Hayduke Trail Permits: A Detailed Guide
Reading Time: 15 minutes A single Hayduke Trail permit does not exist because the Hayduke isn’t an officially established trail. Instead, it’s a popular backpacking route that traverses multiple areas maintained by multiple agencies. Some employees and/or agencies are more aware of the trail than others.
Many of these land management agencies have grown aware of the Hayduke’s existence, but that doesn’t mean Hayduke hikers are in any way exempt from following the permit systems in place for each of the areas the route passes through.
Arches National Park
Most people begin the Hayduke Trail at the eastern terminus in Arches National Park. One original and two alternate (Devils Garden and Moab Airport) terminuses exist, but all three converge shortly after beginning and all three are located in or on the border of Arches.
The easternmost 23-ish miles (37 km) of the Hayduke are within the park boundary; this will vary slightly depending on the starting/ending point chosen. You must have a permit for all overnight stays in the backcountry.
Camping is only permitted in designated backpacking campsites; there are only four designated backcountry campsites in Arches National Park. One campsite, Devils Garden (DG1), is located just northwest of the vehicle-accessible Devils Garden Campground where you can choose to begin or end the Hayduke.
Two of the other campsites are located in Upper Courthouse Wash (UCW1/UCW2) and the final campsite is located in Lower Courthouse Wash (LCW1).
How to Get It
You (annoyingly) must get a permit in person at the Backcountry Permit Office in the Arches and Canyonlands National Park Headquarters two miles (3.2 km) south of Moab (map). Permits for overnight backcountry stays in Arches can be obtained up to seven days before the trip.
The office is open on weekdays from 8:00 – 16:00 Mountain Time (except on federal holidays).
An Arches National Park backcountry permit costs $7 per person.
You are required to pack out all solid human waste (that means poop) from the backcountry in Arches. Get yourself a wag bag here.
For more on Hayduke permits for Arches National Park, see the Arches National Park website.
How to Avoid It
You have a couple of options if you want to hike the Hayduke Trail without getting an Arches National Park permit.
- You can hike the entire stretch through Arches National Park in a single day. If you’re not getting dropped off by someone at the trailhead, you can make this a bit easier on yourself by booking a campsite at Devils Garden Campground (one of the alternate starts). If you’re heading eastbound you can stay in Moab and simply get an early start in the morning before finishing up your hike.
- Part of the Hayduke Trail follows the western border of Arches National Park. On the other side of this boundary is BLM Land where you’re permitted to camp without a permit. This section is approximately 8 mi / 13 km from the start/eastern terminus and follows the border for approximately 4 mi / 6.4 km. Following this section, you have another 11ish mi (18 km) in the park before reaching the south entrance.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park requires all overnight backcountry users to obtain a permit. The length of the Hayduke Trail within Canyonlands National Park is approximately 21 mi / 34 km.
Needles Outpost (map) is a hiker-friendly campground just outside the National Park boundary. Hikers can send resupply packages here, stay at their walk-up campsite ($30/night) or stay in one of their glamping units for an additional charge. They have wifi (paid), a small store, and hot showers. It’s a 4.5 mi / 7 km detour one-way to Needles Outpost from the Hayduke Trail. The Needles Visitor Center (map) is on the way to Needles Outpost; backcountry permits can be obtained here (in addition to online).
How to Get It
Overnight backcountry permits for Canyonlands National Park are issued via Recreation.gov.
Many hikers opt to stop at the Needles Visitor Center and then try their luck getting a permit for a campsite in the Needles District (this can be done online as well). However, these campsites are oftentimes full and they can be challenging to secure permits for as people can reserve them up to five months in advance. This is a more scenic area of the park which is why some hikers prefer a route through here, but permits can be limiting.
Permits are generally more readily available for backcountry camping within the Needles North Zone (dispersed camping), Red Lake/Grabens Zone (dispersed camping), or Butler/West Side Canyons Zones (dispersed camping). The Hayduke Trail passes through all three of these zones.
A Canyonlands National Park backcountry permit costs $36 plus $5 per person, per night (e.g. a two-night permit for one person would be $46).
you’re required to pack out all solid human waste (yes, your poop) when camped at any designated backpacking campsite or within 0.5 mi / 800 m of the Green River or Colorado River. Get a wag bag here.
For more on Canyonlands permits, check out Recreation.gov or the Canyonlands National Park website.
Note: If you want to do an alternate through and camp in the Salt Creek area, you will be required to have a bear canister. Yes, a bear canister.
How to Avoid It
As is the case with Arches National Park, there are also two primary ways to hike the Hayduke Trail through Canyonlands National Park without a permit.
- Hike the entirety of the Canyonlands National Park section of the Hayduke in a single day without an overnight stay. The section of the Hayduke in Canyonlands National Park is approximately 21 mi / 34 km long.
- Hike to Needles Outpost (not to be confused with the nearby Needles Visitor Center) which is not in the National Park. Needles Outpost has walk-up campsites available for Hayduke hikers ($30) as well as several other glamping sites for around $80. After a night at Needles Outpost, you can complete your hike out of the park; the quickest route out of the park is around 17 mi / 27 km. Or you can take a more scenic route through the Needles District back to the Hayduke.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
The Hayduke Trail passes through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GCNRA) multiple times. Heading westbound, the first time you enter the boundary is exiting Dark Canyon, intersecting with Lost Canyon (37.85846, -110.17982). Haduke hikers then dip out momentarily back into BLM land before reentering GCNRA a short while later just east of UT-95/Hite (which used to be a potential resupply stop for Hayduke hikers but has since closed).
This first section of GCNRA does not require you to have a permit. The first place within GCNRA you’re required to have a permit is the Escalante District (immediately southwest of Capitol Reef National Park). But, as it turns out (if you don’t want to read below), you don’t need a permit for GCNRA.
Note: You are required to pack out all solid human waste (that means poop) from the backcountry in the Escalante Corridor within GCNRA. Get yourself a wag bag here.
How to Get It
According to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area website, you can, “obtain permits at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in the town of Escalante or one of the entry trailheads.”
If you’re heading westbound, you will not have passed the town of Escalante before entering this area so your option will be to obtain a permit “at one of the entry trailheads”. However, because Hayduke hikers will be entering GCNRA via the backcountry there is no permit station at the trailhead to obtain a permit.
I called the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center (map) to get clarification on what needed to be done if entering the Escalante District via the backcountry. The person who answered didn’t know what to tell me and after them checking with someone and me hearing “they hiking the Hayduke?” in the background, the same person returned and told me that permits are not required, just recommended.
How to Avoid It
Turns out you don’t need to get a permit to hike this section. That said, if you happen to enter Glen Canyon National Recreation Area via a trailhead with a self-issue permit station, go ahead and fill one out.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is the third national park (westbound) Hayduke hikers enter. The Hayduke Trail is in Capitol Reef National Park for approximately 26 mi / 42 km.
Note: burying toilet paper is prohibited in Capitol Reef National Park (you should pack out your toilet paper everywhere – especially on the Hayduke).
For additional information on backcountry travel, use, permits, and camping in Capitol Reef, check the park’s website.
How to Get It
Apparently, getting permits for Capitol Reef National Park used to be a huge pain for Hayduke hikers – many would opt not to get them because the park required in-person pick-ups of permits at locations inconvenient for the over-land Hayduke hiker.
Fortunately, they have revised this system and it’s now incredibly easy to get Hayduke Trail permits for Capitol Reef National Park. Capitol Reef’s website states permits must be picked up in person but, there is a (rare) exception for Hayduke hikers.
You just need to contact the park via this form (which can also be found on this page under the heading “Hayduke Trail”). You’ll need to provide your name, email, and mailing address (nothing will be sent to your mailing address). The message I included was, “Hello! I am emailing as per the instructions on the NPS website regarding obtaining a permit to hike the Hayduke through Capitol Reef NP. Thank you!“
I received an email requesting the following information: name, address, communication device type (cell/satellite/personal locator device) and contact number, estimated start date (within the park boundary), estimated finish date (within the park boundary), location of entry, location of exit, number of people in your group, approximate camping location(s) and number of nights, and method of travel.
For the north/eastern entrance to the park (on a westbound hike), I put “Swamp Canyon via Hayduke” and for the south/western exit from the park (again, westbound hike), I put “Middle Moody Canyon via Hayduke.” I received an email with a permit number; it said, “all you have to do is remember this.” Easy enough.
Capitol Reef National Park backcountry permits are free.
How to Avoid It
It’s incredibly easy to get a Capitol Reef National Park permit for hiking the Hayduke and there isn’t much reason to attempt to not get one – especially since it’s free. However, because permits are only required for overnight backcountry stays in the park, you could hike the entire 26 mi / 42 km through the park in a single day to avoid needing a permit for this section.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The information provided by the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument website is sub-par at best. There is no permit information provided on the website, so I took the scary step of calling the Visitor Center.
The verdict? Overnight trips within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument do not require permits.
For reference, here is a map of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Bryce Canyon National Park
The Hayduke Trail is in Bryce Canyon National Park for 13 mi / 21 km. Overnight backcountry stays require permits in Bryce Canyon from March through November. These permits are issued via Recreation.gov.
I imagine most (if not all) Hayduke hikers will opt not to get a Bryce Canyon National Park permit because anyone camping within the park boundary must carry a bear canister. Yes, a bear canister. There are bears in Bryce Canyon. For this reason, many Hayduke hikers will likely forgo camping within the park boundary. You are also required to check in at the Visitor Center (a detour from the Hayduke) if camping within the park.
How to Get It
The Hayduke Trail follows the Under-the-Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park. Camping in the park along this route is limited to seven established campsites. Peak season (March through November) trips can be reserved up to five months in advance via Recreation.gov. Walk-up permits are available for winter trips (December through February).
Bryce Canyon National Park permits cost $10 + $5 per person (e.g., a solo permit costs $15).
How to Avoid It
Hayduke hikers have four choices to avoid the requirement for a Bryce Canyon National Park permit.
- Complete the entire 13 mi / 21 km stretch through the park in a single day.
- Hike up to the Visitor Center (map) or Main Park Road/Bryce Canyon Road – the Hayduke runs parallel just under the rim – and then hitch to Tropic to resupply. Then, return and hike the remainder of the Hayduke to the park boundary.
- Take Grand View Trail #3306 just east of and below the Under-the-Rim Trail – this trail is outside the park and does not require a permit. It reconnects with the Hayduke just south of where the Hayduke exits the park boundary.
- Hike Skutumpah Road between Willis Creek and Bullrush Hollow to completely cut off the Bryce Canyon section of the Hayduke.
Grand Canyon National Park
A Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) permit is one you 100% have to get if you want to hike the Hayduke Trail and not skip any sections. The Hayduke Trail traverses nearly 150 mi / 240 km of Grand Canyon National Park. Taking the Tonto Trail/North Bass Alternate makes this even longer.
Permits should be obtained ahead of time and can be obtained via Recreation.gov. Permits are issued (first) via lottery. For a Grand Canyon backcountry permit, you must register for a month’s application lottery four to five months in advance. So, for an April permit date, you’ll need to enter the lottery in November, for a May start date, December, and so on. Find a chart of lottery dates here (under “Important Dates”). The lottery costs $10 to enter (this is counted toward your permit if you win one).
If you missed the permit lottery application window, you can find the currently available permits here. Last-minute permits are also available at the Backcountry Information Center, located inside the park on the South Rim and the North Rim. However, a last-minute permit is impractical since the Hayduke enters the Park far from these two places.
Yes, you indeed used to have to obtain this permit by faxing (yes, faxing) a Backcountry Permit Application to the Backcountry Information Center. This is no longer the case.
Check out the park’s website for more on Grand Canyon National Park Hayduke permits.
How to Get It
One thing you can do to make your life much easier when securing a Grand Canyon permit is to hike from Rim to Rim in a single day. That is, hike from the South Rim to the North Rim in one day without camping in what’s known as the Corridor (i.e., anywhere on the Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab Trail, or North Kaibab Trail, including Phantom Ranch). These campsites are highly competitive and are where most visitors to the park will be hiking/camping.
Grand Canyon National Park used a series of alphanumeric campsites and at-large camping zones (dispersed camping) for their permitting system. It’s not easy to find the map of these areas, but at the time of publication, it can be found here. I will be posting a follow-up article with a breakdown of my permit request for others to copy if they wish (because it’s a bit of a pain to put together).
After you submit your permit application, GCNP will respond to you via email and, if your itinerary is available, will request that you fill out a “Hiker Information Sheet.” This requires you to provide your daily mileage in addition to where precisely you plan on camping each night (I typically use the nearest creek/drainage/canyon if not camping at a designated site) and which trails you plan to use. It also asks about the gear you’ll carry and your previous desert/Grand Canyon hiking experience. You must fax this form as well.
You will receive your permit if your itinerary is approved; you must print, sign, and carry it.
Grand Canyon National Park backcountry permits are $10 per permit plus $15 per person per night camped below the rim and $4 per person per night camped above the rim (e.g., a six-day permit for a solo hiker camping five nights below the rim would be $85).
Note: A backcountry permit also permits you to travel up to 8 mi / 13 km on the river (if you decide to bring a packraft).
How to Avoid It
There is no avoiding getting a Grand Canyon National Park permit if you want to hike the entirety of the Hayduke Trail. You will either need to obtain a Grand Canyon backcountry permit or skip this section of the route.
If you want to skip Grand Canyon, the easiest way is to cut across the Kaibab Plateau between the Arizona Trail south of Jacob Lake and Kanab Creek.
Zion National Park
The western terminus of the Hayduke Trail is in Zion National Park. Unfortunately, massive rockfall has made travel into the park from the East Rim (where the Hayduke is) impossible. This cuts off the westernmost 12 mi / 19 km of the trail.
Hikers have a few options for ending (or beginning) their Hayduke hikes (none of them are too great). The most popular option is simply ending (or beginning) at Highway 9 – the road connects the two vehicle-accessible park entrances.
The Hayduke Trail enters Zion National Park 3.2 mi / 5.2 km before reaching the road. It’s 4.35 mi / 7 km west on the road (which some hikers choose to walk next to) until reaching the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel where there is no pedestrian access (i.e. you’ll have to hitchhike through this tunnel if you want to make it into the valley).
Find out more about Zion National Park’s wilderness reservations here. Here is a map of Zion National Park’s backcountry.
How to Get It
Zion National Park has its own backcountry permit reservation system that can be accessed here. You’ll need to create an account to create a reservation.
You can see a listing of available campsites here. Permits can be reserved online but all wilderness permits must be obtained in person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk (map) or the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center (map). Assuming the entire Hayduke route to be open, this presents a hurdle for westbound Hayduke Hikers. Those wishing to camp one night in the park before heading to the finish would need to hitchhike (or otherwise transport themselves) to one of the two offices to obtain their permit before hitchhiking back to the trailhead.
Permit reservations have a $5 fee. Permits are charged an additional $15 for 1 to 2 people, $20 for 3 to 7 people, or $25 for 8 to 12 people.
How to Avoid It
Because the Hayduke Trail now only has 3.2 accessible miles (5.2 km) in Zion National Park, there’s little need for a backcountry permit. Simply camp outside the park the day before you finish or the day before you start and you’ll have successfully avoided your final (or first) Hayduke permit.
Alternate Route Permits
There are a few popular alternate routes on the Hayduke Trail that require permits of their own. The most notable are:
- Happy Maze Alternate (Canyonlands National Park)
- Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon
- Coyote Buttes North (The Wave)
TL;DR
You can hike the entirety of the Hayduke Trail, legally and strategically, and only have to obtain a permit from Grand Canyon National Park. Here’s how to eliminate the need for permits in each area.
- Arches National Park: can hike the entire park in a day (~23 mi / 37 km) or camp outside the boundary
- Canyonlands National Park: can hike the entire park in a day (~21 mi / 34 km) or camp outside the boundary
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: permit not required
- Capitol Reef National Park: hike the entire park in a day (26 mi / 42 km) or email for a free permit not subject to a quota
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: permit not required
- Bryce Canyon National Park: can hike the entire park in a day (~13 mi / 21 km) or camp outside the boundary
- Grand Canyon National Park: permit required – no way around this if you want to hike in the park
- Zion National Park: can hike the entire park in a day (3.2 mi / 5.2 km to road)
