Las Vegas today is more than just a tourist destination. Las Vegas is becoming popular for tourists as a hub. People like to come here not just for gambling and entertainment, but for further explorations and adventures. What I mean is that you can come to Las Vegas. Make this your base camp. Then go exploring.
Think about it. You get to come here, stay in a first-rate hotel with all the amenities you could ever want. Then by day, you get to play trepid explorers. Leaving civilization behind for a couple of hours. In the daylight, you see some of the most wonderful wonders of nature. Go see a different National Park each day.
After a day of exploring, you get to come back to modern civilization. shower off the dirt and spend the night enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of what Las Vegas can offer. After a little rest, get up the next day and do it all over again.
It’s like having the best of two worlds on one vacation!
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However, as with Las Vegas and COVID 19, the National Parks have been on shutdown as well. As again, like Las Vegas, they are now starting to show signs of reopening as well. With limited options. Like Las Vegas, each day brings a new opportunity to add a little more to the visitor’s adventure. Here is an updated list of the National Parks closest to Las Vegas and what’s opening and when.
What Parks Are Open Around Las Vegas??
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada: Boulder Entrance Station, Lake Mead Parkway Entrance Station, Lake Mead Boulevard Entrance Station, Northshore Entrance Station, Cottonwood Cove Entrance Station. Annual passes required for the following locations in Arizona: Willow Beach, Temple Bar, Katherine Landing. Parking lots, launch ramps, overlooks, beaches, and picnic areas will reopen. Boats that are slipped at the marinas may leave their slips to recreate. Those within the trailer village or on live-aboard vessels may stay the night
- NO transactions will occur at the entrance station.
You must have a park pass BEFORE you arrive. - NPS – How to Get a National Park Pass Online
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Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah: The main park road and all viewpoints to Rainbow Point, restrooms at Sunset Point, Farview and Rainbow Points are open, and trails within the Bryce Amphitheater area. The park visitor center is open, though the museum and theater remain closed. Mossy Cave area is open, though construction may close some areas temporarily. Entrance fees are being charged. On June 7 the Sunset Campground reopened to the public for camping by reservation only. The North Campground currently is closed for paving. All lodging and food services also are closed. Effective no later than July 1, hiking of backcountry trails and permits for backcountry camping at sites along these trails will again be permitted—park backcountry trails include the Riggs Spring Loop, the Under-the-Rim Trail, and Under-the-Rim connecting trails. Shuttle service has resumed, with buses running at 15-minute intervals with a limit of 20 riders per shuttle. The Park staff has free masks and hand sanitizer available for passengers, those who ride the shuttles must enter and exit the buses from the rear doors so as to protect shuttle drivers, and bus interior surfaces are disinfected after each hour-long circuit.
- Fee booths are currently open and collecting fees / inspecting park passes
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Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park, California/Nevada: Day-use areas along CA Hwy 190 including Zabriskie Point Lookout, Mesquite Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells, and Emigrant Canyon will be reopened including restroom facilities.
Visitors should be prepared that restrooms may be periodically closed for cleaning following CDC guidelines. These are temporary closures and the restrooms will reopen as soon as cleaning is complete each day; this is for the safety of visitors, not their inconvenience.
- Park Fees Are NOT being collected at this time
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Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: The South Rim’s south entrance opens every day from 4 a.m. until 2 p.m for day use with limited commercial services. The entrance will close at 2 p.m. and visitors already inside the park can remain for day use access until sunset. The following areas will be open:
- Tuweep will be open for day-use access.
- Day hiking on inner canyon trails and existing backcountry permits for hikers camping overnight will be honored. No new overnight camping permits for the inner canyon will be issued.
Beginning June 5, the following areas be opened:
- South Rim’s south entrance will be open 24/7, and Mather Campground will open for existing reservations only.
- The North Rim will be open for day use. The campground is closed for construction until July 1.
Beginning June 14, the park will initiate a phased reopening of Colorado River commercial, noncommercial and administrative trips until further notice.
The park lodges operated by Xanterra are opening on a rolling basis; it started on June 5 with the opening of Maswik Lodge, followed by June 10 opening of El Tovar and Kachina, and the June 15 opening of Bright Angel Lodge and Thunderbird Lodge. Yavapai Lodge, operated by Delaware North, opens Friday, June 12.
The Grand Canyon Railway and the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel will open and the train will run on June 15. Visit www.xanterra.com for updated and current information on both the hotel and the train (www.thetrain.com).
- Entrances fees should be paid at automated fee machines or by purchasing a pass in advance from nearby third-party vendors, or online
- NPS – Grand Canyon Day/Week pass online
- NPS – How to Get a National Park Pass Online
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Red Rock National Conservation Area
Red Rock Canyon During this reopening phase, the Scenic Drive is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Late exit and overnight permits will not be issued until further notice. Parking is only permitted in parking lots and not along the Scenic Drive. When the parking lots are full and the area hits capacity, the gates will be temporarily closed until the area drops below capacity.
- Fee booths are currently open and collecting fees / inspecting park passes
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Zion National Park
Zion National Park, Utah: Zion Canyon reopened Wednesday, May 13, but without shuttles. Once private vehicles take up all parking spots, the canyon will be closed to traffic until vehicles leave. Zion Lodge opened May 21 with limited services, Watchman Campground is open via reservations at recreation.gov, visitor center closed, climbing, canyoneering, and overnight backpacking are prohibited at this time, and the Angels Landing chain section is closed. The Kolob Canyons area of the park also remains closed.
- The collection of entrance fees has been temporarily suspended at Zion National Park. This is being done to help limit the exposure of park staff and visitors to COVID-19.
Note: All of this could change at any time, please check each park’s webpage and their social media for updates.
- Check out all the National Parks updates here / National Parks Traveler
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