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I am going to be thru hiking the AZT in August and have managed to get permits/reservations for bright angel in the canyon and Mather campground on the south rim, however there isn't any space available at the north rim campground on the date I expect to arrive. Where can I camp and still stay close to the N. Kaibab Trail. I'm hoping to get an early start into the canyon.

There are hiker/biker campsites in the North Rim campground. $6 per night. You have to arrive on foot or bicycle. They usually don't fill up, even on a busy weekend. You don't need a reservation and the campground office is open until 7pm. The campground is .78 miles from the North Kaibab trailhead.

@Dave1
Good info Dave! I'll have to file that away in the old pea brain. Is it the same for Mather?

azbackpackr wrote:@Dave1
Good info Dave! I'll have to file that away in the old pea brain. Is it the same for Mather?

Not from Dave, but yes there is a hiker/biker site @ Mather as well. This/these are 'shared' sites.

No backcountry permit is required if you hike Rim-to-Rim in one day: I did this last month, hiking the Kaibab from the S. Rim to the N. Rim late that day, then hiked in to the Hiker-Biker area of the N. Rim campground. If you hike or bike to this spot ($6/night, or half that if you have a Sr. Park Pass) you need no reservation.

(I did the reverse of this on the return, 'tho I didn't camp on the S. Rim....I suspect there's a hiker-biker area in 1 of the S. Rim CG's w/the same policy).

Happy Trls., all
Jon Phipps/Rodknee Dangertrl.

that is great news! thanks to all the informative answers

Sorry you paid for Mather! You could've crashed at my place in Tusayan if you'd wanted.
Same goes for all you HAZzers if you give me enough heads up. Happy hiking!!