National park · United States
Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument
Go only with a high-clearance 4WD, two spare tyres, 20+ litres of water and a plan to camp: entry is free, there are no services, and this is not Grand Canyon National Park — if your map app sent you here, retype Grand Canyon Village.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
4,116 km²1,589 sq mi
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
Apr–May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 4,116 km²1,589 sq mi
- About 4,116 km² of the Arizona Strip, split between the BLM and NPS; the monument's southern edge is the Grand Canyon's North Rim (check exact boundary).
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument protects the western edge of the Grand Canyon and a huge stretch of the Arizona Strip — the almost uninhabited northwest corner of Arizona, cut off from the rest of the state by the Colorado River. There is no entrance fee, no gate, no campground, no fuel and no drinking water. Every road is unpaved sand or gravel, and the monument is managed jointly by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The name misleads: this is not Grand Canyon National Park, and map apps regularly send drivers here by mistake. Come with a high-clearance 4WD, two spare tyres, 20+ litres of water and a plan to camp, and you get the North Rim's western overlooks, the Shivwits Plateau pine country and ranch and mining ruins with nobody else around.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2000.
Size and age
4,116 km²1,589 sq mi · national park since 2000
About 4,116 km² of the Arizona Strip, split between the BLM and NPS; the monument's southern edge is the Grand Canyon's North Rim (check exact boundary).
Why go
- The only way to stand on the western North Rim without a permit, a queue or a shuttle bus.
- Twin Point and Snap Point look into the Grand Canyon with nobody else around.
- A genuine desert 4WD route: 100+ km of gravel and sand between fuel stops.
- Ranching and mining ruins — Tassi Ranch, Oak Grove, Grand Gulch Mine — sit where they were abandoned.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanSnow and ice on the plateau; roads may be impassable
- FebCold, mud, snow patches
- MarWarming; Pakoon Springs birds at their best
- AprMild days, dry roads, wildflowers low down
- MayWarm but manageable; long daylight
- JunHot; 38°C+ in the low Pakoon basinHot; 100°F+ in the low Pakoon basin
- JulMonsoon flash floods; 40°C heatMonsoon flash floods; 104°F heat
- AugMonsoon peak; washes cut the roads
- SepStorms taper; still hot
- OctDry, clear, comfortable walking
- NovCool and clear; short days
- DecCold nights; snow possible on Mount Trumbull
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexican spotted owlMar–Oct · Old-growth canyon forest; do not use playback recordings. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| California condorAll year · The Arizona release site is just west of the monument; birds range over the rim. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Desert birds at Pakoon SpringsMar–May · Spring is the best window; summer heat at this low elevation is dangerous. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bighorn sheep and desert tortoiseMar–May, Sep–Oct · Seen from the roads and trails; keep distance and never handle a tortoise. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From St. George, Utah
I-15 south, then River Road / County Road 111 toward Pakoon Springs and Tassi Ranch; gravel from the state line.
1–1.5 h to the first stops
Open the page →
From Mesquite, Nevada
Hwy 242 southeast about 26 km to the monument's northern end; unpaved and winding.Hwy 242 southeast about 16 mi to the monument's northern end; unpaved and winding.
45–60 min
From Grand Canyon North Rim
Unpaved roads west from the North Rim area to Twin Point; no through road for standard cars.
3–5 h
From Fredonia / Kanab
South on BLM roads to Mount Trumbull and the plateau; 4WD and a map required.
2–3 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Pakoon Basin (west) | Low desert, Pakoon Springs, Tassi Ranch ruins and the Grand Wash Cliffs. | County Road 111 from the Nevada line; gravel, usually passable in a high-clearance vehicle when dry. |
| Shivwits Plateau (centre) | Mount Trumbull, Mount Logan, Oak Grove and the pine-juniper high country. | Long gravel roads from St. George or Fredonia; snow closes them in winter. |
| Grand Canyon rim (south) | Twin Point, Kelly Point and Snap Point, on the monument's boundary with the national park. | Rough 4WD tracks only; no services, no water. |
| Grand Gulch Mine (north) | Copper mine ruins on BLM1050 with nothing else for kilometres. | Treacherous track; pickups have failed on it. |
Sketch map
- 1St. George, Utah · Town≈37.096, -113.568Closest full-service base and BLM visitor centre.Map ↗
- 2Pakoon Springs · Trail≈36.416, -113.957Map ↗
- 3Tassi Ranch · Village≈36.256, -113.957Historic ranch ruin.Map ↗
- 4Grand Gulch Mine · Cave≈36.326, -113.792Copper mine ruins; rough access.Map ↗
- 5Oak Grove · Village≈36.153, -113.584Old ranch site on the plateau.Map ↗
- 6Twin Point Overlook · Viewpoint≈35.985, -113.630Map ↗
- 7Snap Point · Viewpoint≈36.173, -113.801Map ↗
- 8Kelly Point Overlook · Viewpoint≈35.835, -113.471Map ↗
- 9Mount Trumbull · Summit≈36.410, -113.327Approximate.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monument entry | Free | vehicle | No entrance fee; no permit for backcountry camping on monument land (check current NPS notice). |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US$80 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; not needed here, but covers Grand Canyon NP, Lake Mead and Zion on the same trip. |
| Fuel, St. George to St. George | US$60–120 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; 400+ km of driving with no fuel inside the monument. |
| Backcountry camping | Free | night | Free, but you must pack out everything. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Monument entry no permit
Backcountry camping no permit
Below the Grand Canyon rim permit or guide
Park rules
- No services
- No fuel, water, food or phone signal inside the monument; carry everything you need and a paper map.
- Vehicles
- High-clearance 4WD only on the monument's roads; none are paved, and rain makes them impassable.
- Camping
- Backcountry camping only — no campgrounds and no lodging. Pack out all human waste.
- Artifacts
- Petroglyphs, arrowheads and pueblo structures are protected by federal law; look, photograph, leave.
- Grand Canyon rim
- Descending below the rim enters Grand Canyon National Park and requires a backcountry permit.
- Drones
- Launching a drone is not allowed on NPS-managed land without permission (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Backcountry camping on the monument
Free dispersed camping on existing tracks; no facilities, no water, no fires outside established rings.
Near the park
St. George, Utah
The closest full-service base with hotels, fuel and the BLM visitor centre that covers the monument.
Near the park
Mesquite, Nevada
Casino hotels and fuel, about 26 km from the monument's northern end.Casino hotels and fuel, about 16 mi from the monument's northern end.
Safety
Heat and no water high
Getting lost or stuck high
Flash floods medium
Winter snow and ice medium
Remote medical help high
Accessibility
- No paved paths, no railings and no accessible facilities anywhere in the monument.
- The plateau drives are rough; visitors with limited mobility should treat the monument as a viewpoint-by-vehicle trip only.
Visiting lightly
- Pack out all rubbish and human waste; there is no collection anywhere.
- Stay on existing tracks — desert soils and cryptobiotic crust take decades to recover.
- Do not use bird-call playback for the spotted owl, and keep 30 m+ from bighorn sheep.
- Carry your own water rather than drawing from Pakoon Springs, which is a wildlife source.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee, no gate and no permit for backcountry camping on monument land. Your real costs are fuel, water and vehicle preparation — budget US$60–120 for fuel from St. George and back. If you descend below the Grand Canyon rim you enter Grand Canyon National Park, which does need a backcountry permit.
What are the best hikes in Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument?
For most visitors the easy ones: the 1.6 km Pakoon Springs Trail (best March–May) and the short walks at Tassi Ranch and Oak Grove. Twin Point and Snap Point are viewpoints reached by 4WD, not hikes. Mount Trumbull, Mount Dellenbaugh, Mount Logan and the Grand Wash Cliffs Middle Bench Trail are longer, rougher routes with no water and no signage.
When is the best time to visit Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument?
April, May and October. Roads are dry, days are mild and the low desert is walkable. Avoid July and August (monsoon flash floods and 40°C heat in the Pakoon basin) and December to February, when snow and mud close the plateau roads.
Is this the same as Grand Canyon National Park?
No. The monument protects the western edge of the canyon and the Arizona Strip; the national park is a separate unit to the east. Many GPS apps confuse the two and send drivers onto rough roads. If you want the classic Grand Canyon visit, enter Grand Canyon Village instead.
Can I visit without a 4WD?
No. Every road in the monument is unpaved sand or gravel, and some tracks defeat pickups. Come in a high-clearance 4WD with a full-size spare, or book a guided 4WD tour from St. George or Mesquite.
Where can I stay near Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument?
There is no lodging and no campground inside the monument — camping is dispersed and free. The nearest beds are in St. George, Utah (about 1–1.5 hours to the western edge) and Mesquite, Nevada (about 45–60 minutes to the northern end).
Is there phone signal or water in the monument?
Assume no. Cell coverage is patchy in a few spots and absent elsewhere, and there is no drinking water. Carry 4 litres per person per day, a paper map and a satellite messenger.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Sources
- officialNPS — Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument
- officialNPS — Snap Point and Snap Canyon
- officialNPS — Pakoon Springs and the historic Tassi Ranch
- officialNPS — Twin Point Overlook
- officialNPS — Mount Trumbull Scenic Loop Drive
- officialNPS — Pakoon Springs Trail
- secondaryWikivoyage: Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument, revision 4833484 (CC BY-SA 4.0)