The Grand Canyon makes happy campers!
What does camping mean to you? Days on end in the bush, with only a dip in a stream as a nod to hygiene, or a nicely groomed site within strolling distance of a full-service laundry and a hot shower? Gourmet dutch-oven meals or re-hydrated energy mash? Luckily, the Grand Canyon’s big enough to accommodate all styles of campers, and give stream-dippers and shower-takers alike memories to last a lifetime.
A Grand Canyon backpacking trip is the crème de la crème for backcountry enthusiasts. It’s such a desirable experience, in fact, that 30,000 backcountry permit applications are submitted each year, and only 13,000 are currently granted. These permits are required to camp anywhere other than developed campsites in the park, but to keep things fair, the earliest anyone can apply is four months in advance of the desired dates. The National Parks website for the Grand Canyon offers a downloadable backcountry trip planner to help you navigate the system
here.
There are a couple of options for developed camp sites within the park. Mather Campground is in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. While it’s not a rugged, solitude-filled escape, it’s easily accessible and makes a fun home base from which to explore. The North Rim campground is only available mid-May through October. Both these Grand Canyon campgrounds operate on a reservation system, but if you’re feeling lucky, you can try Desert View Campground, which is 26 miles east of Grand Canyon Village and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Trailer Park is the one facility in the park exclusively for RVs, and with full hookups. Visit the National Park Service site for the full details on all the National Park campgrounds.
Car campers can also easily stake a claim in one of the campsites just outside the park and enjoy all the pleasures of outdoor living, and the wonders of the canyon with just a little driving between points. Most of these are operated by the US Forest Service, and while they tend to be more primitive, they are well-maintained, often more secluded, do not take reservations and are less likely to fill up.
Certain tour outfitters even make the whole camping experience available to guests who don’t need to do a thing but show up and partake of the lush life outdoors. For do-it-yourselfers, Flagstaff has several excellent and comprehensive camping and outdoor supply stores where you can gear up completely or pick up a few odds and ends for your Grand Canyon camping adventure.
