How to Make Reservations For Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon: Complete Guide

If you are wondering if there is a hotel at bottom of Grand Canyon or even just what’s at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, then the answer is yes, “Phantom Ranch” – the lodge at the bottom of Grand Canyon. 

If you’re expecting an upscale Grand Canyon Ranch resort, then you will be disappointed, as Phantom Ranch is actually a collection of rustic cabins and dorms, with camping also available nearby.  However, if staying at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is on your bucket list and you are willing to rough it a little, then you will love it!

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The downside is that there aren’t actually many Grand Canyon cabins at the bottom, so there’s very limited availability at Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch.  At the same time, lots of people want to stay at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  The result is that making reservations for it isn’t easy.

How to Make Reservations at Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch reservations are very hard to get if you are not part of a river boat group, so if you are hiking down and then back out again, you will need to plan far in advance. 

In fact, the “ranch at bottom of Grand Canyon” is so popular that Phantom Ranch Grand Canyon reservations can now only be made through a lottery system. 

Phantom Ranch Lottery

In the 15^th month before you want to stay (yes, 15 months!), you enter a lottery online for a Phantom Ranch booking.  This applies to any date in the month you intend to stay. 

You can enter the lottery any day from the 1^st to the 25^th of the month.  There is no advantage to entering on the 1^st rather than later in the month; all entries go into the same lottery.  Then you will be notified of the results in the following month (the 14^th month before your intended stay). 

There are two rounds of notifications for Phantom Ranch Grand Canyon reservations.  The first round is notified on the 4^th of the month and they have until the 13^th to confirm.  Any unconfirmed bookings then go into another drawing that happens on the 17^th.  They have until the 26^th to confirm. 

Any spaces unconfirmed after that will go on general sale on the first of the following month (13 months before the month of the intended stay).

This sounds complicated, so this table hopefully makes it easier to understand.

Overview of Grand Canyon Reservations, Phantom Ranch

Phantom Ranch, like all of the lodges, is run by Grand Canyon Lodges (the parent company is Xanterra).  Their website is here.   

For a full list of FAQs and additional Phantom Ranch reservation tips, click here.

To enter the Phantom Ranch lottery, check general availability or the Phantom Ranch cost, visit their website here.

‼️ Reservations dop open up close to date as people cancel, so it you didn’t get a reservation, always keep checking. This is especially true in summer when people first start hearing about people dying in the canyon and panic and cancel their reservation.

How to get to Phantom Ranch

There are three ways to get to Phantom Ranch.

1. Phantom Ranch Hike

The Grand Canyon trails to bottom are not for the unfit, and you can’t safely hike to Phantom Ranch in one day and make it back to the rim in the same day.  This makes staying at the bottom essential if you want to make it from the rim to the river.  There is actually more than one trail to Phantom Ranch.

The Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch is the most famous Grand Canyon South Rim hike to bottom. The trail is about 9.9 miles/ 16 km long.  ➡️ Read my Complete Guide to Hiking Bright Angel to Phantom Ranch here.

The South Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch is the other south rim Grand Canyon hike to the bottom.  The South Kaibab to Phantom Ranch is less famous than the Bright Angel to Phantom Ranch, and starts at a different trailhead, but ends at the same point.  The South Kaibab starts at a higher elevation, but is shorter (6.7 miles/ 10.8 km) because it is steeper and more direct.  
There is a shuttle bus from the main South Rim area to the trailhead.  A popular combination is to hike down South Kaibab and then hike up Bright Angel. 

The only trail from the north rim to Phantom Ranch is the North Kaibab Trail.  To Phantom Ranch from the North Rim is about 14 miles/ 22.5 km.

It’s possible to do a Rim to Rim hike, starting at either the South or the North Rim and hiking to the other.
If you do this, you can take a Trans-Canyon Shuttle daily May 15 – November 30 between the North and South Rims.  You can make a reservation (required) online or  928-638-2820.  The shuttle takes about 4.5 hours each way.

Hiking Tips

For some hiking resources, check out:

➡️ If you are new to hiking, don’t miss my Hiking Guide for Beginners

➡️ If you aren’t sure what to wear and take, check out my Packing List for Day Hikes and Hiking Gear for Beginner Hikers

➡️ If you aren’t sure who has right of way – the hiker going up or the hiker going down (and other conundrums), read my Etiquette Guide for Hikers

➡️ If you worried about getting lost (though the Grand Canyon trails are generally easy to follow), here is a Guide to Reading Trail Markers

⚠️ The canyon gets very hot in summer and hiking below the rim is not to be taken lightly. People die every year in the canyon. Train, have lots of salty snacks and electrolytes and water/ water filtration system.

Duffel Service to Phantom Ranch

There is a duffel service available on the Bright Angel Trail.  You can pay for a mule to carry your luggage while you just hike with a small day pack.  The service costs $80 each way at the time of writing and can be arranged when you make your reservation.  There is a strict weight and size restriction.  I did this and it was worth every cent. 

2. Phantom Ranch Mule Ride

Yes, mule rides to Phantom Ranch from the South Rim are an option.  It means you don’t need to hike, but unless you are used to riding a horse (or mule), it is worth knowing that a mule trip to Phantom Ranch can actually be much more uncomfortable than hiking. 

I took a three-hour mule-ride just at the top of the canyon, on flat ground, and long before the end of it, I was in so much pain I wouldn’t have done anything to get off the damn mule.  Riding requires a whole set of muscles that I have NOT developed.   

An alternative to the mule trips to Phantom Ranch is to hike but use the mules to carry your luggage (see above).

3. Rafting to Phantom Ranch

The only way to avoid the lottery is to take a rafting trip from the start of the canyon to the half-way point (Phantom Ranch).  Trips often spend their last night with a stay at Phantom Ranch, organized by the rafting company.  Then you hike the Bright Angel Trail out of the canyon up to the South Rim. 

➡️ Read my post on Rafting through the Grand Canyon for full details.

➡️ READ MORE: How to Get to Grand Canyon National Park

What to Expect at Phantom Ranch

Phantom Ranch amenities

There are rustic cabins and dorms and a large central hall for dining, a shop, reception and a post office.  You can buy postcards and send them from there – they are carried out by mule and are stamped with this, which is pretty cool.   

There are free ranger talks held throughout the day and evening.  I attended an interesting talk in the afternoon on rattle snakes and an evening of stories about early Colorado River runners.

Cabins at Phantom Ranch

Staying at Phantom Ranch is all about being at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, rather than comfort.  Cabins and dorms are rustic, with bunk beds crowded into small rooms.  However, the cabins are clean and each cabin is set amongst trees, so it is a lovely setting.

Phantom Ranch Canteen

The Phantom Ranch restaurant is a rustic room with shared tables and simple meals. 

Phantom Ranch dinner reservations for main meals need to be pre-ordered when you book your accommodations.  Dinner is simple family-style fare – stew, cornbread and salad. It’s possible to book a meal if you are camping, though people staying at Phantom Ranch take precedence.

Views

Take some time at the Colorado River to soak in the views. Both the Silver Bridge (Bright Angel Trail) and Black Bridge (South Kaibab Trail) are popular viewpoints inside Grand Canyon.

Camping at the Bottom of the Grand Canyon

Phantom Ranch camping is actually at the nearby (1/2 mile away) Bright Angel Campground.  This is sometimes called the Phantom Ranch camp, but is technically Bright Angel.  It is the only option for camping at the bottom of Grand Canyon. It is located 9.9 miles from the South Rim and 14 miles from the North Rim.

The other two campgrounds inside the canyon are Havasupai Gardens (formerly called Indian Garden) Campground (on the Bright Angel Trail 4.8 miles below the South Rim) and Cottonwood Campground (on the North Kaibab Trail 6.8 miles below the North Rim).

Phantom Ranch Campground Reservations

Reservations for all three of the above campgrounds need to be made directly with the National Park Services.  They require a back-country permit and are made through the Backcountry Information Center.  Check out their website for full details, which involve sending a written request at certain times of the month.

There are also a small number of walk-up permits given out in person at the South Rim and/or North Rim Backcountry Information Centers for the next day.  It’s possible to get a waitlist number the day before to help you get further ahead in the line. 

Camping is limited to two nights (consecutive or non-consecutive) per campsite or campground per hike (four nights maximum November 15 – February 28).

Staying at the bottom of Grand Canyon is an incredible experience.  Good luck with getting a reservation.  Phantom Ranch is worth the hassle!

Additional Planning Resources for Grand Canyon National Park

⭐ Grand Canyon Guide
⭐ Grand Canyon South Rim Deluxe Itinerary
⭐ Grand Canyon North Rim Basic Itinerary
⭐ Planning A Trip to Grand Canyon National Park: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ How Long to Stay in Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ White Water Rafting In The Grand Canyon
⭐ Best Things To Do In Grand Canyon (South Rim)
⭐ Best Grand Canyon Viewpoints
⭐ 15 Top Tips for Visiting Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ The Complete Guide To Hiking The Bright Angel Trail
⭐ How To Get To Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ The Best Airports Near The Grand Canyon
⭐ The Airport Nearest Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ The Best Time to Visit Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ Visiting Grand Canyon National Park: What To Expect Throughout the Year
⭐ Best Books about the Grand Canyon
⭐ Vacation Rentals In and Near Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ Vacation rentals in Flagstaff
⭐ Vacation rentals in Sedona
⭐ 12 Fun Facts About the Grand Canyon

Do you have any stories about or tips for staying at Phantom Ranch? I’d love to hear them. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know.

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About the Author

James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.

He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.

Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.

As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.

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