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Take in Grand Canyon vistas and donate your kindness to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the country’s largest no-kill refuge for abused and abandoned pets. This unique getaway offers a chance to escape your hectic schedule and engage your heart while you help homeless animals and revel in beauty of the Southwest. This is truly a trip to warm your heart and thrill your senses!

The six day/five night trip starts and ends in Las Vegas. A van will shuttle clients from Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas  to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, located near Kanab, Utah.

After an orientation and tour of the facilities, clients will assist Best Friends staff with the daily chores and routines that keep the shelter running and the critters happy. After 2 days of compassionate volunteering, participants will join AdventureBus Company, a leader in hiking and mountain biking tours to the National Parks and the West, to begin a three day, two night guided backcountry adventure.

During the Best Friends portion of the trip participants will be staying on site in Angel Canyon, surrounded by stunning scenery similar to that found at nearby Zion National Park. Watch the morning sun wash against the orange and red cliffs, thrill to clear blue-bird skies, and breathe in the beauty of this inspiring locale.

Volunteer duties at Best Friends can include (but is not limited to) assisting with feeding, grooming, cleaning living areas, and walking or training those animals looking for adoptive homes. The facilities at the sanctuary are impressive—there's none of the sadness that you might expect from an animal refuge. These dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, and birds all have great homes and loving companions working with them every day—and they can stay as long as they want. There’s no time limit at Best Friends. Of course, the goal is to find every pet a forever home—some just take a little longer to find that perfect match. Working with the animals has recharged many a soul. Expect to feel the love and renew your sense of health and happiness.

The second half of this vacation starts with a two hour drive from Kanab, Utah to the Kaibab Plateau and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Our first stop will be the Widforss Trail which follows the canyon rim for 2.5 miles. We'll pack a lunch to take with us out on the trail. In addition to the stunning canyon vistas, we'll explore tranquil Ponderosa forests, aspen groves, and possibly view wildlife such as mule deer, the rare California condor, and the Kaibab squirrel, found no where else in the world except for the Kaibab Plateau. 

We will continue our journey to the North Rim Campground to establish our camp site for the next two nights. The campground is nestled in a forest of Ponderosa Pines and is a two minute walk from the actual rim of the canyon.  A small camp store provides snacks, camping gear, coin operated (hot) showers and laundry. Tents and sleeping pads will be provided for you. 

We will enjoy a vegan dinner of Navajo Stew, made up of 5 types of beans, butternut squash, and cactus, served over homemade traditional fry bread. After dinner, wander down to the canyon rim to witness the changing colors of the canyon at sunset or take in a ranger talk at the campground amphitheater before enjoying a warm campfire, an amazing star filled sky, and settling in to your cozy tent for the night. 

Early risers will be treated to the changing colors of sunrise along the rim. For an extra special treat, hike to Bright Angel Point (1.5 miles) for an extra stunning view of sunrise. After a hearty breakfast of coffee, tea, fruit salad and cinnamon apple walnut pancakes, the choice is yours! Spend the day relaxing along the Transept Rim Trail, (3 miles) or taking in the views in front of the historic North Rim Lodge perched right on the edge of the canyon. Listen to a ranger program or take a guided nature walk. For the truly adventurous, hike into the canyon, up to 9.4 miles round trip.*

*Note: Hiking to the Colorado River in one day is impossible at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, as it is much longer and more rugged than the South Rim (15 miles one way). It is not recommended that any one hike past Roaring Springs.  

We will provide the makings for a lunch to take with you for the day. We will also prepare you for your day's adventure by providing maps, suggestions for gear, water, and the ranger talk schedule. Extra activities may include a trip to Cape Royal and Point Imperial for additional views and hiking, if time allows. 

We will rendezvous back at the campground for another delicious dinner of vegetarian burritos. We'll provide the fixins and you can do the mixin! Refried beans, black beans and sweet potatoes, salsa, onions, tomatoes, peppers, fresh cilantro, homemade guacamole and more!  You'll have another chance to catch sunset along the rim, and to enjoy another cozy campfire.

After a second chance to view sunrise, and eating breakfast, we will pack up camp and return to Las Vegas by 2PM.

Gear
One duffle bag or soft sided suitcase, approx. 2'x3'x2
Daypack/backpack and water bottle (Camelbaks^® and other hydration backpacks are one of the best inventions ever or so we like to think. Also, most backpacks can hold a hydration reservoir aka "bladder") 
Warm sleeping bag 15-30 deg.
Footware: Hiking boots or sturdy sneakers.
Sport sandals (Teva type)  to the showers.
Flashlight/Torch (LED headlamps are the most handy) 
Sun screen, sun glasses, hat, 
Winter hat (for chilly campfire nights) 
Towel (consider a pack towel to save room!)
Camera and film (you'll use more film than you think, on average 1 roll per day! 24+ photos
Toiletries
Pillowcase (we have pillows for you)