Backcountry Camping Permits

BACKCOUNTRY TRIP PLANNER

 

Advanced Reservations for Backcountry Camping Permits

Advanced reservations for backcountry camping permits for peak season (May 1–October 31, 2025) become available beginning January 7, 2025, at 8 a.m. MST on Recreation.gov.

 

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Backcountry camping permits are required for all overnight camping stays in the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Plan your backcountry camping adventure using the Backcountry Camping Zones and Sites map.

 

 

About

A backcountry camping permit allows the permit holder and total number of people in the group to camp overnight for the designated dates and locations specified on the permit. Individual permits can consist of up to six people. Groups of 7-12 people must camp in designated group sites.

Permits are issued to the permit holder, as the trip leader, who is required to be present on the entire trip for the permit to be valid. In the event the permit holder is unavailable, an alternate permit holder can be listed by providing their name and email address at the time of reservation. The alternate permit holder listed cannot be changed once the permit is purchased.

• Peak Season Permits (May 1–October 31) – Backcountry camping permits can be reserved in advanced online (beginning January 7, 2025 at 8 a.m. MST) or as a walk-up permit through a backcountry office in the park no sooner than one day before the start date of the permit.

• Non-Peak Season Permits (November 1–April 30) – Winter backcountry camping permits can be obtained over the phone by calling 307-739-3309. Information on conditions and regulations will be discussed and the permit will be emailed to you.

The maximum overnight stay per location is two nights, with the exception of Jackson Lake, which is three nights. No person or group is allowed to camp more than 10 nights between June 1 and Labor Day, and not more than 30 nights per year. See park regulations and safety advisories for more backcountry camping regulations.

Climbing and day hiking (including those traveling through the park to camp in adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands) are not required to have a backcountry camping permit, unless they involve overnight camping stays in the backcountry of the park or parkway. Backcountry permits involving climbing or mountaineering, and camping in Garnet Canyon must be obtained at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station, when open, mid-June through mid-September.

Check current backcountry and trail conditions before heading to the trailhead.

 

 

Advanced Permit Reservations

 

Plan A Grand Backcountry Adventure

Reserve Your Advanced Permit Check Availability

 

Advanced Reservations for Backcountry Camping Permits

Advanced reservations for backcountry camping permits for peak season (May 1–October 31, 2025) become available beginning January 7, 2025, at 8 a.m. MST on Recreation.gov.

 

What to Know Before Making an Advanced Permit Reservation

• Before advanced backcountry camping permit reservations become available, create an account on Recreation.gov and familiarize yourself with the site. Those who have an account are encouraged to confirm their login and password information.

• Approximately one third of backcountry camping permits are available for advanced reservation. Based on availability, these may be reserved up to two days in advance of the trip start date.

• Make one reservation for consecutive nights on one permit. Attempting to extend a trip by purchasing an additional reservation is not allowed and may cause you to lose your reservation.

• Based on availability, you may make modifications online up to two days before the permit is issued or by a ranger when you pick up your permit in person.  Permits are date specific, so if your dates are not set, we do not recommend making a reservation. 

• There is a quota for both the number of permits and the number of people available to be issued on any given night in the backcountry.  You may modify your reservation to add or subtract the number of people up until the permit is issued and obtain a refund up to 5 days prior to the reservation start date. If you do not know the exact number of people who will be camping during the permit, estimate the maximum number of people to ensure the quota is available.

• An advanced reservation will hold your permit but does not replace it. Permits must be picked up in-person no earlier than one day before the start of a backcountry trip. Permittees must use all nights on a permit for the permit to remain valid. 

• Reserved permits that are not picked by 10 a.m. of the first scheduled night are considered a no-show and will be cancelled without prior notifying the permit office by calling 307-739-3309.
• See Backcountry Camping FAQs for more information. 

 

An advanced reservation will hold your permit but does not replace it. Permits must be picked up in-person by the permit holder or alternate permit holder listed on the permit by 10 a.m. on the start date of your backcountry camping permit. Permits can be picked up at one of Grand Teton's permit offices, located at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center, Colter Bay Visitor Center, and the Jenny Lake Ranger Station (check locations for dates and hours of operation). Your entire reservation will be cancelled as a "no show" and the sites made available for other groups unless the permits office is notified by calling 307-739-3309 that you will be arriving after 10 a.m. on the first day of the reservation.

 

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Walk-Up Permits

Approximately two thirds of all backcountry camping permits are available via walk-up through Grand Teton's permit offices, located at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center, Colter Bay Visitor Center, and the Jenny Lake Ranger Station (check locations for dates and hours of operation). Walk-up permits are available on a first-come, first served basis and may be obtained one day before your start date.

During peak season (May 1–October 31), walk-up permits cannot be issued over the phone or online through Recreation.gov.

Fees

Permit Fee: $20 flat per permit (non-refundable)
Nightly Fee: $7 per person, per night (refundable until five days before the permit start date)

Fees are payable by debit or credit card. There are no discounts or discount passes that apply. Backcountry camping fees do not include park Entrance Fees.

 

 

Have more questions?

Visit the backcountry FAQs page to learn more about permits and route finding.

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Backcountry Trip Planner