© Lauren HimiakThe National Park Service has announced several operational changes to the backcountry permitting system and placing a moratorium on the number of commercial use authorizations issued for guided backpacking services in Grand Canyon National Park.
In order to camp anywhere in the park, a permit must be obtained from the Backcountry Information Center by writing in or asking in person. Grand Canyon National Park will now consider only written requests during the fourth-month-out starting February 1, 2010.
Written requests may be submitted by fax, letter or in person. Requests will be considered based on the date on which they are received, and all requests received by 5:00 p.m. on the first day of the fourth-month-out will be placed in random order by computer and considered in that new order before the next day's requests receive consideration.
More information is available online or via email. You may also call the Backcountry Information Center at 928-638-7875.