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If you wish to camp anywhere in the park, other than in developed campgrounds on the North Rim or the South Rim, you must obtain a permit from the Backcountry Information Center. 
A backcountry permit is required for:
A backcountry permit is NOT required for:
Backcountry travelers must have their printed permit in their possession while in the backcountry. Once a camp is established, the permit must be attached to a pack, tent, or other equipment in plain view so it can be easily checked by rangers. Permits are valid only for the trip leader, itinerary, number of people, and dates specified on the permit. Permits for all overnight backcountry use must be obtained prior to starting a hike. Reservations for overnight tent or RV camping in developed use areas on the canyon rims (Mather, Desert View, North Rim) are not obtained through the Backcountry Information Center. The Backcountry Information Center does not make reservations for river trips, mule trips, Phantom Ranch lodging, or trips into the canyon on the Havasupai Reservation. To obtain additional information on how to enter the Phantom Ranch lodging lottery, or to check general availability, please contact Xanterra Parks and Resorts at 303-297-2757 or 888-297-2757 (https://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging/phantom-ranch/). For hikes into Havasu Canyon contact Havasupai Tourism Enterprise at (928) 448-2180 or (928) 448-2237 or (928) 448-2141 or (928) 448-2121 
HIKE SMART
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| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lottery Opens | Aug 16 | Sep 16 | Oct 16 | Nov 16 | Dec 16 | Jan 16 | Feb 16 | Mar 16 | Apr 16 | May 16 | Jun 16 | Jul 16 |
| Lottery Closes at 5pm MST | Sep 01 | Oct 01 | Nov 01 | Dec 01 | Jan 01 | Feb 01 | Mar 01 | Apr 01 | May 01 | Jun 01 | Jul 01 | Aug 01 |
| Lottery Applicants notified of Results | Sep 02 | Oct 02 | Nov 02 | Dec 02 | Jan 02 | Feb 02 | Mar 02 | Apr 02 | May 02 | Jun 02 | Jul 02 | Aug 02 |
| First Lottery Winner time slot at 8am MST | Sep 04 | Oct 04 | Nov 04 | Dec 04 | Jan 05 | Feb 04 | Mar 04 | Apr 04 | May 05 | Jun 04 | Jul 04 | Aug 04 |
| General Access for all Lottery Applicants 8am MST | Sep 18 | Oct 20 | Nov 18 | Dec 18 | Jan 20 | Feb 18 | Mar 18 | Apr 18 | May 19 | Jun 18 | Jul 18 | Aug 18 |
| After Lottery Reservations open to public 8am MST | Oct 01 | Nov 01 | Dec 01 | Jan 01 | Feb 01 | Mar 01 | Apr 01 | May 01 | Jun 01 | Jul 01 | Aug 01 | Sep 01 |
How to Apply in the Lottery
To create a lottery application, go to recreation.gov/permits/4675337. Find the "Early Access Lottery" section, and (if a lottery is currently open) select the "Register for Open Lottery" button. You will login to your recreation.gov account. You will need to check a box that says you understand the regulations. Next you click on "Proceed to Cart" to enter your credit card information and pay.
The deadline for early access lottery applications matches the application deadlines. Lottery applications can be submitted through Recreation.gov over a 2-week period that begins on the 16th of the month and ends at 5pm MST on the first of the month, 4-months prior to the desired start month:
| For Permit Start Dates in | Lottery Opens (mid-month, 5 months before start month) |
Lottery Closes at 5pm MST (4 months before start month) |
|---|---|---|
| January | August 16 | September 1 |
| February | September 16 | October 1 |
| March | October 16 | November 1 |
| April | November 16 | December 1 |
| May | December 16 | January 1 |
| June | January 16 | February 1 |
| July | February 16 | March 1 |
| August | March 16 | April 1 |
| September | April 16 | May 1 |
| October | May 16 | June 1 |
| November | June 16 | July 1 |
| December | July 16 | August 1 |
How to Apply for a Permit
Lottery Winners during Timeslot
Lottery winners can view availability and create a reservation for the lottery month by starting at www.recreation.gov/permits/4675337, find the "Early Access Period" section, then select the "View Early Access Availability" button. Early access timeslots expire at the end of the month. Availability for all other months is accessed through "Check Availability" (in the "Available Permits" section). See additional instructions at: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/detailed_availability.htm
Applying within 3 Months
Go to www.recreation.gov/permits/4675337, find the "Available Permits" section, and select the "Check Availability" button. If space is available, create a reservation for start dates within 3 months of the present. See additional instructions at: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/detailed_availability.htm
Last-Minute Permit for Corridor Campgrounds
A small, limited number of last-minute permits are available exclusively for visitors at Grand Canyon National Park who wish to camp at Havasupai Gardens* or Cottonwood Campgrounds. These permits are issued in person only, are for one night only, and cannot be purchased more than one day prior to the start of a hike. Last-minute permits are held back to facilitate an overnight backcountry experience and are not intended for a rim-to-rim multi-night trip. Havasupai Gardens Campground last-minute permits are only available between March 1 and November 30. Cottonwood Campground last-minute permits are only available between May 15 and October 31. During the trans-canyon waterline replacement project, availability of last-minute permits may be extremely limited at times.
IMPORTANT. Hikers obtaining a permit on the North Rim will have priority access to Cottonwood Campground and will likely not be able to obtain a last-minute permit for Havasupai Gardens* Campground. Hikers obtaining a permit on the South Rim will have priority access to Havasupai Gardens* Campground and will likely not be able to obtain a last-minute permit for Cottonwood Campground. No last-minute space is held for Bright Angel Campground.
Last-minute permits are issued by the Backcountry Information Center, located inside the park on both the South Rim and the North Rim. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily, year-round, while the North Rim Backcountry Information Center (located in the North Rim Campground registration kiosk) is open daily, May 15th to October 31st. Both offices are open on holidays and keep the same daily hours, from 8 am to noon and 1-5 pm Mountain Standard Time.
Visitors can also check online at Recreation.gov for cancellations that can be booked up to five days in advance, https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675337.
*Havasupai Gardens is the NPS Campground formerly known as Indian Garden, accessed from Grand Canyon Village via the Bright Angel Trail. (more info about the name change can be found at www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/indian-garden-officially-renamed-to-havasupai-gardens.htm)
Waitlist
You can stop by the Backcountry Information Center at any time during open hours and request a waitlist number. This number is valid for the following morning and will be used to determine priority of service. At 8:00 a.m. Backcountry Information Center staff will call waitlist numbers. When your turn comes you can request a permit, exchange your number for a new waitlist number good for the following day, or simply ask questions. You may participate in the waitlist for as many consecutive days as is convenient.
Following is an example showing how the waitlist can be used to secure a lower number for the next day and increase your chances of obtaining your desired permit. This is an example of how the process works in the busy season. Backcountry Information Center staff can give you a much clearer picture of how long the potential wait time will be once you arrive. During the busy season it is rare to get a last-minute permit the same day.
Last-minute permit and waitlist example for South Rim. The same process is applicable to those waiting on the North Rim. The only difference would be the campgrounds and maybe one day shorter wait on the North Rim.
- Day 1, Tuesday: You come to the Backcountry Information Center at 11 a.m. and request a permit for Havasupai Gardens* on Wednesday night. No permits are available. You join the waitlist for the next day and are assigned #10.
- Day 2, Wednesday: You return at 7:59 a.m. Unfortunately, by the time Backcountry Information Center staff reaches your waitlist number, all Corridor Campground permits have been assigned. You exchange today's waitlist number for tomorrow's waitlist number; you are #2.
- Day 3, Thursday: You return at 7:59 a.m. You obtain a permit for Havasupai Gardens* on Friday night, hiking out Saturday morning.
*Havasupai Gardens is the NPS Campground formerly known as Indian Garden, accessed from Grand Canyon Village via the Bright Angel Trail. (more info about the name change can be found at www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/indian-garden-officially-renamed-to-havasupai-gardens.htm)
Use Areas
The backcountry is divided into "use areas". Each use area has an overnight capacity based upon the size of the area, the number of suitable and available campsites, its ecological sensitivity, its management zoning, and its use history. Use areas range in size from several hundred acres to several thousand acres. Trail and use area information can be found at www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/campsite-information.htm
Length of Stay
Camping in designated campsites or campgrounds is limited to two nights (consecutive or non-consecutive) per campsite or campground per hike. Designated campsites include the Corridor (Havasupai Gardens*, Bright Angel, Cottonwood), Hermit, Hermit Rapids, Monument, Granite Rapids, Cedar Spring, Salt, Horn, Horseshoe Mesa, South Bass Trailhead areas (SE1, SE2, SE3), Cape Final, Point Sublime, Swamp Point, Fire Point, Tapeats, and Deer Creek Use Areas. One exception is made to this rule, during the off-season (November 15 through February 28), and within the Corridor Use Area only, overnight stays up to a total of four nights per campground per trip are allowed.
*Havasupai Gardens is the NPS Campground formerly known as Indian Garden, accessed from Grand Canyon Village via the Bright Angel Trail. (more info about the name change can be found at www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/indian-garden-officially-renamed-to-havasupai-gardens.htm)
Outside the use areas named above, "at-large" camping is permitted, meaning that camps are not limited to designated sites.
Trips are limited to a maximum of seven nights per use area; however, overall trip lengths are not limited.
Group Size
More permits are available for small groups (1-6 people) than for large groups (7-11 people). Because there are only a few large group sites, limiting the size of your group will increase your chances of obtaining a permit.
Larger groups tend to cause a disproportionately higher amount of damage to the canyon, largely due to the effects of "social" trailing. For this reason, the park's Backcountry Management Plan does not allow groups larger than eleven people to camp in the same campground or use area.
Regulations stipulate that all permits are void when a group obtains multiple permits for the same campground or use area for the same night. The alternative for these larger groups is to obtain permits for smaller groups and ensure the itineraries for these permits never bring more than one of the permits into the same campground or use area on the same night. No more than four large groups or eight small groups that are affiliated with each other may camp within the backcountry on the same night.
Commercial Use
In addition to following all normal backcountry permit requirements, commercial organizations must obtain a Commercial Use Authorization. Contact the park's Concession Management Office at (928) 638-7707 for further information or visit www.nps.gov/grca/getinvolved/cua.htm.
North Rim Winter Use
Winter use guidelines come into effect after the North Rim receives adequate snowfall to close Highway 67 or on Dec 1st, whichever comes first. Once in effect, winter use guidelines apply until mid-May, when the North Rim reopens for the season.
During the winter season a backcountry permit is required for overnight use of the North Rim from the park's northern boundary to Bright Angel Point on the canyon rim. Winter access is by hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing only. A permit can be obtained in advance at the Backcountry Information Center.
Permittees are allowed to camp at-large between the park's north boundary and the North Kaibab trailhead but not at the trailhead itself. Between the North Kaibab trailhead and the Bright Angel Point area, camping is permitted only at the North Rim Campground group campsite.
Human waste may not be buried in the snow in areas that will be in view of summer users.
Remote Sites
With a valid credit card, last minute permits may sometimes be obtained from the rangers on duty at the Lees Ferry ranger station for a limited number of use areas in their vicinity. However, these rangers have other patrol responsibilities and may not be available to provide assistance. It is recommended that all trips be planned well in advance through the Backcountry Information Center.
Organized Group Rim-to-Rim and Extended Day Hike/Run
Any organized, non-commercial group of 12-30 participants, or not-for-profit group conducting rim-to-rim, rim-to-rim-to-rim, rim-to-river-to-rim, and/or extended day hikes in the inner canyon must obtain a Special Use Permit (SUP). The inner canyon is defined as the area below the Tonto Platform from the South Rim and below Manzanita Resthouse from the North Rim. Groups may not break into smaller groups on different permits to accommodate group size. Commercial operations are not authorized under this SUP. For more information visit www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/sup.htm
Backcountry Use Statistics
Backcountry use statistics (from overnight backcountry permits). The statistics include:
- yearly statistics
- permittee breakdown by country and US state
- use trends, corridor and non-corridor
- use area details
Backcountry Information Center
The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily from 8 am to noon and 1-5 pm Mountain Standard Time. The North Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily mid-May to October 31 from 8 am to noon and 1-5 pm (Mountain Standard Time).
Backcountry Information Center staff answer information telephone inquiries at 928-638-7875 between 8 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays.
Email the Backcountry Information Center.
Mailing address is:
Grand Canyon National Park
Permits Office
1824 S. Thompson St., Suite 201
Flagstaff AZ, 86001
Trip Planner (2mb PDF file): The information in this newspaper can assist you in obtaining a backcountry use permit.
Video: HIKE SMART: Your Essential Guide to Hiking in Grand Canyon video. Explore how to have a safe and unforgettable adventure here in Grand Canyon, including tips from our experts on preparedness, hydration, and hiking in the heat.
Video: Hiking Grand Canyon, Prepare for Backpacking. This video is designed to help you plan for and enjoy your hike into the canyon's harsh, yet fragile, environment.
Video: Leave No Trace. All Grand Canyon backcountry users are asked to follow Leave No Trace principles. The goal is to have minimum human impact on the canyon as a result of your trip.
Hike Smart: Be sure and listen to the Hike Smart Podcasts! (transcripts available)
The Grand Canyon Conservancy sells maps and guides on hiking in Grand Canyon National Park.
Additional backcountry info can be found on the following webpages.
Last updated: March 12, 2025