Three Trails Worth the Drive This Weekend — May 17–20

A mid-week update this time, covering May 17–20 — three days that happen to contain three distinct time-sensitive windows worth making the trip for. All three picks are open and accessible right now. Two of the three conditions won't last past June.

The Grand Canyon's North Rim reopened on May 15, 2026 — the first public access since the Dragon Bravo Fire forced a full evacuation in July 2025. 1 The trail is five days old as a hiking destination again, and the North Kaibab Trail — the park's only rim-to-river route on this side — is open for the first time since the fire closed it.

The Dragon Bravo Fire — ignited by lightning on July 4, 2025 — burned approximately 145,000 acres and covered 86.3% of the Bright Angel Creek watershed. 2 At its peak it was the largest wildfire in the continental U.S. that year. The historic Grand Canyon Lodge (built 1936–37) was destroyed, along with 105 other park structures. One firefighter, Hank Hester, died from a heart attack while responding. 2 What's reopened now is a recovering landscape: charred trees standing alongside fresh aspen shoots, a mosaic of low-, medium-, and high-intensity burn zones, and a canyon that will look like this for exactly one phase of its long recovery. Ethan Aumack, executive director of the Grand Canyon Trust, put it plainly: "We will not in our lifetime see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon as it was." 2

Melinda Rush Marshall, whose family has operated Jacob Lake Inn for 103 years — and who stayed through the fire — describes what visitors are walking into: "There is going to be fire damage, and I think for some people that's hard to see. But what they're going to experience is seeing all of the range of fire. You'll have low intensity burn, medium intensity, and high intensity." 3

The trail — North Kaibab: This is the only rim-to-rim trail currently open at Grand Canyon National Park. Stock use (mules and horses) is suspended for the entire 2026 season. 4 The trail descends from a trailhead at 8,241 ft (2,510 m) through the Supai Tunnel, blasted-out Redwall Limestone cliffs, and along Bright Angel Creek to the Colorado River — rated the most difficult major inner-canyon trail in the park.

Day-hike options from the rim:

Going beyond Redwall Bridge requires ranger consultation. The full rim-to-river descent in a single day is not recommended. 4

Hazards — read before going: Post-fire conditions are active. The trailhead carries a yellow sign reading "BURNED AREA / FLASH FLOODS FALLEN TREES / ROCK AND DEBRIS." 4 Flash floods and debris flows are the primary risk. Trail maintenance crews are working throughout the 2026 season; expect temporary delays and equipment on the route. Avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. — summer shade temperatures regularly exceed 100°F (38°C). 5

Water: There is no potable water on the North Rim. On the trail, water is available only at Manzanita Rest Area; Supai Tunnel water is off. NPS public affairs officer Joelle Baird said explicitly: "We are not going to have potable water available for the public. Visitor services are going to be pretty limited for this season." 5 Bottled water is sold at the General Store; carry everything you need from there.

Parking and fees: The trailhead is at the end of the North Rim road — no reservation required beyond the standard park entry. No timed-entry permits. Entry fee is $35/vehicle for a 7-day pass. The North Rim Campground (75 sites, dry camping) is expected to open sometime in June 2026; no reservation date confirmed yet. 5 Overnight backcountry stays require a permit from the Backcountry Information Center adjacent to the campground.

Getting there: The North Rim entrance is roughly 45 miles south of Jacob Lake, AZ, on AZ-67. Driving distances: Las Vegas — approximately 4.5 hours (277 miles); Salt Lake City — approximately 4 hours (255 miles); Phoenix — approximately 4.5 hours (356 miles). 6

Two reasons this one is on the list this weekend: first, it's a rain-safe ridge hike at an elevation where spring wildflowers are still in bloom. Second, the synchronous firefly event at nearby Elkmont started today, May 20 — and even if you didn't win the lottery for a firefly viewing slot, the Charlies Bunion hike gives you a full day in the park while the fireflies draw everyone else to the Elkmont area at night.

The trail: 8.1 miles round-trip, out-and-back, starting from Newfound Gap (US-441). Elevation gain: 1,640 ft. The trail hovers around 6,000 ft along the ridge, which keeps spring wildflowers active well into late May while the lower elevations have already moved past peak. Difficulty: strenuous. 7 Estimated time: 4–5 hours.

The trail runs along the Appalachian Trail (AT) to the exposed rock outcrop known as Charlies Bunion, which sits at the edge of a dramatic drop into the valley below. Regular r/GSMNP contributor u/johnbash describes it as "a simple hike through beautiful country. The most difficult part is getting a quiet moment at the Bunion." 8 The rocky ridge character means rain doesn't close it down the way wet slab routes do. r/GSMNP moderator u/magiccitybhm confirmed this week that Charlies Bunion is safe in wet conditions; the only concern in the park right now is Alum Cave to LeConte, where upper sections on bare rock become slick. 9

Parking: Large lot at Newfound Gap on US-441. It fills by 9:30–10:00 a.m. on weekends; arriving earlier is the cleaner move, especially heading into Memorial Day weekend. A webcam is available to check lot occupancy before driving up. 8

Fees: GSMNP charges no park entrance fee (one of a handful of free national parks). A parking tag is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes: $5/day, $15/week, or $40/annual. Note that an America the Beautiful pass does not cover this — it's a separate fee. Purchase at recreation.gov, park visitor centers (Sugarlands, Oconaluftee), or automated kiosks in the park. 10

Road notes: Newfound Gap Road (US-441) is open year-round. Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) is open for the season since April 1. The US-441 Spur connecting Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg has construction underway since May 11 — expect delays on that approach. 11

Bear safety — active alerts: Ramsey Cascades Trail is closed as of May 13 due to aggressive bear activity, following a week in which multiple groups were chased, two backpacks were taken, and one person was bitten after entering a closed area. Abrams Falls Trail is under active bear warnings — bears present, use extreme caution. Mollies Ridge Shelter on the AT is also closed. 12 None of these closures affect Charlies Bunion directly, but bear spray is worth carrying and recommended by the community. Dogs are prohibited on most park trails and are involved in the majority of bear incidents.

The firefly event: The 2026 synchronous firefly (Photinus carolinus) viewing event at Elkmont runs May 20–27. 13 The lottery for vehicle reservations closed April 27 — 120 spots per night, non-transferable. If you have a reservation, arrival window is 6:00–8:00 p.m., no re-entry after 8:15 p.m. The parking tag requirement is waived for firefly lottery holders during the event window. 10 If you don't have a reservation, plan around the evening crowd — Little River Trail and Jakes Creek Trail are part of the viewing corridor and will be restricted at night.

Getting there: Newfound Gap is on US-441, 13 miles south of Gatlinburg, TN. Driving distances: Knoxville — approximately 1.5 hours (70 miles); Asheville — approximately 1.5 hours (80 miles); Charlotte — approximately 3 hours (180 miles); Atlanta — approximately 3.5 hours (200 miles). 7

The Jenny Lake loop hits a useful shoulder-season window right now: the boat shuttle is running, Cascade Canyon is accessible below the ~7,500 ft snow line, no timed-entry permit is required in 2026, and Death Canyon's closure is pushing some of the park's regular traffic toward this corridor — meaning the trail is busier than it otherwise would be, but still manageable with an early start.

The trail: From the East Boat Dock, take the shuttle to the West Shore Dock (round-trip $20, one-way $15; no reservations, boats every 10–15 minutes). 14 From West Shore, it's 0.5 miles to Hidden Falls — a 100-ft cascade at peak snowmelt flow — then a steeper 0.5 miles up 5 switchbacks to Inspiration Point at approximately 7,201 ft. 14 Total via shuttle: 1.8 miles round-trip, 550 ft elevation gain, 1.5–2.5 hours.

The better approach for a full day: pay the one-way fare east to west, hike to Inspiration Point, then continue up Cascade Canyon (additional 3.5 miles one-way, relatively flat, +500 ft) before looping back along the south shore of Jenny Lake on the Jenny Lake Trail — that returns you to the East Dock without backtracking. The Cascade Canyon extension, confirmed accessible by a Reddit user who hiked it on May 14, puts you inside the Cathedral Group (Grand Teton, Mount Owen, Teewinot Mountain) at close range. 15

If you skip the shuttle and walk Jenny Lake Trail around the lake instead, the round-trip becomes 5.7 miles with 870 ft elevation gain (3–4.5 hours). That route is worth considering if you're planning a group of 3+ for bear safety — Cascade Canyon is an active grizzly and black bear corridor, and the NPS recommends hiking in groups, making noise, and carrying bear spray on your hip or chest (not packed away). 14

Parking: Jenny Lake lot has 414 spaces (17 ADA, 9 RV) and fills by 8 a.m. on weekends. Arrive before 7:30 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid the crunch. 14 The String Lake Trailhead — located nearby on Teton Park Road — has separate parking and is significantly less congested; if Jenny Lake is full, String Lake Loop (4 miles, 176 ft gain, easy-moderate, confirmed "not crowded" on May 17) is a solid fallback. 16

Road access notes: Teton Park Road is open since May 1. The Moose-Wilson Road northern segment is closed May 1–June 20 — use Teton Park Road from the Moose entrance instead. Roundabout construction near the Moose Entrance Station affects the road near Moose; expect short delays. 17

Boat shuttle hours: May 15–September 30. Early-season hours (until June 5): 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Boats depart every 10–15 minutes from the East Boat Dock. 14

Fees: Park entry is $35/vehicle for a 7-day pass. No timed-entry permit required for Grand Teton in 2026. No day-use fee beyond the park entry.

Getting there: Jenny Lake Trailhead is off Teton Park Road, approximately 15 miles north of the Moose Entrance Station. Nearest towns: Moose, WY (at park entrance) and Jackson, WY (~15 miles south). Driving distances: Salt Lake City — approximately 4.5 hours (275 miles); Idaho Falls, ID — approximately 2 hours (105 miles). 18