🏕 Campground
Phantom Ranch (Grand Canyon NP)
About This Permit
Phantom Ranch is the only lodging below the Grand Canyon rim — a cluster of stone cabins and dormitories on the canyon floor near the confluence of Bright Angel Creek and the Colorado River, designed by Mary Colter in 1922. Reservations are issued by lottery, drawn 15 months in advance. Cancellations are rare and disappear within seconds. It is arguably the single hardest reservation to obtain in the US national park system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book Phantom Ranch?
Xanterra (the Grand Canyon concessionaire) runs a lottery system, drawn 15 months in advance. You can enter the lottery on their website. The lottery is extremely competitive. Walk-up cancellations are possible but rare — PermitAlert monitors for them.
What is included at Phantom Ranch?
Cabin or dorm accommodations, dinner (steak, stew, or vegetarian), and breakfast are included or available as add-ons. The canteen serves snacks, beer, lemonade, and coffee throughout the day and is accessible to both ranch guests and backpackers staying at Bright Angel Campground.
Can I visit Phantom Ranch without a reservation?
Technically the canteen is open to all hikers, but seating is limited and priority goes to guests. If you have a backcountry permit for Bright Angel Campground, you can visit the canteen. You cannot stay in the cabins or dorms without a reservation.
Key Facts
- State
- AZ
- Season
- Year-round
- Sites
- Limited cabin/dorm beds (varies by date)
- Access
- South Rim (Bright Angel or South Kaibab Trail)
- Reservation Window
- Phantom Ranch lodge, canyon floor
- Difficulty to reserve
- 5/5(Nearly impossible)
Get an SMS the moment a cancellation opens — we scan every 60 seconds.
Set an Alert for This Permit