Okay, all you free-loading dirtbags. No more free lunch. It’s permit season. So get off your duff and send in your applications for your favorite river trip instead of waiting to get asked along. Plus, that way you can invite who you want (which hopefully will include us). Here’s all the info you need…
For the most complete and up-to-date permit information for riers across the country, visit American Whitewater’s AW River Permit List, which provides the latest information.
Below is also a quick recap of a few of the more popular permits to apply for across the West.
Utah, Westwater Canyon
Agency: BLM. Info: Bureau Of Land Management, 82 Dogwood, Suite G., Moab, Utah 84532, (435) 259-7012. Permit Season: March 1-Oct. 31. Price: $3/person. River permit available through a BLM phone reservation system. Dates become available two months in advance. Call for info. Allocation for 75 people or five launches/day. Maximum Party Size: 25.
Utah, Cataract Canyon
Agency: NPS. Info: Canyonlands National Park, 2282 South West Resource Blvd., Moab, Utah 84532, (435) 259-4351. Permit Season: All year. Main Season: April 15-Oct. 14. Price: $25/permit. Permits are available on a reservation basis no more than four months, and no less than two days, prior to the permit start date. Allocation for 4,000 permits. Maximum Party Size: 40
Arizona, Grand Canyon
Agency: NPS. Info: River Permits Office, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023; (800) 959-9164,
(520) 638-7888. Permit Season: All year. New System, so call/write for info. Price: $25 Application fee. Applications must be postmarked in month of February for new additions to waiting list. Send postcard with first, middle and last name, address, phone, and social security number. Reconfirm annually Dec. 15 to Jan. 31. Allocation for 273 permits annually. Maximum Party size: 16.
Utah, Desolation/Gray Canyons
Agency: BLM. 125 S. 600 W. P.O. Box 7004, Price, Utah 84501. Permit Season: All year. Permit available through www.recreation.gov; 435-636-0975. Main Season: April 1-Oct. 31. Price: $13/person. Applications taken Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. Lottery. Send postcard or call for applications. Allocations for 3 private launches/day during main season. Maximum party size: 25
Colorado, Gates of Lodore
Agency: NPS. Info: River Office, Dinosaur
National Monument, 4545 Hwy.40, Dinosaur, CO 81610, (970) 374-2468. Permit Season: All year. Main Season lottery: second Monday in May to second Friday in September. Price: $12 application fee, plus $75 if awarded permit. Applications due Jan 31.
Yampa River, Colorado, Yampa Canyon
Agency: NPS. Info: River Office, Dinosaur National Monument, 4545 Hwy.40, Dinosaur, CO 81610, (970) 374-2468. Permit Season: All year. Main Season: second Monday in May to second Monday in July. Price: $12 application fee, plus $75 if awarded permit. Applications taken Dec. 1 to Jan. 15. Lottery. Send postcard or call for applications. Allocation for 300 (split between Yampa and Gates of Lodore launches) private launches during main season. Maximum Party Size: 25
Snake River, Idaho/Oregon, Wild and Scenic Portion of Hells Canyon
Agency: Forest Service. Info: Hells Canyon NRA, 2535 Riverside Dr. (P.O. Box 699), Clarkston, WA 99403, (509) 758-1957. Permit Season: Friday before Memorial Day to Sept. 10. Price: $6 application fee. Applications taken Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. Lottery. Send postcard, or call for applications. Allocation for 3 private launches/day. Maximum Party Size: 24; Maximum Craft: 8.
Selway River, Idaho, Paradise Launch-Selway Falls
Agency: Forest Service. Info: West Fork Ranger District, 6735 West Fork Rd., Darby, MT 59829, (406) 821-3269. Permit Season: May 15-July 31. Price: $6 application fee. Applications taken Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. Lottery. Send postcard or call for applications (chances to get permit: 62 out of as many as 14,000). Allocations for one launch/day. Maximum Party Size: 16.
Salmon River, Idaho, Middle Fork
Agency: Forest Service. Info: Middle Fork Ranger
District, P.O. Box 750, Challis, ID 83226, (208) 879-4112. Permit Season: All year. Main Season: June 1-Sept. 3. Price: $6 application fee. Applications taken Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. Lottery. Send postcard or call for applications. Allocation for seven private launches/day. Maximum Party Size: 24.
Idaho, Main Section
Agency: Forest Service. Info: North Fork Ranger
District, P.O. 180, North Fork, ID 83466, (208) 865-2700. Permit Season: June 20-Sept. 7. Price: $6 application fee. Applications taken Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. Lottery. Send postcard or call for applications. Allocation for four private launches/day. Maximum Party Size: 30.
San Juan River, Utah, Montezuma Creek-Clay Hills Crossing
Agency: BLM. Info: Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 7, Monticello, Utah 84535, (435) 587-1544. Permit required year around with lottery for trips March 1 through October 31. Applications must be received by February 1st. Price: $4.50 to $12.50 depending on section. Applications taken Dec. 1 to Feb. 28. Allocation for 75 people or seven groups maximum/day. Maximum Party Size: 25.
Rogue River, Oregon, Grave Creek-Foster Bar
Agency: Forest Service/BLM. Info: (541)672-4168. Permit Season: May 15-Oct. 15. Price: $3.75 application fee plus $10/person. Applications taken Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. Lottery. Allocation for 120 people per day: 60 private/60 commercial. Maximum Party Size: 20.
Rio Chama River, New Mexico, El Vado Ranch to Chavez Canyon
Agency: BLM. Info: Bureau of Land Management, 226 Cruz Alta Rd., Taos, NM 87571, (505)758-8851. Permit Season: May 1- Sept. 30. Price: $6 application fee plus $5/person. Applications taken Feb. 1 to March 15. Lottery. Send postcard or call for applications. Allocation: Low Season (May 1 to June 5)–two private launches weekdays and six during weekends; High Season (July 16 to August 31)–11 private launches/day. Maximum Party Size: 16.
Kern River,California, Forks Section
Agency: Forest Service. Info: Cannel Meadow
Ranger District, P.O. Box 9, Kernville, CA 93238, (760) 376-3781. Permit Season: May 15-Sept. 15. Price: $2 application fee. Lottery. Allocation for 15 people/day.
Tallulah Gorge, Georgia
Agency: Georgia Department of Natural Resources/Tallulah Gorge State Park/American Whitewater. Info: Tallulah Gorge State Park Boating
Permits, P.O. Box 248, Tallulah Falls, GA 30573, (301) 589-9453. Permit Season: First two weekends in April and first three in November. Permit Info: All requests must be in legal-sized envelope with the outside containing the following: Upper left corner must have applicant’s name and return address. Lower right hand corner must have date requested and number of people in party (including applicant); maximum three people/party. Envelope must contain self-addressed and stamped legal-sized envelope and two names and daytime phone numbers within party and date requested. Lottery. Allocation: 120 boaters/day in groups of no more than three.
