Below-the-rim backcountry camping permit at Grand Canyon: what applies in 2026?

Exact conditions

Status

Required under the listed conditions

Applies to

specific activity

Place or corridor

All below-rim and above-rim backcountry campsites, including Bright Angel and Cottonwood campgrounds

Effective dates

January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026

Published fee

$10

Release model

lottery

Release detail: Rolling monthly lottery, not a single annual date. The early-access lottery window opens mid-month five months before the desired start month and closes at 5 pm MST on the 1st of the month four months prior. Winners are notified the next day and get a timeslot beginning 8 am MST two days later; general access for all applicants opens about two weeks after that. Arizona stays on MST year-round.

Fee detail: "$10 per permit or lottery application plus a nightly charge of $15 per person for all below rim areas and $4 per person for all above rim areas." The lottery application charge is non-refundable; per-person nightly fees are refundable until 30 days before the permit start date.

Exceptions and limits

• Not required for day hiking below the rim.
• Not required for a South Rim or North Rim drive-in campground stay — those are ordinary Recreation.gov campground reservations.