What is the penalty for camping at the bottom of The Grand Canyon without a permit?

As I have always obtained a permit, I do not know what the fines are, but they are reported to be hefty. If you are in the corridor area you must also stay in designated camp sites or you will be fined, and in the corridor near water, odds are VERY good you will be caught. Even if you felt like taking a risk, DO NOT go bushwacking off trail in June! (Don't do it anytime actually...obey the rules..they are there for a reason) It is brutally hot in June and if you get in trouble you don't have much time to get to water. The stories about people dying are real, and most occur during the summer months. I think you may get your permit as people with any experience at the Grand Canyon won't be competing for those permits. They avoid the hot months. I have begun my hike in snow at the rim and been barefoot in shorts playing on the beach at the bottom. The temperature difference is something people just can't imagine until they experience it. If you don't get one, take it as an omen, and try again sometime during a cooler month.

The issue here really has nothing to do with the letter of the law But rather the spirit of the law If you got caught hiking w/o a permit you would probably have to pay a hefty fine and be asked to leave the Canyon ASAP.It is also possible that since you don't have a permit then you can't legally park your vehicle at a trail-head>so you run the risk of fines & towing costs. Could an experienced Canyon hiker such as myself or sascoaz or somebody else step off the Rim and do an illegal Inner Canyon hike for a week ? No doubt that we could easily do that Would we ? Absolutely not All experienced Canyon hikers understand exactly why NPS had to impliment the detailed back country use area system that they did We understand it and we strictlly abide by it because we know that it's the only way to reasonably insure that the fragile back-country of the Canyon that we have all some how managed to fall in love with will be preserved beyond our lifetimes. You also have to understand that NPS personnel are not going to be the only people that are going to notice the absence of a back-country permit hanging on your pack ; Your fellow hikers will notice it , mule drovers will notice it ,and if you plan on using a beach campsite at this time of year it's possible that rafting parties will notice it also The person above me gave you great advice about how experienced hikers don't hike the Inner Canyon between 5/1 and10/1 Depending on upon which Rime you're measuring it from there is typically a 25-30 degree temperature difference between Rim and RIo In June you're looking at the start of triple digit temps at the Rio During the course of that hike you will traverse 5-6 of the worlds climate zones. So you wanna be a solo newbie canyon hiker that nobody knows where your going or when supposed to be there ? Not a good idea Why don't you reconsider this hike for early November and really enjoy the Canyon Descend the Hermit Do 2 nights at Granite Rapids 1 night at Boucher where the Tonto west splits off and heads downriver 1 night at a dry camp above the Redwall on Boucher Exit via Boucher Safe trip Btw I've never heard of this "I heard a lot of people end up camping at the bottom regardless of the permit" Btw2 Just to be positive about what the penalties are: Give the Backcountry Office a call tomorrow between1:00-5:00PM MST and see what they have to say about your plan (928) 638-7875

You will be forced to become a mule and ferry greenhorn tourists up and down the canyon trails!! Better think twice. Some of those touristas are mighty "beefy" Seriously - look for Mr. Danger to answer your question. He is the Grand Canyon expert on YA and his advice should be heeded!@!