# Is the Grand Canyon less polluted these days? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 7, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748 "2025-10-07T15:41:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/1 "2025-10-07T15:41:55Z")
For many years, it was reported that the number of “clear” days at the Grand Canyon was dropping, and one of the reasons given was the pollution from Navajo Generating Station, which was the biggest coal-fired plant in the US. Well, NGS has been shut down for a number of years now (I just drove by the abandoned coal silos yesterday ). Has this actually improved the view at GC? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/2 "2025-10-07T18:38:25Z")
The last time I was there, this city boy was shocked when reminded by the night sky there is this thing called the Milky Way. So, yeah, clear skies. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/3 "2025-10-07T19:06:32Z")
The NPS site has [several webcams](https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm). Visibility looks pretty good at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/4 "2025-10-08T11:02:25Z")
I was at the North Rim not long ago. I stayed at the Lodge just before it burned down. We had an excellent rim view cabin. Absolutely stunning. We also drove out to Toroweap Overlook. That’s 60+ miles of trail from Colorado City AZ to get to. Visibility and the air quality looked excellent, to my untrained eye (I wasn’t looking for air pollution). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/5 "2025-10-08T23:33:03Z")
A reminder: This is FQ, not IMHO. “The last time I was there”, “at the moment”, and “not long ago” are all anecdotes, not data. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/6 "2025-10-08T23:49:26Z")
Since the OP asked about whether the view has improved, informal information does not seem inappropriate to this non-moderator. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/7 "2025-10-09T08:09:38Z")
The OP also essentially said s/he was just there — “I just drove by”. Perhaps this should be moved out of FQ. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/8 "2025-10-09T14:21:39Z")
No, I said I drove by the abandoned coal silos near Kayenta. It just reminded me to ask. I wonder if there is a chart of daily visibility somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/9 "2025-10-09T15:25:34Z")
I stand by what I said. > [@beowulff](#): > > Well, NGS has been shut down for a number of years now ( **I just drove by the abandoned coal silos yesterday** ). Has this actually improved the view at GC? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/10 "2025-10-09T15:26:26Z")
Right - NGS, not the Canyon. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748/11 "2025-10-09T20:23:09Z")
Got it. I thought Navajo Generating Station was in the park, but it’s not. Thank you for the correction.