Grand Island National Recreation Area

Customers must print out reservation permit or have it on your phone.

Campsites can be reserved for up to 4 consecutive days. Reservations are required and can be made up to and including the day of arrival.

There are 19 individual (4-6 people and 2 tents per site) and two group sites (1-25 people, 2 tents per site pad) on Grand Island. Reservations are required for camping on Grand Island between Memorial Day through Columbus Day with the exception of Cobble Cove, Flat Rock, and Muskrat Point campsites which will remain first-come, first-served.

You may use dead and down firewood collected from the nearby woods or provided firewood for your campfire. Do not cut down live or standing trees.

Sites are hike in, bike in or boat in only. Public vehicles are not allowed on the Island.

Your campsite must be occupied by 7:00 p.m. the day of your reservation and may not be left unattended over 24 hours thereafter. If you have not arrived by 7:00 p.m. the day of your reservation, your reservation will be canceled and the campsite will be opened up for reservations.

Black bears live on this island. Information is available at the Ranger District on how to prevent and survive bear encounters. Be prepared to store your food and all consumable and scented items, including trash, in the bear locker or on the bear pole at the site. Never leave food unattended in campsite.

There are no supplies available on the Island.

Pack-in/Pack-out all of your gear, unused food, trash and other supplies; there is no trash service on Grand Island.

The mosquitoes and black flies can be very bad from Mid-May to mid-July. Be sure to bring plenty of insect repellant and even a head net during those months.

Avoid climbing on or standing along the sandstone cliffs. The sandstone is very fragile and may not support your weight.

Grand Island is closed to rock climbing, rappelling and portable generators.

Domestic animals must be kept on a leash, except while being used for hunting.

Through the Recreation Enhancement Act, a fee of $5.00/per person per trip is charged, and is included in the passenger ferry fee; season, family and boat entrance passes are also available.