Explore Beyond
AREA GUIDE
Explore from the retreat
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.
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Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0Ken Lund
Zion National Park
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).
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Ben P L · CC BY-SA 2.0Ben P L
Kolob Canyons
Approx. 55 min driveSame Zion passQuieter Zion
Details, fees & permits ↻Kolob Canyons
- Part of Zion
- 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
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Jacob Ufkes · CC0Jacob Ufkes
Kanarra Falls
Approx. 66 min drive$15 permitNo pets
Details, fees & permits ↻Kanarra Falls
- Drive
- About 66 min to Kanarraville.
- Permit
- $15 per person, buy online in advance. Daily hiker numbers are capped. Ages 8+.
- Length
- About 4 mi round trip, mostly walking in the creek.
- Pets
- No pets.
- Tip
- Wear shoes that can get wet. Check the flash-flood forecast.
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Christian David · CC BY-SA 4.0Christian David
Bryce Canyon
Approx. 2 h 30 drivePark entry fee
Details, fees & permits ↻Bryce Canyon
- Drive
- About 2 h 30 (96 mi).
- Fee
- 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.
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Drdrewwilliams · CC BY-SA 4.0Drdrewwilliams
Tuacahn Amphitheatre
Approx. 73 min driveIvinsCheck show dates
Details, fees & permits ↻Tuacahn Amphitheatre
- Drive
- About 73 min to Ivins.
- Tickets
- Buy show tickets on tuacahn.org.
- Season
- Outdoor Broadway-style shows, mainly spring to fall. Check the calendar.
- Tip
- Bring a layer; desert evenings cool off fast. Pair with Snow Canyon next door.
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photophat · CC BY 3.0photophat
Sand Hollow State Park
Approx. 1 h driveState park fee
Details, fees & permits ↻Sand Hollow State Park
- Drive
- About an hour.
- Fee
- Utah State Parks day-use fee. Reserve when capacity is limited.
- Activities
- Reservoir swimming and paddling, sand dunes, OHV trails.
- Season
- Late spring to early fall for water; cooler months for dunes.
- Tip
- Little shade. Bring sunscreen and lots of water.
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joannapoe · CC BY-SA 2.0joannapoe
Snow Canyon State Park
Approx. 1 h driveState park fee
Details, fees & permits ↻Snow Canyon State Park
- Drive
- About 60 min (49 mi).
- Fee
- Utah State Parks day-use fee. Check capacity rules on busy weekends.
- Highlights
- Red-rock hiking, lava tubes and petroglyphs.
- Season
- Fall through spring mornings; summer midday is hot on the sandstone.
- Tip
- Pair with Tuacahn or lunch in St. George.
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tsaiproject · CC BY 2.0tsaiproject
The Wave (Coyote Buttes)
Lottery permitApprox. 2 h drive
Details, fees & permits ↻The Wave (Coyote Buttes)
- Drive
- About 2 h to the trailhead area near Kanab.
- Permit
- Required. Two Recreation.gov lotteries: advance and daily (entered by phone from a set area near Kanab).
- Difficulty
- Very limited daily entries. Rangers patrol; never hike without a permit.
- Tip
- Plan a full day. Kanab has food and fuel.
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Garth Weals · CC BY-SA 4.0Garth Weals
Grafton Ghost Town
FreeEn route to Zion
Details, fees & permits ↻Grafton Ghost Town
- Where
- Scenic road from Rockville, just south of Zion.
- Cost
- Free. Respect private property and the historic buildings.
- Tip
- Golden hour with the Virgin River and red cliffs behind. A short stop on the way back from Springdale.
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Moyan Brenn · CC BY 2.0Moyan Brenn
Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Half-day tripState park fee
Details, fees & permits ↻Coral Pink Sand Dunes
- Drive
- Easy half-day from the retreat.
- Fee
- Utah State Parks day-use fee; first come. Check OHV rules.
- Season
- Sunrise and sunset for color; midday sand gets very hot.
- Tip
- Bring water and closed-toe shoes for the dunes.
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