Grand Canyon Backcountry Camping Explained

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 Zones

• 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 The Grand Canyon List of trails in Grand Canyon National Park Colorado River References Grand Canyon Explorer National Geographic Maps Trails Illustrated: Grand Canyon National Park Camp Type External links Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Permit Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Permit Request Form Backcountry Use Areas - Interactive Map Map of Use Areas