know your route.
Bring a small bag of sand (or cat litter) for wheel traction.

Additional information on winter driving is available at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Before heading out on the roads, drivers are encouraged to call 511 or visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov for the latest highway conditions around the state. The website features camera images along state highways that give drivers a glimpse of weather conditions in various regions.

State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon closing for winter season

State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon closing for winter season

State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon closing for winter season

November 17, 2015

PHOENIX — It’s an annual sign that winter is arriving in northern Arizona. The Arizona Department of Transportation will close State Route 67 between Jacob Lake (US 89A) and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park for the winter season on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

The road could be closed earlier if heavy snowfall occurs in the area prior to the closure date.

ADOT does not clear snow from SR 67 during the winter since the visitor accommodations at the North Rim are closed. The highway reopens each spring, usually around mid-May. US 89A will remain open at the junction with SR 67.

In addition, State Route 473, a 10-mile-long highway that provides direct access to the Hawley Lake recreational area in the White Mountains region, will close for the winter beginning on Thursday, Nov. 19.

In southern Arizona, a portion of State Route 366 that leads to Mount Graham near Safford was closed for the winter on Nov. 15. The closure from the end of the paved highway to the turnoff to Shannon Campground, is located approximately 22 miles from the junction of SR 366 and US 191 at an elevation of 9,100 feet. ADOT may need to close the scenic highway, also known as “Swift Trail,” at lower elevations as necessary to allow for snow removal.

SR 473 and SR 366 will be reopened in the spring, along with other local highways that are closed annually during the winter.

Additional information can be found on ADOT’s “Know Snow” website at zdot.gov/KnowSnow.

ADOT to reopen State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon for summer season

ADOT to reopen State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon for summer season

ADOT to reopen State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon for summer season

May 6, 2015

PHOENIX — As summer approaches in northern Arizona, the Arizona Department of Transportation will reopen State Route 67 between Jacob Lake and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Friday, May 15, the same day the North Rim is reopened to the general public.

SR 67, which is the lone road that links US 89A at Jacob Lake to the North Rim, is regularly closed in the winter season, usually starting in late November, due to heavy snowfall.

The North Rim lies at the southern end of the Kaibab Plateau at approximately 8,500 feet in elevation and offers spectacular canyon views. It is approximately a 215-mile drive from the South Rim. From the South Rim to the North Rim, motorists can take SR 64 east to US 89, US 89 north to US 89A, US 89A west to SR 67, and finally south on SR 67.

To reach the North Rim, it’s approximately 207 miles from Flagstaff, 351 miles from Phoenix and 468 miles from Tucson. Traveling to the North Rim from Flagstaff, drivers can take US 89 north to US 89A, US 89A west to SR 67, and finally south on SR 67.

For the latest information about highway conditions across Arizona, visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 5-1-1. Visit facebook.com/azdot, twitter.com/ArizonaDOT or azdot.gov for more information about ADOT.

State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon closing for winter season

State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon closing for winter season

State Route 67 to North Rim of Grand Canyon closing for winter season

November 20, 2014

The road could be closed earlier if heavy snowfall occurs in the area prior to the closure date.

Subscribe to SR 67