To stay overnight in Yellowstone's backcountry, one must first obtain a backcountry permit, available at most ranger stations and visitor centers. Permits must be obtained in person, not more than 48 hours before the first camping date of the trip. Backcountry permits are valid only for the dates and places selected. Permits are not required for day hikes in most areas. However, hikers must observe all backcountry regulations. For current information on trail conditions, check with the ranger station closest to the lcoation of the hike.

Unlike permits, which may only be obtained in person, requests for campsite reservations may be made by mail or in person. Booking of reservations begins April 1st of the current year. Reservations cannot be made by telephone and must be submitted on a Trip Planning Worksheet. To obtain one, call the backcountry office at 307-344-3160 or write: Backcountry Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. Reservations are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. A confirmation notice (not a permit) will be given or mailed to the camper when the reservation is made. Use this confirmation notice to obtain the actual permit not more than 48 hours before the first camping date.

The reservations must be confirmed or converted to a permit by 10:00 a.m. on the first day of the trip or the site(s) will be released. Reservations may be confirmed by phone. The reservation fee, which is the same regardless of the number of nights or people on a single trip, is not refundable. Payment may be made by cash, personal or traveller's check, or money order.

Designated Campsites: To protect people, bears and park resources, camping is only allowed in designated campsites. Most of these are equipped with a food-storage pole so food and other bear attractants can be hung out of bears' reach. The park has about 300 backcountry campsites, each with restrictions on group size, stock use, boating access, campfires, and length of stay. During the winter season, camping in designated campsites is generally not required. Check with rangers before beginnning a backcountry trip to find out about current snowpack, weather, and camping restrictions.

Recommended Camp Set-up:

• Suspend items 10 feet above ground and 4 feet out from tree trunks
• Keep a clean camp
• Don't sleep in the same clothes worn while cooking
• Store food in airtight containers
• Keep sleeping area at least 100 yards from the cooking and food storage area
• Bring 50 feet of rope for hanging food
• Line pack or panniers with plastic bags
• Do not eat or store food in tent

• Use portable stoves - avoid having wood fires
• Build fires only in established fire rings at campsites that permit wood fires
• Use only dead and downed wood for fires
• Do not remove branches or bark from any dead or living standing tree
• Make certain the fire is cold before leaving site
  
• Where it is legal to build a fire, keep it small.
• Use only small sticks and branches as these burn more completely, provide a bed of clean hot coals for cooking and do not result in partially-burned or smoldering logs.