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Bryce Canyon National Park Backcountry Permits

Wilderness Permit

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Overview

Itinerary-based backcountry permit for Bryce Canyon National Park. You build a night-by-night campsite itinerary from 11 designated sites across two trails: the Under-the-Rim Trail (~23 mi point-to-point, Bryce Point to Rainbow Point, 7 sites) and the Riggs Spring Loop Trail (8.6 mi loop from Rainbow/Yovimpa Point, 4 sites). Permit required year-round for all overnight backcountry stays. Elevation 6,800--9,115 ft. Strenuous terrain with multiple elevation changes through pinon-juniper-ponderosa forest. Few hoodoos -- the backcountry is about forests, meadows, cliffs, and solitude.

Bottom Line

This is a small, simple FCFS system -- no lottery. Permits release on a rolling 3-month advance window on recreation.gov. With only 11 campsites (most holding just 6 people across 3 tent pads), peak-season weekends (May--Oct) fill up quickly, especially on the Under-the-Rim Trail. Campsites are shared -- multiple groups can occupy the same site on the same night up to the tent pad limit. Two group sites (Yellow Creek Group, Riggs Spring Group) allow up to 15 people. Advance reservations close 24 hours before the trip start date. After that, unreserved permits are available in person only at the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center. Cancellations return to recreation.gov and the $5/person fee is refundable if cancelled 3+ days out, so sites do trickle back. Winter permits (Dec 1--Feb 28) are not available online -- walk-up only at the visitor center.

Reservation Schedule

Rolling FCFS -- no seasonal batch release:

  • Mar 1 -- Nov 30: available on recreation.gov 3 months in advance of the trip start date
  • Dec 1 -- Feb 28: in-person only at Bryce Canyon Visitor Center (not on recreation.gov)
  • Advance reservations close 24 hours before trip start date
  • Your reservation is not a permit -- you must meet with a ranger at the visitor center to pick up the physical permit within 2 days of your trip start, and no later than 1 hour before the visitor center closes on your start date, or the reservation is cancelled

Fees

  • $10 non-refundable reservation fee per permit
  • $5/person recreation fee (all people listed on permit)
  • Cancel 3+ days before start: $5/person fee refunded, $10 reservation fee kept
  • Cancel less than 3 days: no refund
  • Cannot change start date -- must cancel and rebook
  • Separate park entrance fee required ($35/vehicle, $20/person, or interagency pass)

Campsites

Riggs Spring Loop Trail (4 sites, loop from Rainbow/Yovimpa Point):

  • Yovimpa Pass -- 3 tent pads, max 6 people (shared)
  • Riggs Spring -- 3 tent pads, max 6 people (shared)
  • Riggs Spring Group Site -- max 15 people
  • Corral Hollow -- 3 tent pads, max 6 people (shared)

Under-the-Rim Trail (7 sites, Bryce Point to Rainbow Point):

  • Right Fork Yellow Creek -- 3 tent pads, max 6 people (shared)
  • Yellow Creek -- 3 tent pads, max 6 people (shared)
  • Yellow Creek Group Site -- max 15 people
  • Swamp Canyon -- 3 tent pads, max 6 people (shared)
  • Right Fork Swamp Canyon -- 3 tent pads, max 6 people (shared)
  • Natural Bridge -- 3 tent pads, max 6 people (shared)
  • Iron Spring -- 3 tent pads, max 6 people (shared)

Group Size

  • Standard sites: max 6 people per group, 3 tent pads per site (sites may be shared by multiple groups)
  • Group sites (Yellow Creek Group, Riggs Spring Group): max 15 people

Rules

  • Camp only at your reserved campsite on the date specified in your itinerary
  • Bear-resistant canisters required -- hard-sided, lockable containers for all food and scented items. Free loaners at the visitor center
  • Hanging food from trees is prohibited
  • No wood fires
  • Do not eat or use scented items in your tent; do not sleep in cooking clothes
  • No pets in the backcountry
  • No park shuttle to trailheads -- you must arrange your own transportation to/from Rainbow Point and Bryce Point
  • Water sources are intermittent and unreliable -- carry at least 1 gallon (4L) per person per day. Possible sources: Yellow Creek, Sheep Creek, Swamp Creek, Iron Spring, Riggs Spring, Yovimpa Spring (all must be purified)
  • Cell service is very limited and unreliable
  • Lightning is a year-round danger, most common Jul--Sep

Availability