Parts of the Grand Canyon restricted?

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

. Are there areas within the park that tourists are simply not allowed to go ?

Yes. Google, “Grand Canyon restricted areas”.

http://www.nps.gov/grca/publications/compendium.htm

Compendium Of Designations, Closures, Use and Activity Restrictions, Permit Requirements And Other Regulations

September 1998

In accordance with the delegated authority provided by regulations as published under Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1, Parts 1 through 7, authorized by Title 16 United States Code, Section 3, the following regulatory provisions are established for the management, protection, and public use of Grand Canyon National Park.

The following are the areas that are closed to the public, period.

a) The following geographical areas and/or roads within Grand Canyon National Park are closed to public use or are restricted by specific activities and/or specific times for specific activities:

Areas Closed To General Public Presence, Use, and Access:
General:

All government and/or private housing areas, including but not limited to access roads, residences, outbuildings, yards, and pathways. This closure shall not apply to residents, guests of residents, or persons engaged in legitimate governmental activities or permitted business activities.

The interior of all government and concession buildings except for designated public lobbies or public business areas. This closure shall not apply to persons in non-public areas who have been granted specific permission by the National Park Service or another authorized federal agency, the licensed concessionaire, or their representatives, or those who are under escort of employees who are acting within the scope of their employment.
South Rim District:

Grand Canyon School and adjacent school grounds and parking areas. This closure shall not apply to persons engaged in legitimate school business or school sponsored/sanctioned activities.

South Rim Helibase and Fire Compound, as defined by the fence line and/or the road and clear-cut tree line, including the Helibase, Firebase, Engine Bay/Fire Cache, and the Fire Administrative Office, and access road.

Hopi Fire Tower and Access Road
South Rim Powder Magazine and Access Road
South Rim Sanitary Landfill and Access Road
South Rim Firearms Range
Southgate dirt parking area and access road.
Maricopa Point Endangered Plant Area

Desert View District:

Desert View Sewage Treatment Plant Complex and Access Road
Desert View Dry Dump and Access Road
Access Road to Grandview Fire Tower and Power Line Access Road

Corridor District:

Established “helispots” at Indian Gardens and Phantom Ranch, as defined by the marked perimeters of those facilities.

Wilderness District:

Hopi Salt Mines, extending from river mile 62 to river mile 62.5 on the southeast side of the Colorado River.
Maricopa Point Endangered Plan Area
Hance Mine (in Asbestos Canyon south of Hance Rapid)
Bass Mine (in Hakatai Canyon and the area immediately surrounding the mine tailings and waste rock areas)
Furnace Flats from 71.0 to mile 71.3 on the north side of the Colorado River.
Anasazi Bridge

North Rim District:

Lindberg Hill Dry Storage Area and Access Road
North Rim Sewage Treatment Plant Complex and Access Road

Everything else in the (lengthy) document is just basic rules about wilderness backpacking, jetskis on the Colorado River, where you may and may not drive your ATVs, etc.

But there’s this, relevant to the OP:

Areas Restricted To Public Presence, Use, and Access By Permit Only:
General:
A valid permit issued by the Superintendent is required for all access to, use of, and presence within all caves and mines within Grand Canyon National Park. For purposes of this section, a cave is defined as,

“Any naturally occurring void, cavity, recess, or system of interconnected passages beneath the surface of the earth or within a cliff or ledge, including any cave resource therein, and which is large enough to permit a person to enter, whether the entrance is excavated or naturally formed. Such term shall include any natural pit, sinkhole, or other feature that is an extension of a cave entrance or which is an integral part of the cave.” (Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988).

For management purposes and purposes of this section, Grand Canyon National Park extends this definition to include:

“…natural features only if they contain a twighlight zone and a zone of perpetual darkness (i.e., Redwall Cavern is not a cave). In addition, artificial anthropogenic features (i.e., mine works) which comprise a twighlight zone and a zone of perpetual darkness will be managed as caves except more latitude will be given for mitigating hazards to human health and safety.”

Permits required to satisfy this section may be applied for and/or obtained at the Backcountry Permits Office.

Note that this doesn’t say anything about ancient Egyptian artifacts. But of course, the Feds aren’t gonna tell you…