Do you enjoy camping but don't want to rough it? Glamping is a great option. Glamping offers the perfect opportunity to explore Grand Canyon National Park and stay off the beaten path. You're sure to find glamping for your Arizona camping excursion.
Mather Campground is located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona. Grand Canyon is one of the most inspiring landscapes on Earth and draws over five million visitors per year to its spectacular scenery. The campground is large and can accommodate a variety of needs and comfort levels. It is the only campground within Grand Canyon Village. Scenic overlooks, the park's free shuttle bus system, the Visitor Center, the general store and hiking and biking trails are all within a few miles from the facility. The campground is at an elevation of approximately 7,000 ft. Summers are sunny with high temperatures generally in the 80s. Thunderstorms frequently occur in July, August, and early September. Fall and spring are mostly sunny and cool with the occasional snow. Weather is variable; visitors should come prepared.
From the campground, campers can access the Greenway, a paved walking and biking trail that leads to scenic overlooks and the Visitor Center. The Rim Trail, a paved walking trail, is one mile away and runs for 14 miles along the edge of the canyon. Leashed pets are allowed on both trails, but are not permitted below the rim. Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails descend into the canyon. Their trailheads are a short shuttle bus ride from the campground. The park's concessionaire also offers day and overnight mule riding trips into the canyon and along the rim.
Mather Campground lies beneath a mixture of a tall canopy of Ponderosa pine, Pinyon, and Juniper trees, providing most campsites with ample shade. The campground is one mile from the rim of the canyon. A visit to the canyon during sunrise and sunset yields spectacular views of yellow, orange, red and violet hues in the canyon walls. Layers of rock display billions of years of geologic history. Campers can take a short shuttle bus ride from the campground to the Visitors Center. Visitors can also visit Yavapai Geology Museum, where they learn about the forces that formed the canyon. Below, visitors can see the mighty Colorado River, which flows 277 miles through the bottom of the canyon. Wildlife abounds on the South Rim, including elk, mule deer, coyotes, lizards, songbirds and the endangered California condor. Although condors nest below the rim, they can be seen soaring several thousand feet above the canyon in search for carrion.
Numerous visitor centers, restaurants, museums and shops are within a shuttle bus ride from the campground. Beyond the village, Desert View provides one of the widest views of Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert. The Desert View Watchtower displays the talent of architect Mary Jane Colter. Tusayan Ruin and Museum provide glimpses into the life of a small Ancestral Puebloan village 800 years ago. Both are within 25 miles from the campground.
$6 - $50 / night
The North Rim Campground is located on the remote and rustic North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona, approximately 210 miles (338 km) from Grand Canyon Village, AZ on the South Rim. It is nestled in a thick ponderosa and aspen forest just on the canyon's edge at an elevation of 8,200 feet. This facility is perfect for tent camping and smaller RVs. Due to its heavily forested location, large and/or high-profile RVs cannot be accommodated. The maximum length in each site description is the combined length of both the RV/trailer and tow vehicle. Many sites are not level and have obstacles such as tight curves and narrow passages through trees. Some sites may not accommodate trailer pop-outs or awnings. The maximum vehicle length permitted on the Cape Royal Scenic Road, Widforss Trailhead, and North Kiabab Trailhead is 22 feet; plan accordingly if renting an RV if you wish to explore these other areas of the park.
North Rim Campground is shaded by large ponderosa pines interspersed with aspens which turn golden in the autumn as it is situated at over 8,000 feet in elevation; however, it only takes a short walk to peer over the canyon rim to see millions of years of geologic history. The North Rim lies on the Kaibab Plateau, an area that has been uplifted by geologic processes. Many species of wildlife call the Kaibab Plateau home including the tassel-eared Kaibab squirrel which is found nowhere else in the world.
Between 05/15/2024 and 10/15/2024 this location is staffed. Please call (928) 638-7814 to speak with local staff. From 11/13/2023 to 05/14/2024 this location is unstaffed. Please call (877) 444-6777 for general information.
$6 - $50 / night
COMMERCIAL TOUR GROUPS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT TEN-X CAMPGROUND Commercial operators MUST obtain a special use permit to operate on National Forest System lands, including Ten-X Campground. Due to high public demand, Kaibab National Forest will not be issuing any special use permits for Ten-X Camground until further notice. Therefore, no commercial tour groups are allowed at Ten-X Campground. All violators will be removed from the campground immediately and given a fine for violating the Code of Federal Regulations. Perhaps the biggest draw to Ten-X Campground in northern Arizona is its proximity to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Located just 4 miles south of the park entrance in beautiful Kaibab National Forest, Ten-X is a quiet, peaceful campground that generally has open camping sites. A nature trail weaves its way through the pine forest, and many more hiking opportunities are within a short drive. The facility can accommodate individual and family visitors, as well as large groups up to 75 people.
The campground The campground has a 3 mile loop trail as well as a shorter hikes that allow visitors to observe local flora and fauna. Elsewhere, the nearby town of Tusayan offers horseback riding, helicopter rides and other tours. Many hiking, sightseeing, cultural history and outdoor recreation opportunities lie just a few miles away in Grand Canyon National Park.
Ten-X is situated in a pleasant Ponderosa pine and Gambel oak forest at an elevation of 6,600 ft. The forest is nestled on the Colorado Plateau, an area of land that was uplifted by geologic processes. Summer temperatures range from 50 degrees at night to 80-90 degrees during the day. Summer thunderstorms, known as the monsoon, can build up quickly, especially during July and August. Snow is common from December through March.
Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim, just 4 miles away, is a must-see for Ten-X campers. The adjacent town of Tusayan has a wide array of amenities, such as a gas station, restaurants, small grocery store, banks, hotels, internet access, mountain biking trails and many different tours.
$20 - $175 / night
Phantom Ranch is a historic oasis nestled at the bottom of Grand Canyon. It is on the north side of the Colorado River tucked in beside Bright Angel Creek. Make sure to put in your Phantom Ranch reservations, as its the only lodging below the canyon rim, and can only be reached by mule, on foot or by rafting the Colorado River.
The rustic cabins and main lodge are built of wood and native stone blending with the natural beauty of the setting.
Our cabins and dorms do not have phones or televisions, but a pay phone is available at Phantom Ranch (credit card or phone card ONLY).
The Phantom Ranch Canteen serves breakfast and dinner, which must be reserved in advance. If you have special dietary needs, such as glucose intolerance or food allergies, please advise the reservation agent at the time of booking. Phantom Ranch will do their best to accommodate all special requests.
You must hike out your own trash.
$52 - $253 / night
$25 - $75 / night
About this space
Your getaway to the Grand Canyon is complete with this off-grid, low waste Glamping experience!
AC is provided at any time for your entire stay. Please communicate with your host your needs.
Recent upgrades include, charging station for devices, new mattresses in the bunk house, AC and furnace heat and hot water heater. A 30-minute drive to the gates at the South Rim of GCNP. 360 panoramic views, stunning night sky peppered with stars! Outdoor BBQ and hammock! Enjoy the fire pit year-round.
The space
What is Glamping? It’s camping with all the upgrades. Love camping and the outdoors? We do too. We also love fresh linens, plush mattresses and full kitchens.
An off grid minimal impact travel destination on the stunning Colorado Plateau.
Desert and mountains all around.
Propane fire pit for year-round fires.
28-foot fifth wheel.
Solar power to lights and water pump.
110 outlets (plugs) available with solar generator.
Zero water composting toilet.
Hot water heater.
Private inside shower and bathroom.
Full kitchen with all amenities.
All linens provided.
Bath towel and bathmat.
Large dining table.
Futon to full size bed.
Plush full-size bed in the loft.
Twin Bunk bed.
Three cots.
Propane stove and fridge.
Furnace heat and AC cooling with generator.
Gorgeous 360 views.
Charging station for devices.
$149 - $250 / night
January 2025 - Temporarily Closed
Traveler
Perfect little spot right outside of the Grand Canyon National Park. Picnic tables, fire rings, charcoal grill, and bathrooms. Everything you need right here.
RangerThis was a fabulous place to set up camp. We love this spot it's 10m to Grand Canyon National Park a short drive. Nice and clean.
Guide
This was a really nice and surprisingly affordable campground inside Grand Canyon National Park. Amazing location for distance. There’s showers and laundry (paid, unfortunately, but I won’t complain too much). Friendly staff and easy access.
TravelerThis is a nice campground just outside Grand Canyon National Park. It has lots of nature pine trees and some good space between campsites. Lots of yellow jackets in July so those with allergies beware.
TravelerGreat location outside of Grand Canyon National Park. Site 51 on the loop has no clear area of where to park. Campsite is very out in the open next to the camp road. Close to bathrooms. Facility seemed a little dated.
Guidesite: wooded. pretty large site.
amenities: quieter than Mather. fills fast. clean facilities.
attractions: wildlife around campground. close to Grand Canyon National Park. bus to Canyon stop near.
I would go camping here (just drove through the campground since the campground we chose was ok, not great).
LegendI feel like this is a park that you give up privacy and a 'back to nature' experience, so you can be in the heart of Grand Canyon National Park. This campground is near the rim of the canyon, hiking, and other convinces. It's a great, close, place to spend the nights at during your park stay.
ScoutDuring my recent stay at Mather Campground in Grand Canyon National Park, I was impressed by the spacious campsites and well-maintained facilities. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring, providing a comfortable setting for meals and evening gatherings. The restrooms were clean and conveniently located, and the availability of drinking water stations throughout the campground was a notable convenience. The presence of elk wandering through the area added a unique and memorable touch to the experience. The campground's proximity to shuttle services made it easy to explore various parts of the park without the need to drive. While some sites are closer together than others, the overall atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. For families traveling with children, it's worth noting that the nearby general store offers a variety of supplies, including snacks and games, which can be useful for keeping young ones entertained during downtime. For instance, bringing along an iPad with engaging apps like Getting Over it can provide children with creative and educational activities during quiet moments at the campsite. Overall, Mather Campground serves as an excellent base for exploring the Grand Canyon.
GuideJust outside of the entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park, Ten-X is tops. This place is undergoing significant expansion with new infrastructure. It looks like by 2022, there will be electric and water at the new sites (I counted at least 120 more). Right now, there is only one fill point for water and it is only for toting away water not filling RVs. I was concerned because the USFS website did not accurately describe this campground. There is indeed room for a 43 foot rig in maybe 8 spots. The expansion will include more as well. The sites are nicely spaced for privacy. I hate vault toilets but these are brand new and very clean. No dump site here but I saw indications there may be one with the expansion. This was an extraordinarily clean campground and well laid out. There are some walking trails and that was a nice touch. Big elk walking through camp! Update September 2022: expansion occurred, decent sites, no water expansion to new loops, still same set up, no hookups. Still very well maintained although they could maintain the walking trails better. Yes, yellowjackets.
GuideThis is a pleasant, out of the way campground. There is water on site, but you are NOT ALLOWED to fill your RV from it, as water has to be trucked in. There is no dump station either. You have to travel a good 10 miles into Grand Canyon National Park to dump your load.
The sites are gravel, and they have a mix of pull through and back in sites. A good number of them are first-come, first-served. The roads are dirt and are VERY DUSTY. Don't be surprised to see a film of brown dust inside your rig if you leave the windows open.
The hosts in the Black Bear Loop were very friendly and helpful, but not nosy like some hosts can be.
I should also mention that, during my September stay at least, the place was absolutely SWARMED with yellow jackets. I never got stung (they aren't very aggressive) but they constantly buzz you and land on you. Gets annoying.
Overall, this is a decent campground but I would probably not stay here again due to the extreme hassle of having to drive 20 miles to get to water and a dump station.
Scoutrecently visited Mather Campground at Grand Canyon National Park, and I had an amazing experience! This campground is the perfect place to stay if you're looking to explore the Grand Canyon. It’s very close to the South Rim, so getting to the viewpoints and trails is super easy. The campground itself is spacious and surrounded by beautiful trees, which gives it a peaceful and relaxing vibe. There are picnic tables at each site, and I loved having a fire ring to enjoy a cozy campfire in the evenings. The restrooms were clean, and there’s fresh water available, which made things very convenient. I also appreciated how easy it was to make a reservation ahead of time. Since Mather Campground can get busy, especially during peak seasons, booking early is a great idea. It was nice knowing I had a spot waiting for me when I arrived. Although it can get a little crowded during the busy months, the atmosphere was still calm, and I met some friendly fellow campers. I would definitely recommend Mather Campground to anyone visiting the Grand Canyon. It’s a great place to stay, and the location couldn’t be better for accessing the park’s attractions. I'll definitely return on my next trip!
Guide
My wife and I took a week long road trip through Arizona, we made no plans and no reservations. Little did we know after reaching the North Rim Campground, we would find that the camp sights are books 6+ months ahead of time. The park ranger told us about the dispersed camping many mile away, as we were getting ready to leave line, a couple walks up and explained they had reserved a corner spot which contained 2 spots, because it was the only one available that weekend. they offered the unused sight to us!!!!!
We took the offer and were Blown away by the beauty that surrounded our site, we were far from others even quite far from our helpful hosts, the hiking is stunning and the lodge there makes some great food as well as a great place to buy some souvenirs.
Facilities:
Fire-ring, BBQ, Water nearby, AMAZING SPACE, plenty of tree coverage from the sun, close to hiking, and within a short drive to the best sunsets Arizona has to offer
We HIGHLY recommend catching the sunset at Angel Peak!!!! but watch out for the altitude change, its quite high at 8297 feet. Our hometown is at 2800 and the hiking got the best of me…
Scout
After years of trying to get a Phantom Ranch reservation, I was thrilled to finally secure a spot for myself and my husband in October, 2020. However, I was just notified that my reservation was arbitrarily cancelled because of maintenance. I understand that repairs periodically need to be made, but I have no recourse. My reservation, even though it was very difficult to get, can not be moved to a different date. All that time I spent securing the reservation, all the plans I made to travel to Arizona, don’t count. If I ever want to visit Phantom Ranch, I have to start all over again. Incredibly unfair and disappointing. If you get a reservation, don’t get too excited or make expensive plans to visit. It can be taken away with no compensation. So incredibly unfair.
LegendMather Campground Review
For some reason, despite never having been there before, I have always thought that the Grand Canyon is the most American of all national parks. So I planned my SW trip to start off here. We flew into Vegas and we got to drive through the Kaibab National Forest to get to Mather campground (if you can’t find any available campground reservations within the GCNP itself I would recommend checking for site availability at Kaibab). The surrounding area is much more forested than I had anticipated- so watch out for unexpected large wildlife!
On our first night we arrived at site 260 in the oak loop slightly past sunset with enough light to find our site and set everything up. For sites 259-264 PLEASE LOOK AT A MAP to find your campsite, there is an unmarked turn to the right after site 213 to get to this section and we were quite confused when we drove through the entire main loop and then found ourselves back on a main road without encountering 260. Our site itself had a nice spread to it that made it feel relatively private despite clear visibility to the sites on either side of us. There was definitely enough room to set up 2 tents. The bathrooms were decent enough, however they are equipped with those fast-drying hand dryers that are LOUD and the noise carries well into the campground. For this reason alone I would try to avoid being in the near vicinity of the bathrooms, unless you can sleep with ear plugs in or are a heavy sleeper.
There are apparently coin operated showers at the beginning of the campground area, but we didn’t even know they existed at the time so I can’t comment on those. The bathrooms DO have an outlet between the two sinks that people use for various purposes- one morning a lady was brewing coffee, another morning I used it to quickly blow dry my hair after spritzing it (I just have a pixie, don’t hog the sink area if you are going to take more than a few minutes!).
Here are some tips that I have to share from my trip
-We were there the first weekend of June and it was perfect! Cool temps at night, relatively hot during the day, and since a lot of schools aren't out yet the tourist situation was never bad. We never had to wait on a shuttle.
-Wake up early for the sunrise! If you are a light sleeper you will probably be woken up an hour before sunrise by your fellow campers getting ready to go watch it rise. You might as well join them. If you’re planning on hiking down into the canyon you should do it soon after the sunrise so your hike will be shaded and cooler than mid-day. We really liked the South Kaibib trail- we only went to Ooh-Aah point and back and that was a fulfilling hiking experience for us. The signs about going up being hard are all true.
-There is a nice coffee shop by the visitor center that has reasonable prices on some grab and go type food- they even have a microwave to heat up sandwiches
-Only have one night to catch the sunset? Catch it in two places! We started our sunset viewing by hopping on the red shuttle, getting off at Hopi point to watch the colors in the canyon change(the shuttle does NOT pick up at this location going back towards the visitor center), then once you have had enough of watching the colors in the canyon change color hop back onto the shuttle to Mohave point to watch the sky colors change. You have a pretty view of the sunset over the river and the furthest outlook point here. Once the sky colors are past their peak hustle back to the shuttle pickup area to try to prevent having to wait too long for a ride back. By doing this you avoid the huge crowd of people waiting to be shuttled back to the visitor center at Powell Point (Powell point is right next to Hopi point so you have crowds from both locations trying to get back).
-Are you looking for a place to charge your phone and have wifi? The nearby Starbucks does NOT have public outlets.
-Elk are abundant! Leave them alone! Do not get close to them to take a picture- you will more than likely never look at it ever again so it’s not worth the risk of getting hurt!
-Do the Desert View drive and get a fry bread taco from the restaurant located in the desert view tower area (the taco wasn’t fried like you can get elsewhere, but it was still really good and toppings tasted better than any other fry bread taco I have had)! My favorite Grand Canyon overlook was at the tower area- really great view of the river. Pay attention to which parts of the park you are entering and leaving though. We did the drive on our first full day there, then found out we had to go the same route the next day to exit the park towards Page. It takes a while to exit the park going this way since the speed limit starts off pretty slow. Also, going east on 64 after you leave the park is stunning. There is an official scenic overlook that you can pull off and hike a ways to and putz around at the top of a canyon.
-We found that a two-night stay was the perfect amount of time for us since we didn’t want to do a ton of hiking into the canyon (the cautionary signs are a very good deterrent) and we were still able to spend a decent amount of time at many of the overlooks.
-If you are renting a car check to make sure that you can drive to all of the states on your itinerary! We rented our car from Budget at the Las Vegas airport location that you take a shuttle to and had no idea until we got there that we were only allowed to drive to Arizona, Utah, California and Nevada! Luckily we didn't add on Mesa Verde like we were trying to at the last minute. The cars have a sticker notifying you that they have a tracker in them.
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Icemule Pro Large Cooler review
As a Dyrt Ranger I got the opportunity to test out exciting camping gear from time to time. For this camping trip I was provided an Icemule Pro Large backpack cooler to review. I was extremely excited to try this out because the only cooler that I have is a cheapo 6-pack holder that you can pretty much just use to keep a few drinks cold for an evening. I liked that this was a backpack instead of a traditionally shaped cooler or a tote bag since lugging a cooler full of consumables AND ice isn’t the most ergonomic thing in the world when you are carrying it on one side of your body or if you need to hoist it up in front of you. Wheeled coolers are also great when you have a smooth surface to pull them across, but you definitely wouldn’t bring one on a trail!
Another nice thing about using this pack instead of a cooler is that it easily fits in places that coolers don’t. We had our car pretty full of suitcases and camping gear, so this just sat on the floor behind the passenger seat for most of the trip. This is currently the smallest bag that they have in this style, and it is huge! I was considering getting a larger size, but I’m so glad that I didn’t. These are the details on the site: Capacity: 23L/ 18 cans+ ice In Use Dimensions: 17" x 11" x 14" Weight: 3.2 lbs
I used this cooler on my weeklong Southwest trip last week. For the first 3 days it was used solely as a car cooler and was filled with about 3/4 of a plastic grocery bag’s worth of food and drink and a big bag of ice that had it completely full. I would not want to carry this full on my back for a significant amount of time. The ice lasted almost 3 days when it was filled to the top with ice on day 1, which is pretty impressive considering that it was in a hot car most of the time. I am looking into loose ice alternatives since it was a pain to try to hack the ice cubes apart (they had fused together on day 2) to try to find what I wanted. Also, there isn’t a spout to release any of the melted water so you need to carefully empty the bag while preventing your stuff from falling out. I’m probably going to experiment with frozen water bottles or with the flexible ice pack sheets.
I really enjoyed this cooler when I had just a short layer of ice at the bottom and a few drinks in it for hiking. It was an odd experience hiking in the treacherous heat at the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada (go here in the early early morning or after 5pm its amazing!) and having brain freeze from extremely chilled water.
Room for improvement
-The pads that are against your back while wearing this are quite scratchy- the first time I brought this on a hike I had to have my husband wear it since I was wearing a tank top that exposed my back to the pads.
-The chest strap(like on the majority of packs) is too low. When I have the chest straps joined together at their highest setting it cuts across my chest in an unfortunate way
-Like I said before- this thing is enormous AND there are even larger sizes!!! They only offer smaller bags in a crossbody style, but I prefer a backpack style.
-I think this line of backpack coolers is geared towards men and the crossbody style is geared towards women. This is evident in the color selection- this pack style currently comes in black, duct tape gray, olive, and camo. I like the black style the most, but I find it easier to find colored things in my storage room so I went with the olive. I do appreciate how little room it takes to store!
I would give this 4/5 stars on account of the minor details that prevented this cooler from being as comfortable as it could- mainly the itchy padding and the chest strap location. I probably would have given it 4.5/5 had there been a better color selection too (shallow, I know). This definitely isn’t a replacement for my regular hiking pack, but I’m definitely glad to have it since I’m usually hiking with my husband so we can each have a pack. There are some accessories that you can purchase to use with the icemule that I think are worth checking out. I bought their drybag for storing unsealed food in the cooler and there is also a Icemule Pro Pack dry storage compartment that you can stash on the outside of the cooler.
This item has a 15% price increase from the time I ordered it to the time that I am writing this review, so if you're interested in picking one up do it sooner than later and you should be able to get 10% off currently on your first order.
GuideI stayed here in May on memorial day weekend. It was extremely hot at the rim of the Grand canyon and cooler here. The campground has two bunkhouses - one for men and one for women. And I believe there are a couple of cabins available too. They book up very quickly. The campground has a store with food and basic items and you can reserve a meal in advance as well.
Scoutit’s right next to the river so it’s easy go take a dip and cool off. running water in front of the store and the store serves beer and food. can’t beat that when hiking for days.
ScoutThis site is incredible! The staff at the cantina are friendly, the camp grounds and facilities are clean and the scenery is breathtaking.
GuideWe stayed at Phantom Ranch when we hiked into the Grand Canyon and it was the highlight of our trip! It’s tucked away in the bottom of the canyon and you can dip your toes in the river after a long day of hiking!
TravelerHiked from Bright Angel Trailhead to Phantom Ranch in one day. After Indian Gardens Campground trail has a couple of areas that are less obvious of direction but overall is easy to follow to campground. Campground requires a permit from NPS, and typically needs to be reserved about 6 months in advance. There are fees required for permit. A permit can be difficult to obtain. There are many camp sites with some close to the river and some away. Campsites are overall smooth and free of rocks, and maintained. All campsites have 2 ammo boxes to hold food, a picnic table, a small concrete square for cookstove, and a stand to hold packs off the ground.The squirrels are bold and will go after ANY food left out. It is necessary to remove all food and plastic bags from packs and put in ammo boxes. Most sites have trees for shade. There are bathrooms with toilets, sinks, and running water. A sink to lightly wash dishes, and water to fill up water bladders and bottles. There is a Cantina a short walk across the bridge with pricey food that requires reservations, drinks for purchase, some necessities, souvenirs, and books and boardgames to use at the Cantina. Staff is helpful and friendly. There is a special Junior Ranger program specific to Phantom Ranch. Mules can be ridden down from the top, and there are cabins and dormitories that you can stay in with a reservation. There are two rivers nearby the campsites and a few small hikes nearby.
Guidelike the previous reviewers, you need to have reservations to stay at the ranch. i looked for a reservation, they were full, put my name on the lottery list, and got a spot the next day. Super lucky we were. Hike down not bad, about 4 hrs down, and hike up not too bad about 4 1/2 hours. Its was 123 when we arrived at the ranch before 10. we left south rim at 530. we soaked in the stream alongside the ranch which was a much needed cool down. food was good, the mess hall was filled with hikers from all over the world. dorm rooms were cooled by a swamp cooler. bunks were clean, showers were cold, and bunkmates were full of info and funny stories.
LegendWe spent 2 nights down in Phantom Ranch at the beginning of Feb. I had never hiked the Grand Canyon before and didn't know what to expect. We hiked from the south rim down Kaibab and were really lucky to have amazing weather. It was pretty amazing to hike for hours and then end up at this tiny community (Phantom Ranch) down at the bottom of the Canyon. Phantom Ranch consists of several small buildings, including a canteen which serves as a store, mess hall, and from 8-10pm, bar. There are also small cabins you can rent but we stayed in one of the shared bunk houses with 10 beds, toilet, shower and sink. You will have a set meal time for breakfast and dinner (no lunch) and it is family style dining. Breakfast is at 5:30a.m. or 7:00a.m. and dinner also has 2 seatings, I think at 5:30 and 6:30. You have to have all of these meals reserved in advance. It was super fun to get to know fellow hikers and share a meal of stew and chocolate cake (which I guess is the standard meal there) and then play games and drink beer for a few hours. We were lucky enough to be there during a full moon so one night we walked about 10 minutes down the path to get to a sandy beach right on the Colorado River - didn't even need our headlamps because the moon was so bright. During our day down at Phantom Ranch we lounged around the picnic tables in front of the canteen, reading, and also hiked up to a ridge that overlooked the Colorado and part of the Kaibab trail that we had hiked down the day before.
There is plenty of potable water at Phantom Ranch so you can fill up your water bottles before you start your hike out. You also need to carry your trash back out with you. Trash from things you buy at Phantom Ranch can be left there.
We hiked out via Bright Angel trail which I loved! not as steep as Kaibab with beautiful turns and beautiful pockets.
LegendIf you win the lottery, this is the place to stay!
Let me clarify. This place is amazing, but the only way to get here it by winning a random lottery for a room (link is HERE). It's such a popular location (for incredibly good reason), that you have to enter a lottery, pick some dates, and cross your fingers. All 3 adults in our group entered, and one of us was picked. Hip hip hooray!
It's located on Bright Angel Creek, just a little bit from the Colorado River. In order to get to Phantom Ranch, you have to be insane enough to want to travel down inside the earth about a mile (most people call this the Grand Canyon), in the sun, covered in red dirt, with your backpack, and enough salty snacks and water to feed an elephant (or you can rent a ride on the mules) That said, if you have the drive and insanity and muscles to get you there, the reward is awesome lemonade, night time ranger talks, conversations with mules (because you might just be that tired at the end of the night), unbelievable experiences meeting other fellow hikers, and delicious comfort food.
Okay, now you can't possibly expect the Ritz when you get here. It's not about that. It's not even close, but it's 5 star in a totally different way. Keep in mind, that this Ranch has been here since the early 1920's. And supplies were either local to the area at the bottom, or brought by mule. So it's not fancy.
What to expect: There are a few ways to stay at Phantom Ranch. First are dorms. There are about 10 bunks per dorm, and it's women and men. Women in one, men in the other. Each dorm has a toilet with a door (modern plumbing) and a shower with hot water. There is also a sink. Each person claims a bunk and that's theirs for their stay. The other way is to rent a cabin. More expensive, but more private. If you rent the cabin, you and yours are the only ones sharing it. Because it's "out of the way", not all the modern conveniences work all the time. So expect it to be a little rustic, but it's all part of the experience. The cabins and dorms have air and heat, so it's a more comfortable experience than camping in a tent.
There is potable water scattered around, a few composting toilets if you are away from your cabin, picnic tables, two outdoor amphitheaters (normally a daytime ranger program at one, and a night program at the other). Inside the canteen you can purchase drinks (alcoholic and non), hiking essentials (toothbrush, sunscreen, salve, etc) and a selection of souvenirs. They even have a little library of books to read, and games that you can borrow and play.
There are some meals available, but you need to order them in advance (or check with them each day to see if they have enough for you to order it). The two evening meals are beef stew and steak. Not cheap, but so worth it! They come with fixings like cornbread, veggies and such, and always dessert. You can also order a veggie option. Breakfast is family style (as is dinner) and was pancakes, bacon, eggs etc when we were there. Coffee and juice too. There aren't many options, but think about it...all the groceries have to be delivered by mule. Make sense? Breakfast is offered at 2 different times (your choice) so you can get hiking early, if you want. Dinner is at different times, too, depending on what you order.
While you are there, you can buy a postcard and have it mailed from the Ranch, by mule! Cool little way to tell your loved ones "look what I did!".
So much to say about this "little piece of wonderful"! You really just have to see it for yourself!
NOTE: please read up on traveling to the bottom of the canyon before you go. Make wise choices about what time of year you want to travel. It was April when we went, and although it was about 50 degrees at the South Rim, it was close to 90 degrees at the bottom. In the summer, they said it can get to about 120 degrees in the shade. So please plan accordingly for snacks, water, travel, clothing choices and temperature
RangerThe best part about camping at the Grand Canyon, is that you don’t have to commute to the Grand Canyon each morning. Sunrise is absolutely astonishing.
TravelerCamping at the Grand Canyon is the best way to experience it. So many trails to walk around and got to see plenty of wildlife right from our campsite. Clean and relaxed area and no excessive noises.
TravelerBeautiful sites with trees for shade and privacy. Wildlife is close by - mostly we saw elk which we loved. Easy walk to the rim as well as a market and visitors center.
ScoutOverall great camping experience, only problem was that it was snowing and 18 degrees when we were camping.
ScoutMy girlfriend and I got lucky in reserving a site in Mather because it is pretty close to the viewing points in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. As narrow as the campground road is, it is wide enough for RV and pickups to drive thru and park. There is plenty of parking to the viewing areas, but you can walk along the bike path from Mather Campgrounds to the viewing sites. They have flush toilets, a host, fire pits on every site, and benches to eat. We didnt have the pleasure of meeting or interacting with the host. We did notice how well organized the sites were kept.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Grand Canyon National Park?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Grand Canyon National Park is Mather Campground — Grand Canyon National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 191 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Grand Canyon National Park?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 glamping camping locations near Grand Canyon National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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