Grand Canyon Backcountry Camping

The Grand Canyon National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the state of Arizona. The Park encompasses the Grand Canyon and the surrounding rim areas. The Park maintains an intricate trail system both above and below the rims of the canyon. To properly maintain and supervise the many trails and campgrounds in the backcountry of the Grand Canyon, Park implemented a system of zoning the different areas of the canyon and the surrounding rim area into backcountry "use areas," designated by a two-letter, one-number code system.

This code is used when applying for the required permits for any backcountry overnight camping and backpacking. Permits must be purchased from the Park for any overnight camping done in the within its borders. When applying for a permit, the permit-holder declares his/her intended camping schedule, by using the code for each area he/she intends on camping in, and stating how many days he/she will remain in the area.

The Park also created rules and regulations to help protect and preserve the Grand Canyon. These rules and regulations, such as Leave No Trace, range from limits on the amount of campers in one area, to rules that the campers must follow for safety and protection of the wildlife and wilderness. This system helps to assure the Grand Canyon remains one of the world's great wonders.

Backcountry Regulations

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Camping Limits

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Backcountry Zones

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  • Corridor This type of trail is recommended for new Grand Canyon hikers. There is a high density of hikers in an established area. There are permanent structures, bathrooms, clean water, trail markings, bridges, emergency phones, and ranger stations.
  • Threshold This type of trail is recommended for experienced Grand Canyon hikers only. There is a medium density of hikers in a fairly established area. There are non-permanent structures, bathrooms, signs, although most trails are unmaintained and there is minimal water.
  • Primitive This type of trail is recommended for highly experienced Grand Canyon hikers only. There is a low density of hikers with very limited establishment. There are no structures and all the trails and routes are unmaintained and there is very little water present.
  • Wilderness This type of trail is recommended for expert Grand Canyon hikers only. There is a potential for little to no contact with other hikers. Advanced route finding ability is required, as most trails are indistinct or non-existent and there is little to no water.
Grand Canyon Zoning and Use Limits
Area Name Zone Group(s) Parties Max People Camp Type
AA9 Badger Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
AU9 Blacktail Canyon Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
BN9 Boucher Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
LB9 Boysag Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
LK9 Burnt Point Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
SA9 Cape Final Threshold 0 or 1 6 D/S
SA9 Cape Solitude Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
BC9 Cardenas Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
SB9 Cedar Mountain Threshold 2 or 2 34 A/L
AJ9 Cheyava Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
AF9 Chuar Primitive 1 and 3 29 A/L
AK9 Clear Creek Threshold 1 and 3 29 A/L
CBG Corridor-Bright Angel Corridor 2 and 31 90 D/G
CCG Corridor-Cottonwood (Summer) Corridor 1 and 6 40 D/G
CCG Corridor-Cottonwood (Winter) Corridor 1 or 1 8 D/G
CIG Corridor-Indian Garden Corridor 1 and 15 50 D/G
BG9 Cottonwood Creek Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
BJ9 Cremation Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
AX9 Deer Creek Primitive 1 and 1 17 D/S
LG9 Diamond Creek Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
SF9* Eminence Break Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
AY9 Esplanade Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
AZ9 Fishtail Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
BS9 Fossil Wild 1 or 1 1 A/L
BR9 Garnet Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
LM9 Grand Wash Cliffs Primitive 1 and 2 12 A/L
BH9 Grapevine Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
AL9 Greenland Springs Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
BE9 Hance Creek Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
BM7 Hermit Loop-Hermit Creek Threshold 1 and 3 29 D/S
BM8 Hermit Loop-Hermit Rapids Threshold 1 and 1 17 D/S
BL4 Hermit Loop-Horn Creek Threshold 0 and 1 6 D/S
BL5 Hermit Loop-Salt Creek Threshold 0 and 1 6 D/S
BL6 Hermit Loop-Cedar Creek Threshold 0 and 1 6 D/S
BL7 Hermit Loop-Monument Threshold 1 and 3 29 D/S
BL8 Hermit Loop-Granite Rapids Threshold 1 and 2 23 D/S
BL9 Horseshoe Mesa Threshold 2 and 3 40 D/S
SI9* Jackass Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
LA9 Kanab Creek Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
NK9 Kanab Point Primitive 1 and 3 29 A/L
NC9 Ken Patrick Primitive 1 and 2 12 A/L
NN9 Lava Threshold 1 and 1 17 A/L
AE9 Nankwoeap Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
BU9 National Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
AS9 North Bass Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
BT9 Olo Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
NG9 Outlet Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
BA9* Palisades Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
LE9 Parashant Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
SE9 Pasture Wash Threshold 2 and 3 40 A/L
AP9 Phantom Creek Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
NH9 Point Sublime Threshold 2 and 3 34 D/S
AT9 Powell Plateau Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
BD9 Red Canyon Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
AB9 Rider Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
ND9 Robbers Roost Primitive 1 and 3 29 A/L
BP9 Ruby Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
AD9 Saddle Canyon Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
SH9* Saltwater Wash Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
AR9 Scorpion Ridge Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
LH9 Separation Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
SG9* Shinumo Wash Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
BO9 Slate Primitive 1 and 2 23 A/L
LL9 Snap Point Primitive 1 or 2 12 A/L
BQ9 South Bass Primitive 1 or 2 12 A/L
AC9 South Canyon Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
LJ9 Surprise Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
AM9 Surprise Valley Primitive 1 and 1 17 A/L
NJ9 Swamp Ridge Primitive 1 and 3 29 A/L
BB9 Tanner Primitive 1 and 3 29 A/L
AW7 Tapeats-Upper Tapeats Threshold 1 and 2 23 D/S
AW8 Tapeats-Lower Tapeats Threshold 1 and 1 17 D/S
AV9 Tapeats Amphitheatre Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
LC9 The Dome Primitive 1 or 2 12 A/L
NB9 Thompson Canyon Primitive 1 and 3 29 A/L
NM9 Toroweap Valley Threshold 1 and 2 23 A/L
LF9 Trail Canyon Wild 1 and 2 12 A/L
AQ9 Trinity Creek Wild 1 and 2 12 A/L
NL9 Tuckup Point Primitive 1 and 3 29 A/L
AG9 Unkar Wild 1 or 2 12 A/L
AH9 Vishnu Wild 1 or 1 11 A/L
NA0 Walhalla Plateau Primitive 1 and 3 29 A/L
LI9 Whitmore Threshold 1 and 1 17 A/L
NF9 Widforss Threshold 1 and 2 23 A/L

*Special permits are required from the Navajo Tribal Parks Department for the Marble Canyon use areas:
SF9, SI9, SH9, SG9 and the portion of the use area BA9 north of the confluence of the Little Colorado River.

See also

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References

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