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Grand Gulch permit

Grand Gulch itinerary

Every published mile marker on the Grand Gulch route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one — and which permit each stretch needs. To watch dates and set alerts, go to the Grand Gulch permit page.

Which permit covers this route

The Grand Gulch. One reservation is a trailhead or zone plus an entry date; you roam after that, issued by reservation.

Track Grand Gulch permitSee live availability
Stops mapped
7
Across the markers
23.0 mi
Published route length
46 mi
Published ascent
2,000 ft

How long it takes: 3-7 days. That is the figure the permit publishes — this page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.

The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.

Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.

The Grand Gulch route, stop by stop

  1. Mile 0.0

    6,400 ft

    Kane Gulch Ranger Station

    Permit station and primary trailhead.

    4.0 miles · 600 ft down to Junction Ruin

  2. Mile 4.0

    5,800 ft

    Junction Ruin

    Major cliff dwelling at Bullet Canyon junction.

    2.0 miles · 200 ft down to Perfect Kiva

  3. Mile 6.0

    5,600 ft

    Perfect Kiva

    Well-preserved ceremonial structure.

    2.0 miles · 100 ft down to Green Mask Pictograph

  4. Mile 8.0

    5,500 ft

    Green Mask Pictograph

    Famous rock art panel.

    2.0 miles · 100 ft down to Split Level Ruin

  5. Mile 10.0

    5,400 ft

    Split Level Ruin

    Multi-story cliff dwelling.

    5.0 miles · 200 ft down to Stimper Arch

  6. Mile 15.0

    5,200 ft

    Stimper Arch

    Natural arch visible from canyon.

    8.0 miles · 1,000 ft down to San Juan River

  7. Mile 23.0

    4,200 ft

    San Juan River

    Canyon terminus at river.

Getting a Grand Gulch for the dates you want

Planning the route is the easy half. Grand Gulch dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations — they return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag watches Grand Gulch around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.

Set up Grand Gulch permit alertsWhen Grand Gulch dates open up