Do I need a permit to float Colorado River?
Yes. You need a permit to float Colorado River in Colorado Plateau Rivers, and it is awarded by lottery rather than first come, first served. The permit is the Colorado River (Grand Canyon).
Lottery permit
What the Colorado River permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $25 lottery application + $90 river permit per person + $20 entrance fee per person 16 and over
- Group size limit
- 16 people
- Applications open
- Applications are accepted online for the first three weeks of February, for launches the following year
- Applications close
- Closes at noon MST on the announced date, which has moved between February 21 and February 25 across recent cycles - check grcariverpermits.nps.gov
- Results
- Results are emailed and posted online by the end of February
- Season starts
- January 1
- Season ends
- December 31
What the rules require
- Noncommercial trips carry no more than 16 people for a standard group or 8 for a small group, counting the trip leader
- Every trip member launching from Lees Ferry must attend the 3:00pm MST ranger checkout the day before and present photo identification
- A human waste carry-out system accompanies all trips, using washable, reusable containers approved by Grand Canyon National Park
- All solid human waste and toilet paper leaves the canyon; charcoal ash is carried down the river
- Gathering firewood is prohibited
- No fee, charge, or compensation of any kind may be collected by any member of the trip - nobody can be paid to be there
- One recreational river trip per calendar year through any part of the Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek section
- No vessel may engage in primarily upstream travel above Separation Canyon at river mile 240
- Motors are only permitted April through September 15, with a 12-day maximum trip length
Published rules for the Colorado River (Grand Canyon), quoted as written.
Getting one
Lottery winners cancel and miss payment deadlines, and those dates go back into the booking system through the season. PermitSnag watches Colorado River (Grand Canyon) and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Colorado River permit
Do I need a permit to float Colorado River?
Yes. You need a permit to float Colorado River in Colorado Plateau Rivers, and it is awarded by lottery rather than first come, first served. The permit is the Colorado River (Grand Canyon).
How much does a Colorado River permit cost?
$25 lottery application + $90 river permit per person + $20 entrance fee per person 16 and over.
When can I apply for a Colorado River permit?
The application window opens Applications are accepted online for the first three weeks of February, for launches the following year. It closes Closes at noon MST on the announced date, which has moved between February 21 and February 25 across recent cycles - check grcariverpermits.nps.gov. Results: Results are emailed and posted online by the end of February.
How many people can be on one Colorado River permit?
16 people.
When is the Colorado River permit season?
Season starts: January 1. Season ends: December 31.
What if I lose the Colorado River lottery?
Lottery winners cancel and miss payment deadlines, and those dates return to the booking system through the season. PermitSnag watches Colorado River (Grand Canyon) for those cancellations and sends an alert when one appears.