How to Get a Gates of Lodore Permit
Through the Gates of Lodore into rapids John Wesley Powell was rattled enough to name Disaster Falls, Triplet Falls and Hell's Half Mile.
Check Gates of Lodore permit availability$15 non-refundable application fee, plus $185 on confirmation - a flat per-permit recreation fee, not per person. An Extended Stay Fee of $35 applies. Park entrance fees are separate.
Permit Cost
3-4 days
Duration
44 miles
Distance
strenuous
Difficulty
About Gates of Lodore
The Green through the Gates of Lodore shares a single Park Service permit with the Yampa - Recreation.gov 250014 - but has a longer season. Its high use season for 2026 runs May 11 to September 12, against the Yampa's May 11 to July 11, because the Green is dam-regulated and the monument states it is always floatable for any approved craft. The quota is in launches per day, with only 300 launch permits issued across the whole high use season: two per day from May 11 to 20, three per day from May 21 to July 11 not to exceed two launches per river, and two per day from July 12 to September 11. Low use season is one permit per day within the monument. Trips may include no more than 25 persons, and only one permitted group is allowed per campsite. Fees are $15 non-refundable to apply and $185 on confirmation - a flat recreation fee per permit rather than per person - plus a $35 Extended Stay Fee where it applies. Monument entrance fees are separate. The lottery runs December 1 to January 31, with results February 12 and confirmation due by March 1. There is no wait list for unconfirmed reservations, and all low use permits plus any unclaimed high use permits release on March 6, 2026 at 8:00 am MT, with cancellations posting randomly within 24 hours. Equipment matches the Yampa's: fire pans elevated at least four inches, at least 100 square inches with a 3-inch rim, on a fireproof tarp, blanket or welder's cloth; a mesh strainer required on multi-day trips; strained fire residue and all floatables carried out; Type I, III or V Coast Guard approved life jackets properly worn by every participant on any craft with a minimum inherent buoyancy of 15.5 lbs for adults; a rescue and Z-drag kit, air pump, repair kits, spare oars and paddles, spare PFDs, kitchen floor tarp and first aid kits. Helmets are required in all named rapids for canoeists, kayakers including inflatable kayaks, and paddleboarders. The same unresolved conflict applies here as on the Yampa: Recreation.gov's permit content says bag systems such as wag bags or PET systems are not permitted and requires a washable, reusable container toilet, while the monument's own March 2025 Boating in the Monument regulations list commercial bag systems as approved if carried in hard-sided containers or heavy-duty waterproof bags labelled Human Waste. Confirm with the River Office before buying. There is no formal orientation, but there is a mandatory check-in inspection - failure to possess all required equipment at check-in will result in the inability to launch - and every permit holder must read and carry a printed copy of Boating in the Monument.
The Green through Dinosaur is the dam-regulated half of a two-river permit, which makes it the reliable one. Where the Yampa's high use season ends July 11 with the snowmelt, the Green's runs to September 12, and the monument states plainly that the Green River is always floatable for any approved craft.
The Experience
The canyon walls close over you within a mile of the launch - the Gates of Lodore is an actual gate - and then it is red rock and named rapids for two days until Echo Park opens up under Steamboat Rock.
The monument publishes the run as 44 miles from the Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain, and separately gives the upper leg alone: 19 miles from the Gates of Lodore to Echo Park. Below Echo Park it is 17 miles through Whirlpool Canyon, six through Island and Rainbow Parks, and nine rushing miles through Split Mountain, punctuated by four rapids, to the Split Mountain boat ramp. The Lodore launch is 106 miles north of the Canyon Visitor Center.
Powell named three of these rapids himself - Disaster Falls, Triplet Falls and Hell's Half Mile - and the monument's helmet rule names 15 in total: Teepee, Little Joe, Five Springs, Big Joe, Warm Springs, Winnie's Rapid, Disaster Falls, Harp Falls, Triplet, Hell's Half Mile, Greasy Pliers, Moonshine, SOB, Schoolboy and Inglesby. Depending on water level some are rated as high as Class IV, and the monument makes prior experience on comparable Class III or higher whitewater mandatory.
What to Expect
44 miles from the Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain, or 19 miles to Echo Park alone
A high use season running to September 12, two months longer than the Yampa's
Only 300 launch permits issued for the whole high use season
$15 to apply and $185 flat per permit, regardless of party size
Maximum 25 persons, one permitted group per campsite
Fifteen named rapids where helmets are mandatory for canoes, kayaks and paddleboards
A mandatory equipment inspection at check-in
Get Gates of Lodore Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
Noncommercial river trips shall include no more than 25 persons
Only one permitted group per campsite; during high use season camp only in campsites assigned by the River Office
Helmets must be worn by all canoeists, kayakers including inflatable kayaks, and standup paddlers in all named rapids
Fire pans must be elevated at least four inches, be at least 100 square inches with a 3-inch rim, and sit on a fireproof tarp, blanket or welder's cloth
A mesh strainer for dishwater and ashes is required on multi-day trips
Fire residue must be strained before deposit in the main current; floatable and strained residue must be carried out
Type I, III or V Coast Guard approved life jackets must be properly worn by each participant on any craft
All food, garbage and scented items must be stored in a durable metal or plastic container secured with a latch or strap
Permit holders must read and carry a printed copy of Boating in the Monument
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A fire pan of at least 100 square inches with a 3-inch rim, elevated four inches, on a fireproof blanket
- •A mesh strainer for dishwater and ashes
- •Type I, III or V PFDs with 15.5 lbs minimum buoyancy for adults
- •Helmets for every canoeist, kayaker and paddleboarder
- •A rescue and Z-drag kit, air pump, repair kits, spare oars and paddles, spare PFDs and first aid kits
- •A printed copy of Boating in the Monument
Recommended Gear
- •An IGBC-certified food container - strongly encouraged by the monument
- •Spare straps and a good wrap kit for Hell's Half Mile
- •A kitchen floor tarp, which is required and easy to leave behind
- •Shade for the Echo Park camps
Hazards & Safety
Disaster Falls, Triplet and Hell's Half Mile - three of the fifteen named rapids, and named by Powell for good reason
Rapids rated as high as Class IV depending on water level
A mandatory check-in inspection you can fail, which ends the trip before it starts
The unresolved human-waste rule between two official monument sources
Bank collapse near the river edge at Deerlodge, flagged in the monument's August 7, 2026 conditions update
Best Time to Visit
May through September - the Green's high use season runs to September 12, well past the Yampa's July 11 close, and the monument says the Green is always floatable for any approved craft. Early season means colder water and bigger rapids; late summer means warm camps and lower, more technical lines.
Pro Tips
The Green is the reliable half of this permit. If your dates are late summer, apply for Lodore rather than the Yampa - its season runs two months longer.
The $185 is per permit. A party of 25 splits it 25 ways, which is unusual and worth building a trip around.
Confirm your toilet system with the River Office. Two official monument sources give opposite answers on bag systems, and the check-in inspection is binding.
March 6 at 8:00 am MT is the real second chance - there is no wait list for unconfirmed reservations.
Helmets are required in all fifteen named rapids for anyone in a canoe, kayak or paddleboard. Rafters are exempt, but bring one anyway for Hell's Half Mile.
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 Gates of Lodore permit?
+
Gates of Lodore 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 Gates of Lodore?
+
May through September - the Green's high use season runs to September 12, well past the Yampa's July 11 close, and the monument says the Green is always floatable for any approved craft. Early season means colder water and bigger rapids; late summer means warm camps and lower, more technical lines.
How difficult is Gates of Lodore?
+
Private boaters with Class III+ experience running a rigged multi-day trip. Prior comparable experience is a stated requirement, not a suggestion.
What if I don't win the Gates of Lodore lottery?
+
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 Gates of Lodore?
+
Essential gear includes: A fire pan of at least 100 square inches with a 3-inch rim, elevated four inches, on a fireproof blanket, A mesh strainer for dishwater and ashes, Type I, III or V PFDs with 15.5 lbs minimum buoyancy for adults, Helmets for every canoeist, kayaker and paddleboarder, A rescue and Z-drag kit, air pump, repair kits, spare oars and paddles, spare PFDs and first aid kits. Additional specialized gear may be required based on conditions.
Don't Miss Your Gates of Lodore Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Gates of Lodore availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
