From Rocky Mountain to Yellowstone, here’s when you can visit parks across the west

Everyone is desperate to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air, and the West’s national parks could be the place for that.

Several popular National Parks in the West have announced plans to reopen and welcome visitors to the public lands again. Each park has different regulations and plans for opening, so it’s important to check the park’s websites and guidelines before hitting the road.

“The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis,” NPS said in a news release.

Park entrance fees are also currently waived during the coronavirus pandemic, McClatchy News reported. All guests are encouraged to practice social distancing, wash hands regularly and wear face masks, NPS said.

From Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado to Arches and Canyonlands national parks in Utah, here’s how parks across the West plan to open their gates to tourists as the coronavirus pandemic lingers.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Grand Canyon announced Wednesday that it will reopen the park’s South Rim south entrance from Friday through Monday with “limited day use,” according to a park news release.

Visitors can access viewpoints along East Desert View Drive but will be told to turn around at Navajo Point, according to the park. Some picnic areas and restrooms will also be open.

Several popular areas will not be open to tourists during the first phase of opening, including the South Rim’s east entrance and Desert View area, all hiking trails, Grand Canyon Village and the Colorado River, North Rim and Tuweep areas.

“This initial reopening phase will increase access to our public lands in a responsible way by offering the main feature of the park for the public, the view of the canyon, while reducing the potential exposure of COVID-19 to our nearly 2,500 residents,” Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable said in the news release.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

The park announced Tuesday that it will follow Colorado’s “Safer at Home” guidance, which discourages vacations to Colorado and limits activities “to your immediate community, not travel more than 10 miles from your home to recreate or vacation and not travel to mountain areas.”

The order is set to expire May 26, though, and the park plans to begin a phased reopening the next day, according to a park news release. Park officials said ”operations and services will be much different this year,” the news release stated.

Starting May 27, wilderness camping permits will be issued, and shuttle buses within Bear Lake Road will start again.

Portions of Moraine Park and Glacier Basin campgrounds will open June 4 with half of the campsites available for reservations, the park said. Other campsites will stay closed.

Park officials don’t know when visitor centers and other services will reopen, including the “Hiker Shuttle” from Estes Park Visitor Center, according to the news release.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone will begin its three-phased plan Monday, with South and East entrances in Wyoming open, McClatchy News reported.

Wyoming has lifted out-of-state travel restrictions, but Montana and Idaho, which house small portions of the park, still have travel restrictions in place, the park said.

Campgrounds, backcountry permits, visitor cabins, stores, expanded tours, boating, fishing and visitor centers will still be closed, the park said. Hotels, dining, commercial tour buses and ranger programs will also remain closed.

Tourists will be required to practice social distancing and wearing a face mask is recommended, the park said.

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Starting Monday, Grand Teton National Park will begin reopening, the park announced Wednesday.

Some public restrooms, day-use hiking trails, fishing and “limited commercial-use authorization tours” will be available to tourists again, the park said.

Visitors will not be permitted in visitor centers, overnight lodging, food service areas or campgrounds, according to the park. Boating and floating on the river and lakes and backcountry permits will also not be permitted.

“I appreciate the strong working relationship the park enjoys with our local and state partners,” Grand Teton National Park Acting Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail said in the news release. “Their input has helped inform the park’s phased reopening plan, which provides recreational access to the park in a manner that promotes the health and safety of our employees, volunteers, partners and visitors. We ask all park visitors to do their part to take preventive actions as they enjoy the park by maintaining social distancing and following all CDC and local health guidance.”

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park also opened Wednesday, with several roads and trails open to the public, according to a park news release.

Many areas remain closed, including campgrounds, climbing and canyoneering, overnight backpacking, the museum and theater, and the Zion Lodge, the park said.

Park officials reminded tourists that Zion is a busy park, and visitors should be prepared and plan a visit time other than the busiest of the day.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park began reopening its park Wednesday, according to a news release.

The main road and all viewpoints to Rainbow Point, visitor information, several public restrooms and trails opened within the park, according to a news release.

While the park is open 24 hours a day, no options to stay overnight are available, the park said.

Campgrounds, food service and backcountry trails are also closed, according to the park.

Arches and Canyonlands national parks, Utah

Two of Utah’s national parks will begin welcoming visitors May 29, the park said Monday.

Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, which are close to each other, will open all park roads, trails and restrooms starting May 29, the park said.

“Backcountry permits for Canyonlands and climbing/canyoneering permits for Arches will be available for use starting May 30,” the park said in a news release.

Visitor centers and park stores will remain closed, as well as several park locations.

The Fiery Furnace, backcountry camping and Devils Garden Campground will remain closed at Arches National Park, according to the news release. Willow Flat Campground at Island in the Sky district and Needles Campground in The Needles district of Canyonlands National Park will remain closed as well, the park said.