River Permit Information

I'm really looking for a Salt Permit -- I'll gladly do the cooking!  Email me.


Cataract_Canyon Grand_Canyon Westwater Dolores
Canyon_of_Lodore Deso-Gray Rio_Chama Taos_Box
Big_Bend Rogue_River Lower_Salmon Main_Salmon
Middle_Fork_Salmon Salt_River San_Juan_River Selway_River
Snake-Hells_Canyon Yampa_-_Dinosaur Yellowstone N.P. Rivers

Colorado River, Cataract Canyon
Canyonlands National Park
Cataract Canyon Permits
2282 S. West Resource Blvd.
Moab, UT 84532-8000

(435)259-4351
Canyonlands National Park Rivers web page / Permit Information
70 miles from Potash to Lake Powell with 20 miles of the biggest whitewater upstream of the Grand Canyon. Applications accepted only in January.


Colorado River, Grand Canyon
River Permits Office
Grand Canyon National Park
Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

(520) 638-7843; 1-800-959-9164
Get on the waiting list for a 12+ year wait
Call the River Permits Office at the numbers above for permits on the section of Colorado River below Diamond Creek.

The regulations for non-commercial (and commercial) river trips are no longer evolving under direction of the Colorado River Management Plan. Some of the following sites and documents will help you stay abreast of the latest developments.

225 to 280 miles of the ultimate river running experience. New applications accepted only during the month of February. A waiting list of over 6000 names could cost you a 10-12 year wait. A call in system for cancellations and supplemental launches is available if you're on the list.


Colorado River, Westwater Canyon
Westwater River Permits
Bureau of Land Management
Grand Resource Area
82 E. Dogwood #G
Moab, UT 84532-2968

(435)259-7012 - 8 am-noon
BLM Westwater Canyon Web Site
28 miles of technical whitewater from the Westwater Ranger Station to Cisco. Lottery applications are only accepted during the month of January.


Dolores River
Dolores River Permits
Bureau of Land Management
Dolores Field Office
82 E. Dogwood #G
Moab, UT 84532-2968

(435)259-7012
Nearly 200 miles from Cahone to Moab. Self-permitting from below McPhee Reservoir. Very limited season.


Green River, Canyon of Lodore
River Permits and Info
Dinosaur National Monument
4545 Hwy. 40
Dinosaur, CO 81610

(970) 374-2468
Dinosaur National Park Web Site
70 miles of whitewater from Lodore Ranger Station to Split Mountain Campground. Lottery applications accepted December 1st through January 31st.


Green River, Desolation/Gray Canyons
River Permits and Info
Bureau of Land Management
Price Field Office
125 South 600 West
Price, UT 84501

(435)636-3622
BLM Deso/Gray Web Site
95 miles of intermediate whitewater from Sand Wash to Green River State Park. Lottery applications are only accepted during the month of January.


Rio Chama
River Permit Information
Bureau of Land Management
P.O. Box 1045
Taos, NM 87571

(505)758-8851
El Vado Dam to Adobe Ruins - 31 miles of exciting whitewater in a wilderness setting. The river runs through deep mountain canyons and painted New Mexico desert. Applications accepted between December 1 and January 31.


Rio Grande - Lower Taos Box Canyon
River Permit Information
Bureau of Land Management
P.O. Box 1045
Taos, NM 87511

(505)758-8851
Dunn's Bridge to Taos Junction - 17 miles of class III-V whitewater in deep canyons. This is generally a day trip with camping at Taos Junction. Permits issued at Dunn's Bridge. Normally a very short season, May through June.


Rio Grande - Big Bend Canyons
A permit is required for day and overnight boating in Big Bend National Park. A permit is also required on the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River below the park but is not required for day use. The permit is available free of charge from any Park Ranger or at the park visitor centers.
Big Bend NPS Home Page
Big Bend Boating Regulations
Dealing with Human Waste on the Rio Grande

Big Bend National Park, TX 79850
(915)477-2251


Rogue River
Tioga Resources Inc.
PO Box 5149
Roseburg, OR 97470

(541) 672-4168
Rogue River Page (BLM, Medford District)
Siskiyou N.F. Rogue River Page
50 miles of Wild & Scenic river. Lottery applications are accepted between December 1 and January 31.


Salmon River, Lower
River Permits and Info
Bureau of Land Management
Route 3, Box 181
Cottonwood, ID 83522

(208) 962-3245
Lower Salmon Non-Commercial Regulations
50 miles of great whitewater all the way to the Snake. Self-permitting at Hammer Creek.


Salmon, Main Fork
Main Fork Lottery Details
Idaho River Trips Page
100 miles of river through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Lottery applications accepted December 1st through January 31st.


Salmon, Middle Fork
Middle Fork Lottery Details
Idaho River Trips Page
100 miles of Wild & Scenic river. Lottery applications accepted December 1st through January 31st. Maybe the most difficult lottery to win. Email me if you need some raft support for this one!


Salt River, Upper  for cancellation permits call 520 402-6200
River Permits and Info
Tonto National Forest
2324 E. McDowell Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85006

(602) 225-5200

Sample Salt River Permit Application Form(102Kb)
1997 Season Application Packet
60 miles of excellent whitewater from the Salt River Canyon bridge to Lake Roosevelt. A Wilderness permit, limiting group size to 15, is required during the high use season from March 1st through May 15th: applications accepted by the Tonto National Forest from December 1st through January 31st. Day permits are required by the White Mountain Apache Tribe for use from the bridge to the Wilderness section: available at the Salt River Canyon Store.


San Juan River
River Permits and Info
Bureau of Land Management
San Juan Field Office
PO Box 7
Monticello, UT 84535

(435)587-1544
BLM San Juan River Web Site
84 miles of fast moving intermediate whitewater from Bluff to Clay Hills. Lottery applications are only accepted during the month of January.


Selway
Selway Lottery Details
Idaho River Trips Page
The Selway is one of the most challenging whitewater rivers in the United States. From Paradise Guard Station to Selway Falls the river drops an average of 28 feet per mile creating a most technical whitewater experience. There are several Class III and IV rapids which require a high level of whitewater skill and experience. The number of launches are regulated from May 15 through July 31.


Snake-Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon Lottery Details
Idaho River Trips Page
The Snake River in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area divides Idaho and Oregon, flowing through North America's deepest river canyon. The 67-1/2 miles of Wild & Scenic River corridor passes through Hells Canyon Wilderness over part of its length but is not itself a Wilderness. The river corridor provides both motorized and nonmotorized recreation opportunities. The largest rapids are located in the wild section. The Wild Snake has several Class IV rapids with huge hydraulics. The Scenic section offers less challenging Class II to III rapids with beautiful canyon vistas. Launches in the Wild River segment are regulated with reservations required from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 15. Self issue permits are required year long for all other boating.


Yampa River
River Permits and Info
Dinosaur National Monument
4545 Hwy. 40
Dinosaur, CO 81610

(970) 374-2468
Dinosaur National Park Web Site
70 miles of whitewater from Deer Lodge Park to Split Mountain Campground. Lottery applications accepted December 1st through January 31st.


Last updated March 21, 2000


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