South Rim Visitor Center is open today from 9 am to 4 pm. Follow link for a list of visitor services with hours of operation. Midday South Entrance lines are long. Arrive before 9 am or after 4 pm for shorter wait times. The North Rim reopens on May 15. More
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 - Mostly Sunny —South Rim High 68°F (20°C) —Phantom Ranch High 91°F (33°C)
TRAIL ALERTS: Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens, including the Silver Bridge CLOSED. River Trail CLOSED. Plateau Point and Plateau Point Trail CLOSED. Hikers visit this link for inner canyon temperatures, heat risk and water availability. More
The Grand Canyon is home to 41 species of reptiles that live in every part of the park- from the pine forests of the rim to the Colorado River. The 22 snake, 18 lizard, and 1 tortoise species that live here are important and beautiful species that range from commonly seen collared lizards to the elusive desert tortoise. Reptiles have many important roles in the Grand Canyon. Many are prey for raptors and mammals, while lizards prey on insect populations, and snake species control rodent populations- preventing the spread of diseases like Bubonic Plague and Hantavirus. Many of the reptile species found inside the park are unique- the Grand Canyon rattlesnake (Crotalus organus abysus) is found nowhere else in the world.
Please only view reptiles from a distance- Grand Canyon is home to 7 highly venomous reptiles: 6 species of Rattlesnake and the Gila Monster- the only venomous lizard in the United States. Small lizards and snakes can be easily harmed if they are handled.
Gila monsters are identified by their beaded skin and vivid coloration.
At Grand Canyon, short-horned lizards are found on the Rims and inside the Canyon. Their camouflage makes them very difficult to see.
Rattlesnakes are usually seen coiled on or under rocks. Rattlesnakes The Grand Canyon is home to six species of rattlesnakes. Please observe these venomous predators from a distance.
These moderately-sized lizards are some of the most commonly seen animals in Grand Canyon National Park.
Yellow-backed spiny lizards are found throughout Grand Canyon National Park, but are most commonly seen inside the Canyon.
Quick Facts:
41 reptile species live in the park- 18 lizards, 22 snakes, and 1 species of tortoise.
While the 6 rattlesnake species in the park are the most venomous creatures in the park, several other snake species are mildly venomous, including the Sonoran lyre snake and desert nightsnake. The Gila Monster, found in the western part of the Park, is one of only 2 venomous lizards in North America.
Locations:Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Saguaro National Park, Tuzigoot National Monumentmore »
The American bullfrog is a great threat to aquatic ecosystems in the Southwest. They are voracious predators of aquatic animals and carry diseases that kill native species. We will implement three main actions in this project funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, Invasive Species Grant: bullfrog control, native species recovery and reintroduction, and development of early detection/rapid response protocols for bullfrogs.
The American Southwest, including the Chihuahuan Desert Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Network (CHDN), is well known for its abundance and diversity of reptiles. The area is less well known for its amphibians, but they are abundant in some habitats, particularly during favorable weather conditions.
Climate change models predict a warmer and drier southwestern United States, and land managers want to know how plants and animals may be affected by these changes. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey collaborated with university scientists in Arizona and New Mexico to model the effects of a changing climate on 12 southwestern bird and reptile species as a project of the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center.
Locations:Amistad National Recreation Area, Big Bend National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Fort Davis National Historic Site, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, White Sands National Park
In 2003 and 2004, the University of Arizona conducted an inventory of reptiles and amphibians (herpetofauna) in six National Park Service Chihuahuan Desert Network parks. Primary objectives of this inventory were to document reptile and amphibian species, map the distribution of all species found, and determine a rough relative abundance for each species.
The American Southwest is well known for its abundance and diversity of reptiles including the Gila monster (one of only two venomous lizards in the world), desert tortoise, whiptail lizard, coachwhip, and aquatic species like the narrow-headed gartersnake. The Southwest is less well known for its amphibian populations, but they are abundant in some habitats. Some unique species include the barking frog, casque-headed frog, Arizona toad, Sonoran desert toad, and Sonoran tiger salamander.
Guadalupe Mountains NP includes the highest point in Texas (8,749 ft.), reliable springs, sand dunes, and forests. This inventory focused primarily on McKittrick Canyon, a very diverse riparian area, and the Salt Basin Dunes area, characterized by creosote flats, gypsum and quartz dunes.
Surveys for amphibian and reptile species have been conducted in CHDN parks. In 2003 and 2004, the University of Arizona conducted an inventory of herpetofauna in the six parks of the CHDN– Amistad National Recreation Area, Big Bend National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Fort Davis National Historic Site, and White Sands National Monument.
When organisms adapt to a novel environment, a possible consequence is speciation (where one species splits into two or more new species). White Sands (the landscape feature) is an ideal system for studying adaptation and speciation.
A number of field guides and electronic resources are available for further information on the distributions and life histories of reptiles and amphibians found in the American Southwest.
