Starting March 15, Grand Canyon National Park will be issuing walk-up permits for AZT thru-hikers at Bright Angel Campground. Here are the walk-up permit procedures, specifically for AZT thru-hikers:

Head to the South Rim Backcountry Information Center, located within Grand Canyon Village. If it is March 15 or later, inform the Ranger that you are thru-hiking the AZT and would like a walk-up permit for Bright Angel Campground at the stock site. The Backcountry Office usually book permits for the following day, but they may have same-day permits available depending on how many people are coming through. The stock site will hold up to 6 hikers per night, so if there is a big bubble of hikers, permits may be limited.

Walk-up permits are only for 1 night, so no doubling up with 2 nights at Bright Angel Campground. As a reminder, AZT hikers cannot book this site until they arrive at the park. AZT thru-hikers must show up at the Backcountry Information Center between 8 am-12 pm or 1-5 pm to book a permit in-person.

*Note: These walk-up spots are set aside specifically for AZT thru-hikers and bikers. If non-thru hikers begin to request these sites, there will not be enough space for the thru-hiker and thru-bikers each night. If this process is abused by non-thru users, then the result could be very long waits for long-distance AZT travelers.