Overview

Due to high demand, Mather Campground recommends reservations during peak season: March 1- November 30. You may book reservations up to 6 months in advance.

Mather Campground is on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Grand Canyon is one of the most inspiring landscapes on Earth and draws over five million visitors per year to its spectacular scenery.

Mather 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 of the campground..

The campground is at an elevation of approximately 7,000 ft. (2134 m). 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 occasional snow. Visitors should come prepared for changes in weather.

Recreation

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 follows the edge of the canyon for 14 miles (23 km). Leashed pets are allowed on both trails, but are not permitted below the rim.

Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails descend into the canyon from the South Rim (trailheads are a short shuttle bus ride from the campground) and other Day Hiking trails are available. The park's concessionaire also offers day and overnight mule trips into the canyon and along the rim.

Facilities

Mather Campground strongly recommends advanced reservations during peak season, March 1- November 30.

Mather Campground is a large facility with 327 campsites. Each site includes a campfire ring with a cooking grate, picnic table, parking space and room for up to three tents. The campground also has approximately 15 first-come first-served campsites available on the day of the sale for one night only. Check availability in person with rangers during open hours. These sites usually sell out by 11:00 am.

Visitors without camping reservations may not take an unoccupied site. Unoccupied sites are not first-come, first-served. These sites have reservations, but the campers have not arrived yet. This rule is strictly enforced by law enforcement rangers.

There are flush toilets and drinking water spigots throughout the campground. There are no hookups available but there is a free dump station near by at Camper Services. Trailer Village, located next to Mather Campground, has hookups and can accommodate larger RVs. Almost all of the RV spaces are pull-through. Generators are NOT permitted in Pine Loop (sites 265-319).

Natural Features

Mather Campground lies beneath a tall canopy of Ponderosa pine, Pinyon, and Juniper trees that provide most campsites with ample shade. The campground is one mile (1.6 km) from the rim of the canyon. A visit to the canyon during sunrise or sunset yields spectacular views of yellow, orange, red and violet hues on the canyon walls. Layers of rock display billions of years of geology.

Campers can take a short shuttle bus ride from the campground to the Visitor 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 (446 km) 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.

Nearby Attractions

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 Pueblo Museum provides glimpses into the life of a small Ancestral Puebloan village 800 years ago. Both are within 25 miles (40 km) from the campground.

Federal Recreation Area

About MATHER CAMPGROUND

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