Pipeline break closes part of trail at Grand Canyon park

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. - A third pipeline break in Grand Canyon National Park has closed a one-mile section of the North Kaibab Trail.

Park officials say the break occurred Thursday morning about a half-mile above the Cottonwood Campground and caused a 45-foot section of the trail to fail, prompting the closure.

Last Friday, the National Park Service reported a pipeline break near Phantom Ranch.

The trans-canyon water pipeline broke in two separate places. One break occurred near the South Kaibab Trail south of Phantom Ranch and one south of the Colorado River on the Bright Angel Trail near the Pipe Creek Resthouse.

The pipeline originally was installed in the mid-1960s.

With the latest break and trail closure, cross-canyon travel won't be possible. Crew supervisors expect to have the North Kaibab Trail reopened by Friday .

Potable water will not be available at Roaring Springs or Cottonwood Campground until the break is repaired, park officials said.