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Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Permits

Wilderness Permit

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Overview

Itinerary-based backcountry permit for Grand Canyon National Park. You build a night-by-night itinerary, selecting a campsite or use area for each night. 160+ camp areas across five tiers: Corridor (South Rim), Corridor (North Rim), Previous GC Experience, Advanced GC Experience, and Above Rim. Covers all overnight below-rim and above-rim backcountry camping. Does not cover day hikes, Phantom Ranch lodge, car campgrounds, or river trips.

Bottom Line

Bright Angel Campground is the hardest get -- it is far and away the most requested site. Lottery odds for peak Corridor dates (Mar/Apr/May, Sep/Oct) are competitive; expect well over 750 applicants for spring months. Your best leverage is flexibility: midweek starts, shoulder-season dates (Nov--Feb, early Jun), non-Corridor sites, and willingness to rearrange itineraries. Cancellations return to the system randomly within 24 hours and get snapped up fast -- 30 days before the start date is the prime cancellation window (last chance for a partial refund). Recreation.gov allows new reservations up to 5 days before the start date; after that, in-person only at the Backcountry Information Center (BIC).

Lottery and Reservations

Monthly lottery, run separately for each start-date month. Not a traditional FCFS release:

  • Lottery opens: 16th of the month, ~5 months before start month
  • Lottery closes: 5pm MST on the 1st, ~4 months before start month
  • Results: 2nd of the following month
  • Winner timeslots begin: ~4th of the month (5 slots/day: 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm MST over 10 weekdays)
  • Top 750 applicants get a reserved timeslot to view availability and book
  • Remaining lottery applicants: general access ~18th-20th of the month
  • Public (non-lottery) access: 1st of the next month (~3 months before start)
  • Latest online reservation: 5 days before start date
  • Last 4 days: in-person only at BIC

Each person may submit one lottery application per month and obtain one permit through that lottery. Additional permits for the same period must wait until public access opens.

Quotas and Fees

  • $10 lottery application fee (non-refundable; doubles as basic permit charge if you book during Early Access)
  • $10 basic permit charge if booking outside the lottery window
  • $15/person/night below rim
  • $4/person/night above rim
  • Refund of nightly charges available if cancelled 30+ days before start and permit not yet printed
  • Permits must be printed (paper copy required); unprinted permits auto-cancel 3 days before start
  • Trip leader must be present; permit is non-transferable except to a pre-designated Alternate Permit Holder

Group Size

  • Standard groups: 1--11 people (most sites)
  • Large group sites available at key campgrounds: up to 15 people
  • One permit per group; affiliated groups cannot share the same campground on the same night

Tiered Camp Areas

Sites are organized into tiers that gate what the booking system will allow:

  • Classic GC Hike -- via South Rim: Bright Angel Campground, Havasupai Gardens. The standard rim-to-river itinerary on Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails.
  • Classic GC Hike -- via North Rim: Cottonwood Campground, North Rim Campground (off-season). North Kaibab Trail access.
  • Requires Previous GC Experience: Hermit Creek/Rapids, Monument Creek, Horseshoe Mesa, Clear Creek, Granite Rapids, and other non-Corridor inner-canyon sites. Hermit and Grandview trails.
  • Requires Advanced GC Experience or Unusual: Remote areas -- Tanner, Boucher, Nankoweap, North/South Bass, Tapeats, Deer Creek, Kanab Creek, Esplanade, and many more. Ranger assistance often required to book complex itineraries.
  • Above Rim Areas: North Rim (Point Sublime, Tuweep, Swamp Ridge, etc.) and South Rim (Cape Solitude, Pasture Wash, etc.) rim-top backcountry camping.

Last-Minute Walkup Waitlist

BIC holds a small number of sites for in-person walkups (one night only, issued no more than one day before start):

  • Havasupai Gardens (South Rim BIC): 5 sites for up to 15 people (Mar--Nov); 1 site for up to 6 (Dec--Feb)
  • Cottonwood (North Rim BIC): 1 site for up to 4 people (mid-May--Oct only)
  • No walkup space held at Bright Angel Campground

Availability