Grand Teton National Park Permit Guide 2026

Last-minute friendly

Wyoming · No dogs in the backcountry

By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger

Last updated August 1, 2026

A Grand Teton backcountry permit covers overnight trips to the park's camping zones and lake sites, including the famous Teton Crest Trail corridor, the Paintbrush–Cascade loop, Death Canyon, and the Garnet Canyon climbers' camps. The permit is required for backcountry camping in a dramatic alpine landscape, and only about a third of each zone's capacity is reservable in advance - so prime summer dates on popular zones fill quickly.

Grand Teton National Park issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. About a third of each camping zone is reservable in advance. The advance window for the whole May–October season opens in early January (2026: January 7) at 8:00 AM Mountain Time; cancellations reopen sites all season. Advance booking closes 2 days before entry - after that it's walk-up only. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.

When permits are released

About a third of each camping zone is reservable in advance. The advance window for the whole May–October season opens in early January (2026: January 7) at 8:00 AM Mountain Time; cancellations reopen sites all season. Advance booking closes 2 days before entry - after that it's walk-up only.

Quota seasons: May 1 to October 31, 2026; May 1 to October 31, 2027 - off-season: Outside May – October there are no advance reservations - winter backcountry camping is walk-up / self-registration at permit desks.

Fees

Reservation: $20 per permit (non-refundable)
Per person, per night: $7 per person per night

How to get a Grand Teton National Park permit

Choose your route and camping zones or lake sites (for example along the Teton Crest Trail or the Paintbrush–Cascade loop) and set your dates.
The advance window for the whole May–October season opens in early January at 8:00 AM Mountain Time (in 2026, January 7); about a third of each zone's capacity is reservable this way.
Book on recreation.gov when the window opens; cancellations then reopen sites throughout the season.
Note that advance booking closes 2 days before your entry date - after that, the remaining capacity is walk-up only at permit desks.
For sold-out dates, keep watching: cancellations return to the pool, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens.

Notable trails

Grand Teton's camping zones and lake sites sit along its classic hiking routes. Here are notable trails that reach the permit's most popular zones.

Paintbrush Canyon - Cascade Canyon Loop - 4.9 on AllTrails
Teton Crest Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
Garnet Canyon Trail to Cleft Falls - 4.8 on AllTrails
Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
Phelps Lake, Lake Creek, and Woodland Loop - 4.8 on AllTrails
Leigh Lake Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
Granite Canyon Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
Mount Hunt Divide via Death Canyon Trail - 4.6 on AllTrails

Top passes in this area

The most in-demand Grand Teton National Park entry points, each with its own detail page.

Frequently asked questions

When do Grand Teton National Park permits open?

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations open up all season. Watch the passes you want on Permit Ranger and you get an instant alert when a date you need becomes bookable.

Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?

No. Permit Ranger alerts you the moment a watched date opens, with a direct booking link, but the booking is always yours to make on recreation.gov.

More permits in Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park permit guide

Last-minute & walk-up friendly permits

Plan ahead

Wilderness permit release calendar

Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.

Browse Grand Teton National Park passes · Book on recreation.gov