ALL HIKERS

HIKING PERMIT PROCEDURES

1.  WHEN A PERMIT IS REQUIRED.  A backcountry permit is required for all overnight use of the backcountry including overnight hiking, overnight cross-country ski trips, off-river overnight hikes by river trip members, and overnight camping below the rim.  A backcountry permit is not required for overnight stays at the dormitories or cabins at Phantom Ranch, day hiking, or day horseback riding in the canyon.  Backcountry travelers must have their 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 through the Backcountry Office at Grand Canyon National Park.  Entry and/or exploration of any caves and mines must be approved in advance through Grand Canyon National Park.

2.  FRIENDLY HIKING.  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.  Important Leave No Trace principles at Grand Canyon include:

• Be well prepared.  Know the route and area in which you are planning to hike.

• Good campsites are found, not made.  Altering a site should not be necessary.

• Stay on main trails; do not shortcut switchbacks.

• Pack out what you bring in.  This includes used toilet paper and all trash.

• Fires are prohibited below the rim.  Do not burn toilet paper pack it out!

• Bury solid human waste at least 200' from water in a shallow cat hole 4-6" deep and 4-6" in diameter.

• To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200' away from creeks and potholes.  Scatter strained dish water.

• Let nature's sounds prevail.  Keep loud voices and noises to a minimum.

• Leave what you find.  This is particularly important when it comes to cultural resources of any kind, including artifacts and archaeological remains.  Leave them as you find them.

3.  WHEN TO APPLY.  The demand for permits far exceeds the use limits established to protect the canyon and the quality of the user's backpacking experience.  Advance reservations are strongly recommended. The earliest you can apply for a permit is the first of the month, four months prior to the proposed start month (see table to the right).  Applying as soon as allowed will improve your chances of obtaining a permit for the dates and use areas of your choice.  The Backcountry Office receives numerous requests each day, and permits are processed in the order received.  Requests processed less than three weeks before the start date could be denied when additional processing time is needed to correct information and/or obtain additional information.  Allow three to six weeks to process requests.

4.  FEES.  There is a non-refundable fee of $10 per permit plus $5 per person per night camped below the rim and $5 per group per night camped above the rim.  Permit cancellations will incur a $10 cancellation fee.  All fees paid to the Backcountry Office continue to be non-refundable.  Frequent users may wish to purchase a one-year Frequent Hiker membership for $25 that waives the initial $10 fee for each permit obtained by the trip leader for twelve months from the date of purchase.  When sending in a permit request, the preferred method of payment is by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or Diners Club.  Please be sure to indicate the maximum amount you authorize the Backcountry Office to charge so that your longest trip alternative can be considered.  Valid personal checks and money orders against a United States bank are also accepted when made out for the correct amount.  Please do not send cash in the mail.  Permit holders are responsible for paying park entrance fees upon arrival.  South Bass Trail and Pasture Wash Trail visitors may be charged an additional fee by the tribe for crossing the Havasupai Indian Reservation.

5.  APPLICATION FORM.  To apply fill out the Backcountry Permit Application Form.  NOTE: This is a printable application only.
NOTE: If you download the current, FREE version of Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 9) from www.adobe.com, you will be able to fill out your application form on your computer.  You must still fax or mail it in.

YOU MUST:

• Fill out the form on your computer, print it, and then fax/mail it directly to the Backcountry Office  -OR-

• Print the form, fill it out by hand, and then fax/mail it directly to the Backcountry Office.

There are three ways to apply:

1. Bring your permit application in person to the Backcountry Office.  For same-day permits, you may participate in a waiting list if you arrive by 8 a.m.  The South Rim Backcountry Office is open daily for walk-in visitors from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. The North Rim Backcountry Office is open mid-May to mid-October for walk-in visitors from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

2. Fax your permit application no earlier than the date indicated on the above chart to the Backcountry Office (928-638-2125).  You can send a fax 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  However, the first day of every month many faxes are received and the number may be busy.

3. Mail your permit application to the Backcountry Office postmarked no earlier than the date indicated on the above chart. (Backcountry Office, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon AZ, 86023)

The Backcountry Office treats all requests on a first-come-first-served basis with the following two exceptions:

1. Immediate assistance is given to walk-in visitors, essentially moving them ahead of unprocessed requests.

2. All written requests received by 5 p.m. on the first allowable date are processed randomly regardless of when or how (fax or mail) the request was received.

Include with your Permit Request:

• Trip leader's name, address, and telephone number.

• Credit card number, expiration date, signature, date signed, and largest amount you authorize the Backcountry Office to charge.

• Number of people and/or stock in the group.

• License plate numbers of any cars to be left at the trailhead.

• Proposed night-by-night itinerary showing use area codes and dates for each night.

• Organization name if applicable.

• Alternative proposed itineraries.

6.  PERMIT RESPONSES.  All written requests are responded to through U.S. Mail - never by fax or e-mail.  Due to the volume of requests received, the park cannot confirm receipt of requests until they have been fully processed. Allow at least three weeks for processing. When space is available and all fee requirements are met, a permit will be issued and mailed to the trip leader.  The permit is valid only for the trip leader named on the permit.  Overnight hikers are not permitted to enter the canyon without a valid permit in the trip leader's possession.  If you have been denied a permit through the mail, you may want to consider day hikes or attempt to obtain a last minute, walk-in permit.  You may call and speak to a Ranger at the Backcountry Office at 928-638-7875 from 1-5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday.

7.  USE AREAS.  The backcountry is divided into "use areas."  Each area has an overnight capacity based upon the size of the area, the number of suitable and available campsites within the area, the ecological sensitivity of the area, its management zoning, and its use history.  Use areas range in size from several hundred acres to several thousand acres.

8.  LENGTH AT CAMPSITE.  Camping in the Corridor, Hermit, Monument, Horseshoe Mesa, and Tapeats Use Areas is limited to designated campsites or campgrounds only.  Camping in these designated campsites or campgrounds is limited to TWO nights (consecutive or non-consecutive) per campsite or campground per hike.  One exception is made to this rule: from November 15 - February 28, up to four nights will be allowed in popular corridor campgrounds.

Outside the use areas named above, "at-large" camping is permitted, meaning that camps are not limited to designated sites.  At-large camping in these areas is limited to a maximum of SEVEN nights per use area; however, overall trip lengths are not limited.

9.  PERMIT NUMBERS.  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.

10.  WINTER SEASON.  During the winter season (approximately late October through mid-May), 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.  Permit holders 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.

11.  LAST MINUTE PERMITS.  People without a permit may be able to obtain one upon their arrival, in person, at the Backcountry Office.  However, permits are very difficult to obtain during popular seasons.  People without a permit may be able to obtain one upon their arrival, in person, at the Backcountry Office.  However, permits are very difficult to obtain during popular seasons.  People may participate in the waiting list for as many consecutive days as are necessary to obtain a permit.  However, those on the waiting list must be present at the Backcountry Office at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard Time each day in order to maintain their position on the waiting list.

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