Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Lottery: Dates and How to Apply
Cross the Grand Canyon through 2 billion years of geology. Canceled corridor permits go back on Recreation.gov all year, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The other way in is the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim lottery, a monthly early access draw for the corridor campgrounds that opens on the 16th, five months before your start month, and closes on the 1st, four months before it.
Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim permit alertsThis guide covers the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim permit.
Planning the crossing itself, with distances, the North Rim season and the current closures, is in our Grand Canyon rim to rim hike guide. A bed at the bottom comes through a different draw, the Phantom Ranch lottery.
Before you apply: the 2026 flood closure
As of October 28, 2026, a rim-to-rim crossing was not possible. NPS closed the middle of the corridor after flash flooding in Bright Angel Canyon on August 29. It lists these parts as closed:
Closed
- Black Bridge and Silver Bridge spanning the Colorado River.
- The entirety of Phantom Ranch, including Bright Angel Campground, the Phantom Ranch Canteen, and Phantom Ranch cabins.
- The entirety of the North Kaibab Trail. From the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch, including Cottonwood Campgroud. This closure is a result of significant flash flooding to the Bright Angel Canyon on 8/29.
From our closure record of the NPS Key Hiking Messages page, read on October 28, 2026. This changes. Check that page before you set dates.
Closures on Rim-to-Rim
Open now
- Plateau Point Trail to Plateau Point
- Tonto Trail between the Tip-Off to Havasupai Gardens
Closed after the August 29 flash flood
Black Bridge and Silver Bridge over the Colorado River
“Black Bridge and Silver Bridge spanning the Colorado River.”
Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground
“The entirety of Phantom Ranch, including Bright Angel Campground, the Phantom Ranch Canteen, and Phantom Ranch cabins.”
North Kaibab Trail and Cottonwood Campground
“The entirety of the North Kaibab Trail. From the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch, including Cottonwood Campgroud. This closure is a result of significant flash flooding to the Bright Angel Canyon on 8/29.”
Grand Canyon National Park. Read the closure notice
Rim-to-Rim lottery at a glance
When the Rim-to-Rim lottery runs
| Applications open | The 16th of the month, five months before your start month |
|---|---|
| Applications close | 5 pm MST on the 1st of the following month, four months before your start month |
| Results announced | on the 2nd of the month, when up to 750 applicants get an early access timeslot; other applicants can reserve what is left from about the 20th, and everyone else from 8 am MST on the 1st of the next month |
The application window the managing agency publishes for this permit.
How the agency describes it
“Lottery applications can be submitted through Recreation.gov over a 2-week period that begins on the 16th of the month and ends at 5pm MST on the first of the month, 4-months prior to the desired start month”
National Park Service, Grand Canyon backcountry permits, read on October 15, 2026. Open the official permit page, which carries this season’s exact dates.
Apply as a crew
Every extra person entering the Rim-to-Rim lottery for the same dates is another chance at the same trip. Whoever wins takes the group.
750
Lottery Slots Awarded
21-23.5 mi
Distance
$10 + $15/nt
Permit + per person below rim
Plan Around the Heat
NPS warns that extreme heat from May through September can quickly become life-threatening. The temperature rises 5.5°F for every 1,000 feet you drop, and summer highs at Phantom Ranch average about 30°F warmer than the rims. NPS: “Do not hike between 10 am and 4 pm.”
Two Ways to Get a Permit
Monthly Lottery
Early access • 5 to 4 months ahead
Apply from the 16th, five months before your start month, until 5pm MST on the 1st, four months before it
Results announced on the 2nd of the month
$10 per permit or lottery application, plus $15 per person per night below the rim and $4 above it
Cancellations and Last-Minute
After the lottery
Canceled and unclaimed permits go back on Recreation.gov
NPS offers last-minute Havasupai Gardens permits between March 1 and November 30
NPS: after the August 2026 flash flood, corridor availability is not guaranteed
Key Dates
Lottery Application Windows
Season Info
Get Grand Canyon R2R Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
2 Ways to Land a Rim-to-Rim Permit
Set a Cancellation Alert
Unclaimed lottery permits and cancellations return to Recreation.gov first come, first served. PermitSnag monitors them 24/7 and alerts you the moment one opens.
Enter Each Month's Lottery
Every start month has its own early access lottery, open from the 16th until 5pm MST on the 1st, closing four months before that start month. Missing one window does not stop you entering the next.
Classic North-to-South Route
Start at North Kaibab Trailhead (8,241 ft), descend past Phantom Ranch (2,546 ft) to Bright Angel Campground (2,480 ft), and climb out via the Bright Angel Trail (6,860 ft). The North Rim is the higher trailhead, so starting there means more descent and less climbing.
23.5 miles
Total Distance
5,761 ft (to camp)
Elevation Loss
4,380 ft (to South Rim)
Elevation Gain
Sample Itineraries
2 Nights
North Kaibab TH → Cottonwood Camp
6.8 miles
Cottonwood → Bright Angel Camp
7.2 miles
Bright Angel → South Rim
9.5 miles
1 Night
North Kaibab TH → Bright Angel Camp
14 miles, 5,761 ft descent
Bright Angel Camp → South Rim
9.5 miles, 4,380 ft ascent
Getting Between the Rims
The rims are 21 miles apart on foot but a long drive apart by road, so arrange a way back to your car before you start:
Trans-Canyon Shuttle
A commercial shuttle between the rims. Check its season and book ahead.
Two Vehicles
Park one at each rim before you start.
Ride Share
Coordinate with hikers going the opposite direction.
⚠️ North Rim Access
In 2026 the North Rim opened May 15 and NPS lists it open through November 30 or the first major snowstorm, with no overnight lodging this season. Outside its season a crossing has no north trailhead to finish at.
Tips for the Crossing
Phantom Ranch meals
Grand Canyon National Park Lodges puts all Phantom Ranch meals on general sale 12 months before the stay month. As of October 28, 2026, NPS listed the ranch as closed after the August 2026 flood.
Train for downhill
The North Kaibab drops 5,761 ft to Bright Angel Campground. Train your legs for the descent as well as the climb.
Bring trekking poles
Poles take some of the load off your knees on the long descents.
Do not force fluids
NPS warns that over-hydration can cause hyponatremia, a life-threatening salt imbalance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a permit for Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim?
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Two ways. Canceled permits go back on Recreation.gov all year, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. Grand Canyon backcountry permits are also distributed through a monthly early access lottery on Recreation.gov. NPS states that applications run 'over a two-week period that begins on the 16th of the month and ends at 5pm MST on the first of the month, 4-months prior to the desired start month', with results announced on the 2nd. So for a July start you apply from February 16 to March 1. Up to 750 applicants are awarded a date and time to book.
How far is a Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim hike, and does a day hike need a permit?
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On NPS trail distances it is 21 miles from the North Kaibab trailhead to the South Rim by the South Kaibab Trail, or 23.5 miles by the Bright Angel Trail. A day hike needs no permit. Any night below the rim needs a backcountry permit. NPS tells day hikers not to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day.
Which direction should I hike Rim-to-Rim?
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The North Kaibab trailhead sits at 8,241 ft, against 7,260 ft for the South Kaibab and 6,860 ft for the Bright Angel. Starting north means 5,761 ft down to Bright Angel Campground and less climbing out.
When is the best time to hike Rim-to-Rim?
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Avoid summer heat: NPS warns that extreme heat from May through September can quickly become life-threatening, and that the inner canyon gets 5.5°F warmer for every 1,000 feet you drop. A crossing also needs the North Rim open. In 2026 it opened May 15 and NPS lists it open through November 30 or the first major snowstorm.
What camps do I need for a Rim-to-Rim permit?
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A 2-night crossing can camp at Cottonwood Campground and then Bright Angel Campground. A 1-night crossing can camp at Bright Angel Campground. Each camp is reserved on your permit. As of October 28, 2026, NPS listed both camps as closed after the August 2026 flash flood.
Don't Miss Your Rim-to-Rim Permit
Cancellations happen daily. PermitSnag monitors Grand Canyon backcountry availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit AlertsSet your Rim-to-Rim alert from your phone.
Someone cancels, and the opening shows up on your Lock Screen with the booking page one tap away.
