Canyonlands Overnight River Permit

Colorado Plateau Rivers · Utah

You book a launch date, not campsites

Camp in the river corridor inside Canyonlands for up to 14 days, on flatwater above the confluence or through the Class III to V water of Cataract Canyon.

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Canyonlands Overnight were gone within 5 minutes.

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Canyonlands Overnight Quick Facts

Permit RequiredYes

Booking MethodReservation

Demand LevelHigh7/10

Cost$36 reservation fee, plus $25 per person and the park entrance fee

Max Group Size40 people

Canyonlands Overnight Permit Facts

As of September 2026, Canyonlands Overnight in Colorado Plateau Rivers, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation.
Canyonlands Overnight is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
Cancelled Canyonlands Overnight permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.

Live availability activity →When Canyonlands Overnight permits open up →Do I need a Canyonlands Overnight River permit? →

Key Information

Permit Details

TypeRiver Access

Booking MethodReservation

Demand Level7/10

LocationCanyonlands National Park, UT

What to Expect

Route Details

Route Type

Point to Point

Duration

2-14 days

Difficulty

Expert

Highlights

•14 miles of Class III to V whitewater below the confluence
•Up to 14 days camping in the river corridor
•A binding entry-point choice between Flatwater and Cataract Canyon
•A crossing of part of Lake Powell to reach the Cataract take-out, where NPS recommends motors
•A mandatory video before booking

Best Time to Visit

The April 14 to October 15 season and the October 16 to April 13 season release separately at 8:00 a.m. MST, on December 14 and June 15 respectively. Cataract flows peak with spring runoff.

Hazards & Considerations

!Extreme water level fluctuations in Cataract Canyon, which NPS calls hazardous and isolated
!Strong up-canyon winds on the flatwater section of the take-out crossing
!A shifting boundary between the end of the river and the start of Lake Powell

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

Today

☁️

84°

66°

Thu

☁️

85°

59°

Fri

☁️

82°

64°

Sat

☁️

84°

63°

Sun

☁️

86°

68°

Mon

🌧️

73°

58°

49%

Tue

🌧️

71°

54°

36%

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

How to Get This Permit

Create a Recreation.gov account

Know the release schedule

Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.

Be ready when permits drop

Monitor for cancellations

If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Recreation.gov

Learn More

Best booking times Cancellation hunting Recreation.gov tips

Difficulty Assessment

Physical Demand1/5

Fitness and endurance required

Technical Skill3/5

Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills

Navigation3/5

Route finding and trail clarity

Commitment4/5

Difficulty of bailing out mid-route

Best For

Intermediate hikers comfortable with long days and moderate challenges.

Recommended Experience

Multi-day backpacking or river experience recommended.

About This Permit

This is the permit for Cataract Canyon, the 14 miles below the confluence of the Green and the Colorado where the combined flow drops through Class III to V whitewater. It also covers flatwater camping above the confluence.

NPS publishes no daily launch limit here, which makes the release dates the thing to plan around rather than a quota race. Reservations for the April 14 to October 15 season opened December 14, and the October 16 to April 13 season opened June 15, both at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. Advance online reservations close two days before a launch date.

The entry point you choose is binding. Pick Cataract Canyon if you plan to run the rapids and Flatwater if you do not, because NPS will not refund the $36 fee when a group books the wrong one. Non-motorized flatwater trips have to reserve a commercial upriver shuttle from Spanish Bottom before booking the permit at all.

Rules & Regulations

•Group size is limited to 40 people and trips may run up to 14 days
•There are no daily launch limits
•Non-motorized flatwater trips must book a commercial upriver shuttle from Spanish Bottom before reserving
•Advance online reservations close 2 days before the launch date
•Permits are self-issue and printable up to 7 days before launch
•The alternate trip leader must be entered at booking and cannot be changed later
•No changes once the permit is printed, only cancel and rebook
•Valid within Canyonlands only, downstream of the Potash and Mineral Bottom ramps

Plan Your Trip

🎒

Gear Checklist

Required and recommended gear for Canyonlands Overnight

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Shuttle Services

Trailhead transportation options

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Guide Services

Experienced wilderness guides

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Safety & Planning

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Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Canyonlands Overnight. Sign up to track this permit.

🐻

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit. Sign up to track this permit.

Canyonlands Overnight FAQ

Is there a launch quota on the Canyonlands overnight river permit?

No. NPS states there are no daily launch limits for this permit. The constraint is the release date and the shuttle requirement, not a quota.

When do Canyonlands overnight river permits get released?

In two blocks at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. The April 14 to October 15 season opened December 14 and the October 16 to April 13 season opened June 15.

What happens if I book the wrong Canyonlands river entry point?

You have to cancel and book a new permit, and NPS does not refund the $36 reservation fee in that case. Choose Cataract Canyon if you plan to run the rapids and Flatwater if you do not.