Champagne Tastes®

  • About
  • Travel
    • Food Travel
    • Outdoor Adventure
  • Recipe Index
    • Garden To Table
    • Seafood
    • Camping Recipes
    • Ferment
    • Backyard Foraging + Wild Game
    • Cooking Basics
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Garden To Table
  • Seafood
  • Ferment
  • Foraging + Wild Game
  • Cooking Basics
  • Camping Recipes
  • Outdoor Adventure
  • Food Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Travel » Outdoor Adventure

    Camping Inside the Grand Canyon

    Published: Sep 12, 2018 · Modified: Nov 15, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Are you thinking about camping inside the Grand Canyon? This guide will walk you through how to make it happen!
    Are you thinking about camping inside the Grand Canyon? This guide will walk you through how to make it happen!
    Are you thinking about camping inside the Grand Canyon? This guide will walk you through how to make it happen!

    Planning a multi-day hike in the canyon?  Here are some tips for camping inside the Grand Canyon at campgrounds or in the backcountry.

    hike the grand canyon- the south kaibab trail
    South Kaibab Trail

    This is part of a Hiking the Grand Canyon series!  Read more Grand Canyon hiking tips here: Hiking the Grand Canyon, Training to Hike the Grand Canyon, Hiking Food Ideas, + Grand Canyon Trails.

    Are you planning to hike inside the Grand Canyon?

    If you want to hike to the river, you should plan on camping inside the canyon.

    Here's what you should know!

    Camping Inside the Grand Canyon: At the Bottom

    The Bright Angel Campground is a reservation-only campground at the bottom of the canyon. 

    The campground provides camp areas with tables, animal-proof food boxes, and vault toilets.

    Phantom Ranch is a lodge at the bottom of the canyon (and it books up EARLY).

    Whether you're staying at the campground or the lodge, make sure to visit the Phantom Ranch Canteen! Buy a lemonade, a beer, or reserve a meal ahead of time!

    kaibab suspension bridge
    On the Kaibab Suspension Bridge at the Bottom of the Canyon

    Camping Inside the Grand Canyon: Along the Trail

    Along the Trail: There are two reservation-only campgrounds along the trails.

    Havasupai Gardens (formerly called Indian Garden) is along the Bright Angel Trail, and Cottonwood Campground is on the North Kaibab.

    Backcountry Camping: You can also camp off the trail, but you need a special permit.

    There are no campgrounds along the South Kaibab Trail.

    Make sure to check out my recommended gear for the Grand Canyon National Park!

    Hiking out of the Canyon

    Is there Anything to Do At the Bottom of the Canyon?

    When we planned our trip, I thought-- "How many times are you ever at the bottom of the Grand Canyon?  We should explore!"

    Here's the deal.  There are a few day hikes you can do while within the canyon, but I didn't find them to be exceptionally well-marked.

    And by the time we got to the bottom, I was tired enough that didn't trust my judgement on an unclearly marked trail into the wilderness.

    So, if you want to hike on one of those trails, I suggest talking to a park ranger before starting your hike, and also making sure that you are coherent enough to make good hiking decisions.

    I also recommend bringing this trail-guide book along: Official Guide to Hiking the Grand Canyon.

    Here's what we actually did at the bottom of the canyon:

    • Sat on boulders in the Bright Angel Creek, rested our very sore legs in the cold creek water, and worked on the art of doing nothing.
    • Walked to the shore of the Colorado River, dipped our toes in the water, and ate our lunch on the sand.
    • Wandered down the walking path around Phantom Ranch.
    • Drank lemonade and beer inside the Phantom Ranch Canteen.
    • Went to bed early.

    Keep Reading!

    ⇐ Part 3: Hiking Food Ideas for the Grand Canyon  or ⇒ Part 5: Grand Canyon Trails

    More Outdoor Adventure

    • Backpacker on Art Loeb Trail under stormy skies.
      Alpaca Shopping Guide: Our Favorite Brands
    • Drop bags spread on tarp for runners of the Big Turtle 2.0 race.
      How to Pack an Ultramarathon Drop Bag
    • Big Turtle 2.0 Trail Race Report (Morehead, KY)
    • Hiker standing on rocky outcrop holding trekking poles and wearing Altra 9+ hiking shoes.
      Altra Lone Peak 9+ Review

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    bio

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

    Learn More →

    Currently Trending

    • langostino lobster rolls on a serving tray.
      Langostino Lobster Rolls
    • pan-seared rockfish on a plate
      Pan-Seared Rockfish
    • pan-seared red snapper on plates
      Pan-Seared Red Snapper
    • crab butter sauce on a platter with crab legs
      Crab Butter Sauce

    Footer

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For California Residents
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For Nevada Residents

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Recipe and Photo Reuse Terms + FAQ

    Copyright ©2015-2025 Champagne Tastes
    All Rights Reserved.