![]() Due to the coronavirus pandemic, public health measures are in place including capacity limits, temporary closures, and modified operations. What's Open and Hours of Operation (updated daily) > Special Use Permit Program UpdatesOn February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the guidance that informs DOI and NPS policies on public health mitigations for COVID-19. These changes reflect the progress that our country has made in fighting the virus: safe and effective vaccines are widely available, treatment options are improving, and testing and masks are easier to find. As of Thursday, March 3, masks are no longer required in either indoor or outdoor locations, both for the public and federal employees while the local community level remains in either low or medium (for Grand Canyon Village and the North Rim excluding Tuweep this is Coconino County). Please note that this standard is flexible depending on conditions in Coconino County. It is possible that we may return to a mask requirement under this guidance if conditions in Coconino County returns to a high condition. We all need to be prepared to be flexible under this new system. Masks are still required on all public transportation, including park shuttle buses. This is guidance driven by the Department of Transportation. We will inform you of any changes to this requirement as we learn it. Building occupancy levels, physical distancing, vaccination status, and other COVID precautions have not been addressed in guidance to date. We will inform you on any changes in these areas as the evolve. Visitors and employees are always welcome to wear a mask if it makes them more comfortable. Updates on local community levels for Coconino County will be posted and updated on the Park Operations Update webpage under the ‘Alerts’ section. This information will be updated weekly on Thursdays by the CDC, and we should remain flexible and be ready to shift back into a mask mandate posture with little notice. New guidance around masking is changing rapidly across the country, the DOI, and the NPS. We will keep employees, our stakeholders, and the public informed of any new developments as soon as they become available. If conditions change, Grand Canyon National Park reserves the right to change these parameters or other operational conditions immediately. Please understand the Park will make every effort to communicate the need for the change in a timely manner; however, depending on conditions, immediate action may be necessary. Please e-mail us at the Permits Office with any questions.
Grand Canyon National Park is home to many beautiful landscapes which make it a popular place for weddings and special events. Most special events and activities held in the park require a special use permit, issued only after the National Park Service (NPS) determines that the activity will not cause derogation of the park's resources or values, visitor experiences, or the purpose for which the park was established. Please email Commercial Services at grca_permits_mail@nps.gov if you would like to review the specific conditions for your requested event prior to submitting your application.
Note:
Grand Canyon National Park has permanently suspended permitting the scattering of human cremains (ashes) within the park. The park’s Special Use Permit (SUP) program is no longer issuing permits for ash scattering at Grand Canyon. This decision was made after extensive interdisciplinary review and formal comment from our 11 traditionally associated tribes.
Non-refundable application fees for 2022 permits are as follows:
Already know which type of SUP you need? Skip to the Application FormSpecial EventsA special use permit is required for activities that provide a benefit to an individual, group, or organization rather than the public at large. These activities require some degree of management from the National Park Service if there is the potential for interference with visitor use, congestion of a highly visited area, or possible impact on park resources. Special Use Permits are required for organized group activities and special events at Tuweep. Requests for such activities are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Contact our office for more information. Application Form -- Fees Organized Group Rim-to-Rim and Extended Day Hike/Run: Extended Day-Hike Permit Requirement:
What will be required with the SUP?"
Additional conditions and further details of these requirements will be outlined in the SUP. Application Form ___ Fees WeddingsGrand Canyon National Park's inspiring viewpoints and natural settings are ideally suited for small, simple and quiet weddings. All ceremonies, regardless of size, require an approved Special Use Permit issued by the National Park Service. Weddings may be scheduled up to 1 year in advance. We do not allow many things traditional weddings usually request: chairs, tables, flowers, amplified sound, balloons, signs, etc. at any location. Special Use Permits only allow the use of the permitted area. The permit does not provide for, or include, any services or ammenities Please review the Wedding Information Brochure below for a list of ceremony sites in the park and indicate your first and second choice location on the application. For information on lodging, catering or reception availability please contact hotels and facilities directly. You can find information about lodging in the area at: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/lodging.htm Shoshone PointBeginning on January 1, 2022, Shoshone Point can only be reserved for a maximum 6-hour block of time between dawn and dusk. Shrine of AgesLocated just west of Park Headquarters, the Shrine of the Ages is an National Park Service facility that is used for a variety of events. The Shrine features an auditorium with seating for 250 and a smaller, multipurpose room which seats up to 60 people. Alcohol is not permitted within the building, while food is only allowed in the smaller room. If you are interested in reserving the Shrine, please contact our office via email to check on availability prior to submitting an application. Application form -- Fees First Amendment ActivitiesFreedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly are constitutional rights. However, the courts have recognized that activities associated with the exercise of these rights may be reasonably regulated to protect park resources. The necessity of a permit to conduct First Amendment activities is determined by the group size.
A large group is defined as “more than 25 people” and is required to obtain a First Amendment Permit even if they are utilizing a park designated First Amendment site.
There are no permit fees associated with First Amendment permits. Please contact Commercial Services at 928-638-7707 for more information about Designated First Amendment sites or the application process. Application form The Application ProcessSpecial Use Permit Application (67kb PDF file) Please email your application to grca_permits_mail@nps.gov or send completed and signed application to: Grand Canyon National Park We require a minimum of 4 weeks to fully process a basic permit request. Do not wait until the last minute to apply for your permit. No requests are expedited; no exceptions. Complex special events may require more than 4 weeks to process. Special Use Permit FeesPermit Fees non-refundable and are based on an annual cost recovery analysis conducted by Commercial Services. These fees include the cost of permit processing, administration and the basic monitoring of events. Larger events or other special uses that require additional management and/or administrative time will incur additional fees at $65.00 per hour. Do not include payment information on your application submission. Our office will email you detailed online payment instructions after we confirm receipt of your application.
Additional InformationFor more information about Special Use Permits; contact Commercial Services via e-mail or phone at 928-638-7707 anytime and leave a detailed message with your specific question(s). ![]() Using a web browser to view and print our PDF forms and publications? You may experience issues where the PDF does not display or print correctly. Some web browsers do not automatically open PDFs using the Acrobat Reader application. Things to try (1) Select the Acrobat Reader plug-in for your browser's default application for viewing/ printing PDFs. or (2) You can right click and save the PDF document to your desktop and then open it with the Adobe Reader application, and print from there. Get the newest version of free Adobe Reader.
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Last updated: March 30, 2022