How to get a Canyonlands Backcountry Permit

 by Ellen Heyn, Communications Manager

We’ve bemoaned backcountry permit systems before, but it turns out that once you know the nuances of each park, getting your golden ticket isn’t so bad.

And good news for you, the permit system for Canyonlands National Park is relatively simple and straightforward — it’s all online and doesn’t require lottery applications. Here’s what you need to know:

The basics

Camping anywhere in the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park and the Orange Cliffs unit of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area requires a permit, whether you’re traveling by foot, boat, bike, or 4WD vehicle.

You can reserve permits online between two days and four months of your desired start date. The park’s online reservation system is pretty easy to use — the caveat being you need to know where you want to go before perusing the availability. Need ideas? We’ve got you covered ›

Canyonlands is broken up into four districts, with maps linked below showing campsites and at-large camping zones for each.

• Island in the Sky
• The Maze (includes Orange Cliffs unit of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area)
• Horseshoe Canyon
• The Needles

Make the reservation

Once you know where you want to go, hop on the reservation portal and choose your desired activity, start date, and district. A table populates showing the permit availability for that area of the park, and you can pan through different date ranges.

If the itinerary you want is available, make the reservation. The park service will send you payment instructions via email after they process it.

NOTE: If you don’t pay within 48 hours, the park will cancel your permit.

If staying in designated backcountry campsites, you will be able to print your permit yourself. If staying in at-large zones or in the Maze district, you must pick up your permit at the nearest visitor center. 

Frequently asked questions:

How much does a permit cost?

In addition to the park entrance fee, backcountry permits cost $30 for your group (see note below about group size).

How many people can be on a permit?

Maximum group sizes vary based on district and activity. 

• Backpacking 
• Island in the Sky – 7 people
• The Needles – 7 people
• The Maze – 5 people
• 4WD/mountain bike
• Island in the Sky – 15 people/3 vehicles
• The Needles – 10 people/3 vehicles
• The Maze – 9 people/3 vehicles

What about last-minute permits?

If you tend to leave plans to the last minute, don’t dismay. You may be able to snatch a walk-in permit from the visitor center if there are leftovers from the online reservation system.

Start planning your Canyonlands National Park adventure ›