Grand Canyon Mules Causing Heavy Trail Erosion

Mules at the Grand Canyon (NPS Photo)

GRAND CANYON (NAZ Today)– Hiking trails into and out of the Grand Canyon are subject to erosion, but the trails are eroding much quicker than park officials had anticipated. Officials say the large amount of erosion to the trails is not due to the nearly 4.5 million yearly park visitors.

According to officials with the National Park Service, the accelerated erosion is due to mules.  Officials say that the mules are hard on the trails, with their hooves eroding away the path much quicker than human feet.

National Parks Service environmental protection specialist Rachel Stanton says that they are not looking at eliminating the mules.  Instead, she says that there will be changes.

One idea is limiting the number of mules traveling in and out of the canyon. Another option is concentrating the mule rides to just a few trails.  The latter option would allow for maintenance crews to focus their efforts on those few specific trails.

Stanton’s findings also point to budgetary problems.  Xanterra South Rim, the concession firm that operates the mule rides at the Grand Canyon, had 9,600 people ride their mules last year.  As part of their contract, Xanterra pays 3.8 percent of its gross earnings to the National Park Service.  Last year, that equated to about $100,000.  However, the NPS says that it cost 2 million dollars to maintain the trails, and park officials say that they needed to spend more.

Park superintendent Steve Martin says that if they had more funding for maintenance, they could allow mule operations to continue as they are.  “You have to have money to keep it up.  If you don’t, you have to cut back,” says Martin.  The Park Service uses mules to move essential supplies in and out of the canyon, so if the number of mule trips are reduced, it would reduce the number of tourist trips.

Officials are still working on the final plan for what to do with the mules.  Xanterra says that they will support whatever decision the Park Service makes.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.