Permits

Permits You Can Obtain In Advance

Permits for overnight backcountry trips are required at both parks, and can be obtained at visitor centers. At Bryce Canyon, permits must be purchased in person on a first-come, first-served basis. At Zion, you can purchase a backcountry permit at the visitor center the day before or the day of your trip, and reservations for permits can be made in advance through the park's website, www.nps.gov/zion, although they must still be picked up in person at the visitor center.

Those planning to fish must first purchase state fishing licenses, which are available at sporting goods stores and other businesses throughout Utah. For additional information, contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 1594 W. North Temple (P.O. Box 146301), Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301 (tel. 801/538-4700; www.wildlife.utah.gov), for their current Utah Fishing Proclamation. Zion National Park offers limited fishing opportunities; there are no bodies of water appropriate for fishing at Bryce Canyon National Park, although there is fishing nearby. Hunting is not permitted in either national park.

Passes Offer Free Admission on Most Federal Lands

Those who enjoy vacationing at national parks, national forests, and other federal lands have opportunities to save quite a bit of money by using the federal government's annual passes. The America the Beautiful -- National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass costs $80 for 1 year, from the date of purchase, for the general public. It provides free admission for the pass holder, and those in his or her vehicle, to recreation sites that charge vehicle entrance fees on lands administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation. At areas that charge per-person fees, the passes are good for the pass holder, plus three additional adults. Children 15 and under are admitted free.

The passes are also available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents ages 62 and older for a lifetime fee of $10 (Senior Pass), and are free for U.S. residents and permanent residents with disabilities (Access Pass). The Senior and Access passes also provide 50% discounts on some fees, such as fees for camping.

The Senior and Access passes must be obtained in person at national parks, U.S. Forest Service offices, and other federal recreation sites, but the general public version (the $80 one) can be purchased in person, by phone (tel. 888/275-8747, ext. 1), or online at http://store.usgs.gov/pass, a website that also provides complete information about the passes.