How to Get a Desolation Permit
Eighty-four miles of the Green through a canyon deeper than the Grand at its deepest point, with over sixty riffles and rapids and, in the BLM's own words, none of them particularly difficult.
Check Desolation permit availabilityA one-time $6 reservation fee plus a $40 per person recreation fee.
Permit Cost
5-7 days
Duration
84 miles
Distance
moderate
Difficulty
About Desolation
A permit is required for all river travel through Desolation and Gray Canyons between Sand Wash and Nefertiti during the typical boating season, March through November. In December through February the river typically freezes over and is impassible to watercraft. The quota is measured in groups entering per day: two groups a day in the spring low-use season from March 1 to May 14, six a day in the summer high-use season from May 15 to August 14, and two a day in the fall low-use season from August 15 to November 30. Dates between May 1 and September 30 are lottery controlled. A group is 25 people or fewer, and not more than the number pre-paid for on the permit. Minimum trip length is three calendar days and the maximum is nine. Fees are a one-time $6 reservation fee plus a $40 per person recreation fee. The lottery runs December 1 through January 31, with notification on February 14, 2026 and an acceptance period through March 14 at 11:59 MDT. There is no wait list for unconfirmed reservations. Unawarded and unaccepted dates open first-come first-served on March 15 at 8:00 am MDT, non-lottery dates opened December 1, and any cancellations post immediately as they occur. Equipment is prescriptive. The toilet must be a washable, leak-proof, reusable system allowing carry-out and disposal of solid human waste; leaving solid waste on public land or dumping it into vault toilets or trash receptacles at BLM facilities is prohibited. Bag systems are acceptable here - unlike on some rivers - if they are part of a specifically engineered bag waste containment system containing enzymes and polymers, and all solid waste including bags must be contained in a leakproof, crushproof, animalproof, hard-sided container with a screw-on or ratchet-locking lid. A durable metal fire pan at least 12 inches wide with a 1.5-inch lip must be carried on all trips even if stoves are used for cooking, and remains required during a fire ban; fire blankets under the pan are recommended. Life jackets must be properly sized Type I, III or V, children 12 and under must wear one at all times when boating, and everyone must wear one from Jack Creek Rapid to the take-out. Dishwater strainers are recommended rather than required. Also required: a first aid kit, repair kits, air pumps, a spare oar, paddle or motor per vessel with one spare paddle per three low-capacity vessels, a bail bucket or bilge pump, and for boats 16 feet and over a Type IV throwable device or a commercially made rescue rope with at least 40 feet of line, plus a whistle or horn. All boaters must complete the Utah Mussel Aware Course, and motorized craft additionally need home-state registration and enrolment in the Utah AIS Vessel Enrollment Program. Pets are prohibited on the Desolation Gray Canyons section of the Green River year round.
Deso-Gray is the friendliest big multi-day river on the Colorado Plateau. Six groups a day launch at peak, the minimum trip is three days and the maximum nine, and the water is forgiving enough that it is where a lot of private boaters run their first long self-supported trip.
The Experience
The canyon builds slowly out of open desert and then does not stop for five days. Cottonwood beaches, side canyons worth a layover, and rapids frequent enough to keep everyone awake without being frightening.
The permit covers 84 river miles, launching at the Sand Wash Boat Launch Area and taking out at Swaseys Boat Ramp and Campground, with the permitted section described as between Sand Wash and Nefertiti. The BLM's assessment of the whitewater is refreshingly plain: over sixty riffles and rapids punctuate the trip, none are particularly difficult, and a dozen or so can cause some trouble for the unprepared traveler. It publishes no class rating and names only two rapids - Nefertiti and Jack Creek.
One rule that shapes the whole trip: from Jack Creek Rapid to the take-out, all persons must wear a PFD.
And one closure to plan around from the moment you launch. As of September 2018, all activities on Ute Tribal Lands are strictly prohibited - landing watercraft, visiting cultural and historic sites, camping and hiking. Those lands are on river left, the east side, from Sand Wash to Coal Creek.
What to Expect
84 river miles from Sand Wash to Swaseys, typically five to seven days
Six groups a day at peak, two a day in the shoulder seasons
Minimum three calendar days, maximum nine
$6 once plus $40 per person
Over sixty riffles and rapids, none of which the BLM calls particularly difficult
Everyone wears a PFD from Jack Creek Rapid to the take-out
No pets, year round
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Permit Requirements
A permit is required for all river travel between Sand Wash and Nefertiti during the March to November boating season
Maximum group size is 25 people, and not greater than the number pre-paid for on the permit
Minimum trip length is 3 calendar days; maximum is 9
A washable, leak-proof, reusable toilet system is required; engineered bag systems are acceptable if carried in a leakproof, crushproof, animalproof hard-sided container with a screw-on or ratchet-locking lid
A durable metal fire pan at least 12 inches wide with a 1.5-inch lip must be carried on all trips, even if stoves are used, and remains required during a fire ban
Children 12 and under must wear a PFD at all times when boating; all persons must wear one from Jack Creek Rapid to the take-out
All boaters must complete the Utah Mussel Aware Course
Pets are prohibited on this section year round
All activities on Ute Tribal Lands - river left from Sand Wash to Coal Creek - are strictly prohibited
Do not camp or build fires on public land within half a mile of the mouth of Rock Creek
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A washable, leak-proof, reusable toilet system, or an engineered bag system inside a hard-sided animalproof container
- •A metal fire pan at least 12 inches wide with a 1.5-inch lip, carried even if you only use stoves
- •Type I, III or V PFDs, worn by everyone from Jack Creek Rapid down
- •First aid kit, repair kits, air pumps, spare oar/paddle/motor per vessel, and a bail bucket or bilge pump
- •For boats 16 feet and over: a Type IV throwable or a 40-foot rescue rope, plus a whistle or horn
- •Completion of the Utah Mussel Aware Course
Recommended Gear
- •A dishwater strainer - recommended here rather than required, but you will want one on a nine-day trip
- •A fire blanket under the pan
- •Shade structures for the long open beaches
- •Extra water capacity; the Green is silty and needs settling before filtering
Hazards & Safety
A dozen or so of the sixty-plus rapids that the BLM says can cause trouble for the unprepared traveler
Ute Tribal Lands on river left from Sand Wash to Coal Creek, where all activities are strictly prohibited
Heat on open beaches through the high-use season
Winter ice - December through February the river typically freezes over and is impassible
Long shuttle distances and a remote launch at Sand Wash
Best Time to Visit
May and June for water, September and October for weather and solitude. The high-use season with six groups a day runs May 15 to August 14; the shoulder seasons drop to two groups a day, which is quieter but harder to draw. December through February the river typically freezes and is impassible.
Pro Tips
Aim for the six-a-day high-use window if you want the best odds. The shoulder seasons drop to two groups a day and are correspondingly harder to draw.
Cancellations post immediately as they occur rather than in a batch, so this is a river worth watching continuously after March 15.
Carry the fire pan even for an all-stove trip and even during a fire ban - the BLM requires it in both cases.
Do the Utah Mussel Aware Course before you leave home. Every boater on the trip needs it, not just the permit holder.
Keep camps on river right below Sand Wash until past Coal Creek. River left is Ute Tribal Land and closed to all activity.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Desolation permit?
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Desolation permits are distributed through a lottery system. Apply during the lottery window, and if you're not selected, check for cancellations as they become available.
When is the best time to visit Desolation?
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May and June for water, September and October for weather and solitude. The high-use season with six groups a day runs May 15 to August 14; the shoulder seasons drop to two groups a day, which is quieter but harder to draw. December through February the river typically freezes and is impassible.
How difficult is Desolation?
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Private boaters running their first long self-supported trip, and anyone who wants canyon miles rather than whitewater.
What if I don't win the Desolation lottery?
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Cancellations happen regularly. Use PermitSnag to monitor availability and get alerts when spots open up. You can also check for walk-up permits or consider similar alternatives in the area.
What gear do I need for Desolation?
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Essential gear includes: A washable, leak-proof, reusable toilet system, or an engineered bag system inside a hard-sided animalproof container, A metal fire pan at least 12 inches wide with a 1.5-inch lip, carried even if you only use stoves, Type I, III or V PFDs, worn by everyone from Jack Creek Rapid down, First aid kit, repair kits, air pumps, spare oar/paddle/motor per vessel, and a bail bucket or bilge pump, For boats 16 feet and over: a Type IV throwable or a 40-foot rescue rope, plus a whistle or horn. Additional specialized gear may be required based on conditions.
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Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Desolation availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
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