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Dinosaur NM Green River permit area in Colorado Plateau Rivers - backcountry hiking destination

Dinosaur NM Green River Permit

Colorado Plateau Rivers · Colorado

Lottery, then cancellations all season

Through Dinosaur National Monument.

Watch Gates of Lodore launch dates

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This permit caps parties at 25.

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Gates of Lodore Quick Facts

Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelHigh7/10
SeasonMay 11, 2026 - September 12, 2026 for the Green's high use season
Cost$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.
Max Group Size25 people

Gates of Lodore Permit Facts

  • As of September 2026, Gates of Lodore in Colorado Plateau Rivers, Colorado requires a permit issued via lottery.
  • Gates of Lodore is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
  • The Gates of Lodore lottery typically opens December 1, 8:00 am MT and closes January 31, 11:59 pm MT, with results announced February 12 at 8:00 am MT; acceptance closes March 1, and leftovers release March 6, 2026 at 8:00 am MT.
  • The Gates of Lodore route covers 44 miles, rated strenuous.
  • Cancelled Gates of Lodore permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.

Key Information

Key Dates

Lottery OpensDecember 1, 8:00 am MT
Lottery ClosesJanuary 31, 11:59 pm MT
ResultsFebruary 12 at 8:00 am MT; acceptance closes March 1, and leftovers release March 6, 2026 at 8:00 am MT
SeasonMay 11, 2026 - September 12, 2026 for the Green's high use season

Permit Details

TypeRiver Access
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level7/10
LocationColorado Plateau, CO

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.

What to Expect

Route Details

Distance
44 miles
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
3-4 days
Difficulty
Strenuous

Highlights

  • 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

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.

Hazards & Considerations

  • !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

How to Get This Permit

1

Create a Recreation.gov account

Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.

2

Apply during the lottery window

Submit your application between December 1, 8:00 am MT and January 31, 11:59 pm MT. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.

3

Wait for lottery results

Results are typically announced February 12 at 8:00 am MT; acceptance closes March 1, and leftovers release March 6, 2026 at 8:00 am MT. Check your email and your Recreation.gov account.

4

If unsuccessful, monitor cancellations

Permits get cancelled daily. Peak cancellation times are 24-48 hours before the trip date.

5

Set up PermitSnag alerts

Get notified when cancellations happen. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.

Difficulty Assessment

Physical Demand3/5

Fitness and endurance required

Technical Skill4/5

Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills

Exposure Risk3/5

Steep dropoffs and fall potential

Navigation2/5

Route finding and trail clarity

Commitment4/5

Difficulty of bailing out mid-route

Best For

Private boaters with Class III+ experience running a rigged multi-day trip. Prior comparable experience is a stated requirement, not a suggestion.

Recommended Experience

The monument's own bar: experience on the Green and Yampa in Dinosaur, or on other comparable Class III or higher whitewater rivers, is mandatory.

Not Recommended For

Parties without a boatman who has run Class III or harder, and anyone planning to sort out equipment at the ramp.

About This Permit

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 Experience

Why It Matters

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 Route

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.

The Feeling

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.

Rules & Regulations

  • 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 Checklist

Required

  • 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

  • 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

Plan Your Trip

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Lottery Statistics

Competitive

estimated success rate

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Safety & Planning

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Emergency Info

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Food Storage

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

Gates of Lodore FAQ

Do I need a permit to raft the Gates of Lodore?

Yes - a Dinosaur National Monument river permit, which covers both the Green and the Yampa on one application. It costs $15 to apply and $185 on confirmation, and the $185 is a flat per-permit recreation fee rather than a per-person charge.

How long is the Gates of Lodore river trip?

44 miles from the Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain, which the monument breaks down as 19 miles to Echo Park, 17 through Whirlpool Canyon, six through Island and Rainbow Parks, and nine through Split Mountain to the boat ramp. The Lodore launch is 106 miles north of the Canyon Visitor Center.

Which rapids are on the Green River through Dinosaur?

The monument publishes 15 named rapids in its helmet rule: 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. Powell named three of them himself - Disaster Falls, Triplet Falls and Hell's Half Mile.

Is the Green River in Dinosaur runnable all season?

The monument states plainly that the Green River is always floatable for any approved craft, which is the practical difference from the undammed Yampa. Its high use season runs to September 12, against the Yampa's July 11.

How many people can be on a Green River trip in Dinosaur National Monument?

No more than 25 persons on a noncommercial river trip. Only one permitted group is allowed per campsite, with a maximum of 25 river trip participants per site on private trips.

When does the lottery open for a Gates of Lodore permit?

The application period runs December 1 through January 31. Successful applicants are notified on February 12 and must confirm no later than March 1 - there is no wait list. All low use permits and any unclaimed high use permits become available on March 6, 2026 at 8:00 am MT.

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