Grand Canyon National Park has reported that overnight accommodations on the South Rim will be temporarily unavailable due to four breaks in the Transcanyon Waterline, which serves as the main water supply for the area. This will impact places like El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Phantom Ranch, Yavapai Lodge, and Trailer Village.

If you are altering your travel plans because of this situation, you’re not the only one. Josh Roberts, the editorial director at FamilyVacationist, recalls, “During our family trip in April, we were about two miles down the South Kaibab trail, looking forward to our overnight at Phantom Ranch, when I finally got a signal and saw an email stating a pipeline break would leave us without water at Phantom Ranch or a nearby refill station. We quickly decided to turn back, fearing it was unsafe to continue without access to sufficient water for our return.”

Once Roberts’ family reached the South Rim, they quickly adjusted their plans. “Years ago, I had seen a photo of the Grand Canyon West Rim Skywalk, and I always thought it would be exciting to try. Since our overnight stay in the canyon was canceled, we decided to go ahead with it. I reserved the last available cabin at the Grand Canyon Western Ranch, an old-time ranch with live cowboy entertainment near the West Rim. The last two days of our trip turned out to be wildly different from what we had planned, and it ended up being the highlight of our entire vacation.”

If your plans for the South Rim have been disrupted due to the water supply issues, here are some alternative options.

What’s Currently Impacted

Until the Transcanyon Waterline issues are resolved, hotels within the South Rim area cannot host overnight guests. However, campgrounds are allowing “dry camping,” meaning that all water spigots are off except for the one at the Mather Campground check-in area. The campground bathrooms will still have running water. Additionally, campfires and barbecues are prohibited around the South Rim.

What’s Not Affected

The park and South Rim area are still open for daytime visits. If you find alternative places to stay, you can still enjoy the Grand Canyon but may need to drive a little more to reach the park.

There are numerous lodging options just outside the park, although many are already filled or getting booked quickly, so you should act fast and remain flexible if you need to change your plans. Tusayan, located about seven miles from Grand Canyon Village, is a well-known “gateway town.” Other options include Cameron (30 miles away), Tuba City (about 50 miles), and Flagstaff (75 miles).

On the North Rim, which is nearly a four-hour drive from the South Rim, both the Grand Canyon Lodge and North Rim Campground remain open, with the latter closing for the season on October 15. Additionally, the West Rim Skywalk, featuring a glass bridge extending over the canyon, is about four hours from the South Rim, making it potentially closer if you are not utilizing South Rim accommodations anymore.

Alternatives to the Grand Canyon

While nothing can quite replicate the stunning grandeur of the Grand Canyon, Arizona is filled with extraordinary destinations worth visiting. If your plans to see the Grand Canyon fall through, there are plenty of other beautiful sites to explore in the state.

It’s worth considering other destinations you may want to explore instead. Here are some suggestions to think about.

Historic Native American Ruins: Explore the extensive list from Visit Arizona. During a recent family trip, we visited Montezuma Castle Monument, which is conveniently located on the route to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix. It provided a remarkable opportunity to view cliff dwellings.

Other Stunning Canyons: The Little Colorado River Gorge, situated near the Grand Canyon, is smaller yet still quite remarkable.

Lands of the Navajo and Hopi: Take a look at our advice for visiting Navajo National Monument and nearby Navajo and Hopi regions with children.

Did your travel plans change due to the waterline issue at the Grand Canyon? Here’s how to make the most of your vacation that was originally featured on FamilyVacationist.com.

More from FamilyVacationist:

• The top national parks to visit in autumn
• Gorgeous and less crowded substitutes for the 10 most visited U.S. national parks
• Evaluation: These are the best hotel booking platforms for families and groups

The perspectives shared in this column are solely those of the author and may not reflect the viewpoints of YSL News. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Adopting the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation model, we evaluate and curate family vacation ideas, destinations, all-inclusive family resorts, and traditional family trips suitable for all ages. TourScoop offers insights on guided group excursions and tour operators, along with reviews of tour operators and itineraries, as well as travel gear recommendations.