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Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon, Sedona and the Southwest

Phantom Ranch – New Lottery System to Debut

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Phantom Ranch cabin | Photo by Denise Traver

Phantom Ranch cabin | Photo by Denise Traver

If you’ve ever tried getting reservations at Phantom Ranch, you already know how difficult that is. There are only 92 beds total in all the cabins and dorms combined, and these are used by hikers and overnight mule riders alike.

Currently, reservations become available on the first of each month for the same month of the following year and are basically sold out immediately. Well, things are about to change!

Starting with stays for January 2019 and beyond, Grand Canyon National Park Lodges (Xanterra) is converting to an online lottery reservation system for random selection of the bed space for cabins and dorms. They are still working out details which are supposed to be completed by November 2017. Below are some details that have been determined at this point.

  • Lottery entries will be required between the 1st and 25th of the 15th month prior to the desired stay month.
  • Lottery submissions will be processed, lottery winners notified and reservations guaranteed within the 14th month prior.
  • Any unsold/unclaimed inventory will be released to general availability for reservations following the current 13-month reservation window.

Example

  • Month of Stay: January 2019
  • Lottery Submission: November 1-25, 2017
  • Lottery Processing and Notification: December 2017
  • Unsold inventory to General Availability: January 2, 2018 (normally on the 1st of the month, January is on the 2nd due to the New Year’s Day holiday)

Below is a table that Grand Canyon National Park Lodges has provided on their site for assisting visitors in determining the timeline for submitting and processing times for their new lottery reservation system.

Cancellations will continue to be filled with those on a same day wait list.

Month of StayLottery SubmissionLottery Processing and NotificationUnsold Inventory Released for General Sale
January 2019November 1-25, 2017December 2017January 2, 2018
February 2019December 1-25, 2017January 2018February 1, 2018
March 2019January 1-25, 2018February 2018March 1, 2018
April 2019February 1-25, 2018March 2018April 1, 2018
May 2019March 1-25, 2018April 2018May 1, 2018
June 2019April 1-25, 2018May 2018June 1, 2018
July 2019May 1-25, 2018June 2018July 1, 2018
August 2019June 1-25, 2018July 2018August 1, 2018
September 2019July 1-25, 2018August 2018September 1, 2018
October 2019August 1-25, 2018September 2018October 1, 2018
November 2019September 1-25, 2018October 2018November 1, 2018
December 2019October 1-25, 2018November 2018December 1, 2018

About Denise Traver

Having been a Grand Canyon backcountry ranger at Cottonwood, Phantom Ranch and Indian Garden as well as a Grand Canyon Field Institute guide, I am intimately familiar with the challenges for those planning--and doing--a hike here. My goal is to help provide the tools for planning your trip with the information and links necessary to do so. My hope is that you have an enjoyable and safe trip.