Day trips and local favorites. Tap any card for fees, permits and links. Drive times are approximate from the retreat.
Grand Canyon NP · CC BY 2.0Grand Canyon NP
Grand Canyon North Rim
Approx. 2 h 20 driveSeasonal
Details, fees & permits ↻
Grand Canyon North Rim
Drive
About 2 h 20 (106 mi) via Jacob Lake.
Fee
$35 private vehicle, valid 7 days. America the Beautiful pass accepted.
Season
North Rim services are seasonal (mid-May to mid-Oct). Check status before you go.
Pets
Leashed (6 ft max). On the North Rim, only on the Bridle Trail (greenway) to the North Kaibab Trail and the Arizona Trail north to the entrance station. Never below the rim; no North Rim kennel. NPS pets
Tip
No lodging on the North Rim in 2026. Plan it as a long day trip.
Approx. 1 h drive$35 per vehicleAngels Landing permit
Details, fees & permits ↻
Zion National Park
In the park
Angels Landing – permit by lottery past Scout Lookout; $6 application + $3/person if selected. Day-before lottery 12:01 am–3 pm MT. 5.4 mi, 1,488 ft. Permits
The Narrows – bottom-up from Temple of Sinawava needs no permit; top-down needs a wilderness permit. Closed over 150 CFS or during a flash-flood warning. Flow & info
Zion Canyon Shuttle – free, no ticket. Most years daily March–November plus late December; the Scenic Drive is shuttle-only then. Schedule
Canyon Overlook – short hike east of the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel; small lot fills early. Trail
Observation Point – reach via the East Mesa Trailhead (Weeping Rock route closed); high-clearance dirt road. East Mesa
Springdale – gateway town at the south entrance: food, gear rentals, paid parking and a free shuttle into the park. Visitor bureau
Drive
About 60 min (47 mi) to the south entrance via UT-59 and SR-9 through Hurricane. Add 15–45 min in peak season. Do not use Smithsonian Butte Rd (dirt).
Fee
$35 private vehicle, valid 7 days. Non-US residents 16+ pay an extra $100 unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. No entry or shuttle reservation needed.
Pets
Leashed (6 ft max) on roads, parking areas, campgrounds, picnic areas and Zion Lodge grounds. The Pa’rus Trail is the only trail open to pets; none on other trails, shuttles or in buildings. Keep dogs out of the river (toxic cyanobacteria).
Kolob Canyons is the northwest district of Zion National Park, with its own entrance at I-15 Exit 40 (17 mi south of Cedar City). It does not connect by road to Zion Canyon.
Drive
About 55 min (45 mi) to the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.
Fee
Same Zion entrance fee or pass: $35 private vehicle, valid 7 days. Show your pass or pay at the visitor center. No timed entry.
Trails
5-mile Kolob Canyons Road scenic drive with viewpoints. Taylor Creek Trail is a favorite half-day; Timber Creek Overlook is a short option. Over 20 miles of trails.
Season
Road may close in winter for snow or ice. Morning is coolest, with soft light on the cliffs.
Pets
Leashed (6 ft max) on roads, parking areas and viewpoints only. Pets are not allowed on any Kolob trail; Zion’s only pet trail is the Pa’rus Trail in Zion Canyon. NPS pets
Standard NPS entrance fee or America the Beautiful pass. No timed entry for the main viewpoints.
Pets
Leashed (6 ft max), paved surfaces only: roads, campgrounds, paved viewpoints (not Piracy Point), the Shared Use Path and the Rim Trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points. Not on other trails or the shuttle. NPS pets
Season
High elevation: cooler than Zion in summer, snow common in winter.
Tip
Sunrise at Inspiration or Bryce Point for alpenglow. Bryce Canyon City has food and fuel.