The Dragon Bravo Fire of 2025 undeniably changed the landscape of the North Rim, but its aftermath offers a rare, front-row seat to the incredible resilience of nature.
Despite the scars, the North Rim’s signature solitude and cooler temperatures remain, offering a quieter, more reflective experience than the crowded South Rim.
No — Jacob Lake Inn was not destroyed or damaged by the Dragon Bravo Fire, but it was heavily affected by the surrounding fires and evacuations.
What happened
In July 2025, the Dragon Bravo Fire burned over 145,000 acres around the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and destroyed more than 100 structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.
At the same time, the nearby White Sage Fire burned nearly 59,000 acres northeast of Jacob Lake, threatening the area around the inn. This caused an evacuation and closure of the Property for 3 Weeks.
Current status (after the fires)
The inn reopened once conditions allowed and remained standing.
Jacob Lake Inn is now one of the few hotels remaining on the North Rim. The property offers a full range of amenities, including hotel rooms, motel accommodations, cabins, a restaurant and café, plus a gift shop and bakery. It has truly become the gateway to the North Rim
This is just a taste of what Jacob Lake Inn has to offer!
As of March 15, 2026, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is in a phased reopening process following the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire. While most of the North Rim remains seasonally closed for winter, key progress has been made on the North Kaibab Trail, and a broader reopening is tentatively planned for May 15, 2026.
For the latest official alerts, you should monitor the Grand Canyon National Park News Releases and the Kaibab National Forest Alerts pages.
National Park Service While the Grand Canyon Lodge and Visitor Centers were destroyed, much of what makes the North Rim Special Survived.
While the Grand Canyon Lodge and Visitor Centers were destroyed, much of what makes the North Rim Special Survived.
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Trail Status and Current Closures as of 3/31/2026
North Kaibab Trail – Supai Tunnel – Trailhead (5/15/26)
Jacob Lake Inn is open year-round supplying accommodations and services to travelers during every month of the year.
Our cabin accommodations close during the winter months as we work to winterize our historic cabins. Closures of cabins will begin as temperatures begin approaching below freezing, but our motel and hotel rooms remain open for guests all through the winter.
No, we currently do not offer laundry services or shower services due to water limitations on the plateau. All of our rooms have full showers and bath, but we do not have any separate shower services for travelers who are not currently staying with us. The nearest options for both showers and laundry can be found in Kanab, Utah, about 40 miles north of us.
We do not have any campground accommodations, however, the Kaibab Camper Village and the Jacob Lake Campground both offer camping services within a 1/2 mile radius of our location. Other designated campgrounds can be found on the Forest Service website here. Dispersed camping is also permitted within the National Forest; details are available online.
Jacob Lake is a small pond that collects rainwater and can be found about a mile from Jacob Lake Inn. It can be accessed via a short drive down a forest road off of Highway 67 or along a trail that starts at Jacob Lake Inn. In recent years, due to drought and reduced rainfall, Jacob Lake is often a small marsh or meadow during most of the year. Though it was never large and not the traditional size of what most would define as a lake, it was a vital source of water for the Kaibab Paiutes, and other people journeying through the region for centuries.
The reason for its name, Jacob Lake, is historically significant. Jacob Hamblin, a Mormon missionary and explorer was asked by Latter Day Saint prophet, Brigham Young, to work with the Paiutes, Navajo, Hopi, and other Native American tribes in the region to help make safe passage for travelers through their lands. Out of mutual respect, Jacob Hamblin was shown the lake as a source of water by the Kaibab Paiutes who lived on the dry Kaibab Plateau. Over time, through his directions toward the area, it became increasingly referred to by other settlers and pioneers as “Jacob’s Lake” or simply “Jacob Lake.”
Due to the proximity to Jacob Lake, the founders of Jacob Lake Inn, Harold Israel Bowman Sr and his wife, Nina Nixon Bowman, named their first gas station and general store after the lake. Their first store, gas station, and cabins stood near the lake for several years until an official highway to the North Rim was planned. The Bowmans then moved to their current location about a mile from the lake, yet still retained the name, Jacob Lake Inn.
Due to water limitations on the plateau, we do not currently offer fill-ups for RV’s or large drinking containers above 30 gallons. However, for personal drinking containers up to 30 gallons, our staff will be able to fill them up for you at a cost determined by the quantity of water provided.