Grand Canyon National Park to Require Camping Permit at Tuweep Campground
Grand Canyon, AZ – Grand Canyon National Park on September 1, 2014 will begin requiring reservations for all campers who wish to stay at the Tuweep Campground. After September 1, visitors who plan to camp at Tuweep will need to have a permit issued by the National Park Service.
Campers may begin making reservations on May 1, 2014 for dates on or after September 1. Reservations can be made on the first of the month four months prior to the proposed start date and will be accepted through the park’s backcountry reservation system. A non-refundable fee of $10 per permit plus a $5 per group per night fee is required to obtain a permit. For more information about the permit process or to make a reservation, please visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry-permit.htm. Visitors may also be able to obtain a walk-up permit, up to six days in advance and based on availability, by visiting Pipe Spring National Monument in Fredonia, AZ or at the St. George Public Lands Visitor Center in St. George, UT.
Currently the park only requires a permit for parties using the large group campsite; the family sites are available on a first-come first-served basis. The campground has ten campsites; nine family campsites that each accommodate two vehicles and six people and one large group campsite that accommodates four vehicles and eleven people. This new permit requirement will apply to all ten campsites and ensure that campers know ahead of time if they have a place to stay or if they need to make alternative arrangements.
The park will also implement a prohibition on fires and charcoal grills effective September 1 in the Tuweep Campground. This change is consistent with other rim-based backcountry areas in the park and will help protect surrounding vegetation. Visitors will still be allowed to use gas stoves in the campground. These two changes will improve visitor services and experiences at Tuweep by allowing visitors to plan ahead and ensure that they receive the information required for an overnight stay.
Prior to visiting Tuweep, visitors should be aware of the challenges associated with navigating the difficult roadways and lack of visitor services. Grand Canyon National Park preserves the area for an uncrowded, rustic and remote experience; there is no water, gas, lodging, food or cell phone coverage. For more detailed information about visiting Tuweep please visit www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/tuweep.htm
Disappointing that they don't have an onsite way to handle reservations. I rarely know what day I'm going to be where and hate the notion of making reservations thus locking me into being at a particular place at a particular time. Guess I'll just have to park somewhere along the road on the way there if I go back in the future. I wonder how many days per year that campsite is actually full?
Posted by John Mumaw on April 30, 2014 at 10:48 PM
"Disappointing that they don't have an onsite way to handle reservations.
Looks like the walkup permit might be one's best bet.
I'm disappointed in the fire ban. That place was terrific for campfires and the "surrounding vegetation" was nothing but sand and rock.
I wonder how many days per year that campsite is actually full?
I camped there on April 2, a Wednesday, we arrived at about 4:00 PM and there was only one remaining spot left. If I remember correctly there was a sign stating if the campground was full there were campsites 11 miles back in a forest area along the road.
" there were campsites 11 miles back in a forest area along the road."
Thanks Scott, that's good to know!
Another possible problem: After camping nearby and outside of the park, how do you convince an overzealous ranger that you actually did so as you're packing up your tripod from a sunrise shoot where he(she) can see your camping gear in the back of your vehicle parked at the overlook? I suppose you could always have him(her) touch the engine block to prove it is hotter than it would have been had you spent the night at or near the overlook!
I asked the volunteer out there (a nice, cordial, informative man) about he possibility of sleeping in a vehicle at the overlook if the campground was full, and he said you'd get a ticket from the ranger He also said the ranger is actively ticketing unlicensed ATVers with a stiff fine.
That's a long 11 miles back to the treeless forest. That's surprising that the campground was almost full mid-week on a Wednesday for you Scott.
Unfortunately, irresponsible fire makers “scavenge” combustibles from the surrounding sensitive desert vegetation. Sometimes even the live vegetation is not spared.
I saw horrible new damage to the trees at the end of the road to white pocket. It looked as if just a few days before my arrival, a misguided person or group hung from the branches of the green tree in order to break them from the trunk. These were large branches and significant damage was done.
I can’t blame the park service for banning fires, not only to protect the vegetation, but also to cut down on the trash that many leave in the fire ring/pit.
Yeah, restrictions make it less convenient and can even sometimes negatively impact our experiences, but we all know that sometimes it is for the better.
It is a long 11 miles back, because its at 15-25 mph. If I remember right there was an area with trees about 1/4 off the road that I saw some tents at, wouldn't call it a whole forest though.
Discussion
9 repliesGrand Canyon National Park to Require Camping Permit at Tuweep Campground
Grand Canyon, AZ – Grand Canyon National Park on September 1, 2014 will begin requiring reservations for all campers who wish to stay at the Tuweep Campground. After September 1, visitors who plan to camp at Tuweep will need to have a permit issued by the National Park Service.
Campers may begin making reservations on May 1, 2014 for dates on or after September 1. Reservations can be made on the first of the month four months prior to the proposed start date and will be accepted through the park’s backcountry reservation system. A non-refundable fee of $10 per permit plus a $5 per group per night fee is required to obtain a permit. For more information about the permit process or to make a reservation, please visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry-permit.htm. Visitors may also be able to obtain a walk-up permit, up to six days in advance and based on availability, by visiting Pipe Spring National Monument in Fredonia, AZ or at the St. George Public Lands Visitor Center in St. George, UT.
Currently the park only requires a permit for parties using the large group campsite; the family sites are available on a first-come first-served basis. The campground has ten campsites; nine family campsites that each accommodate two vehicles and six people and one large group campsite that accommodates four vehicles and eleven people. This new permit requirement will apply to all ten campsites and ensure that campers know ahead of time if they have a place to stay or if they need to make alternative arrangements.
The park will also implement a prohibition on fires and charcoal grills effective September 1 in the Tuweep Campground. This change is consistent with other rim-based backcountry areas in the park and will help protect surrounding vegetation. Visitors will still be allowed to use gas stoves in the campground. These two changes will improve visitor services and experiences at Tuweep by allowing visitors to plan ahead and ensure that they receive the information required for an overnight stay.
Prior to visiting Tuweep, visitors should be aware of the challenges associated with navigating the difficult roadways and lack of visitor services. Grand Canyon National Park preserves the area for an uncrowded, rustic and remote experience; there is no water, gas, lodging, food or cell phone coverage. For more detailed information about visiting Tuweep please visit www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/tuweep.htm
I'm disappointed in the fire ban. That place was terrific for campfires and the "surrounding vegetation" was nothing but sand and rock.
I camped there on April 2, a Wednesday, we arrived at about 4:00 PM and there was only one remaining spot left. If I remember correctly there was a sign stating if the campground was full there were campsites 11 miles back in a forest area along the road.
Thanks Scott, that's good to know!
Another possible problem: After camping nearby and outside of the park, how do you convince an overzealous ranger that you actually did so as you're packing up your tripod from a sunrise shoot where he(she) can see your camping gear in the back of your vehicle parked at the overlook? I suppose you could always have him(her) touch the engine block to prove it is hotter than it would have been had you spent the night at or near the overlook!
That's a long 11 miles back to the treeless forest. That's surprising that the campground was almost full mid-week on a Wednesday for you Scott.
I saw horrible new damage to the trees at the end of the road to white pocket. It looked as if just a few days before my arrival, a misguided person or group hung from the branches of the green tree in order to break them from the trunk. These were large branches and significant damage was done.
I can’t blame the park service for banning fires, not only to protect the vegetation, but also to cut down on the trash that many leave in the fire ring/pit.
Yeah, restrictions make it less convenient and can even sometimes negatively impact our experiences, but we all know that sometimes it is for the better.
Pic from the tuweep camp ground.