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Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits

Wilderness Permit

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Overview

Itinerary-based backcountry permit for Grand Teton National Park. You build a night-by-night campsite itinerary from 82+ designated campsites and zones across Jackson Lake (boat-in), Leigh Lake, Bearpaw Lake, Cascade Canyon, Death Canyon, Granite Canyon, Paintbrush Canyon, climbing zones (Lower Saddle, Garnet Meadows, The Caves), Pristine South/North, USFS zones (Alaska Basin, Fox Creek Pass), and Northern Trails. Elevations 6,700--13,770 ft. Peak season May 1 -- October 31. Max 10 consecutive nights per permit, 10 nights total June 1 -- Labor Day.

Bottom Line

No lottery -- this is pure FCFS starting January 7 at 8:00 AM MST (date varies slightly by year). Only one-third of all campsites are reservable in advance; the remaining two-thirds are walk-up only, issued in person one day before. The Teton Crest Trail corridor -- Cascade Canyon, Death Canyon Shelf, Paintbrush Canyon -- sells out fastest and is the hardest to get. Holly Lake and Surprise Lake are also very popular. Lower Saddle (Grand Teton climbing bivy) books quickly among climbers. Cancellations return to inventory immediately and are refundable 5+ days out, so sites trickle back through summer -- this is where alerts help most. Walk-up odds are high if you are flexible; rangers will build you an itinerary from what's available. Jackson Lake boat-in sites, USFS zones, and Northern Trails have significantly better availability. Midweek starts and September dates are the easiest pickups.

Reservations

Advanced reservations (1/3 of quota):

  • Opens early January at 8:00 AM MST on recreation.gov (exact date varies by year)
  • Available up to 2 days before trip start
  • One permit covers up to 10 consecutive nights across multiple zones
  • Max 2 nights per campsite (3 nights at Jackson Lake)

Walk-up permits (2/3 of quota):

  • In person only at Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center, Colter Bay Visitor Center, or Jenny Lake Ranger Station
  • Available 1 day before trip start, first-come first-served
  • Peak summer (Jul--Aug): people line up by 5:00 AM
  • Cannot be obtained by phone or online during peak season

Climbing/Garnet Canyon permits: must be picked up at Jenny Lake Ranger Station (mid-June through mid-September).

Group Size

  • 1--6 people: standard individual sites
  • 7--12 people: designated group sites only
  • Large groups may not split into smaller groups to camp in the same zone

Fees

  • $20 non-refundable permit fee per permit
  • $7/person/night camping fee (refundable if cancelled 5+ days before start)
  • No fee for nights on USFS land (Alaska Basin, Fox Creek Pass)
  • No discount passes apply
  • Park entrance fee required separately

Key Rules

  • Must pick up permit in person by 10:00 AM on trip start date -- no-shows cancelled without refund
  • An alternate permit holder can be designated at booking time (cannot be changed later)
  • Must use all nights on permit for it to remain valid
  • Bear canisters required for all backcountry campers unless campsite has a bear box (free loaner canisters at permit stations)
  • Ice axe and crampon skills needed for passes (Paintbrush Divide, Static Peak Divide, Hurricane Pass, Fox Creek Pass) through July or later
  • Mountaineering does not require a permit, but overnight camping/bivouac does
  • No park shuttle -- arrange own transport between trailheads

Availability