General Information

 

Most permit river managing agencies require you to contact them around December to obtain a permit application or download a permit applicationfrom their web site.  The most common deadline for returning the permit application is Jan. 31.  The Salt River in Arizona has a January 15 dedline.  A few rivers require a fee with the permit application but most only require a fee after you have obtained the permit.

 

 

 

Lodore or Yampa Canyons in Dinosaur National Monument

 

River Ranger                                                                             .

Dinosaur Nat. Monument                                                           Permit Due: Dec 1 - Jan 31

4545 Hwy. 40

PO Box 210                                                                              435-374-2468

Dinosaur, Colo.  81610

 

To download a permit application check:

http://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/privateriverrafting.htm      

 

Lodore: about 4 days, Class III to IV- depending on flow rate.

All of the potential Class IV- rapids can be portaged.

This run is a series of 3 beautiful canyons with plentiful wildlife and one long stretch of flatwater between canyons.  The canyons are Lodore, Whirlpool, and Split Mt.

 

Yampa: 4 to 5 days.  Class III with one potential Class IV rapid depending on flow rate. 

The 1^st and longest canyon is the Yampa River section.  This is a beautiful canyon with high vertical sandstone walls and pine trees.  Except for Warm Springs (which can be portaged), the rapids are all Class II.  The other two canyons are Whirlpool and Split Mt., the same as the last two canyons on the Lodore run.

 

Split Mt Canyon can also be run as a day trip.  The permits are easily obtained by calling the Dinosaur Office and are issued on a first come - first served basis.  This Canyon makes a fun class II+ to III- run.

 

 

 

 

 

Lower San Juan River

 

BLM

San Juan Resource Area                                                            Permit Due:  Jan. 31

PO Box 7                                                                                  435-587-2144

Monticello, Ut.  84535

 

3 to 5 days, Class II

This is a desert canyon river next to the Navajo Reservation with frequent side hikes to Indian Ruins.  Lots of Class II rapids in high water.   More of a canoe run in low water.  Check the following links for more info or permit applications.

Info: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/monticello/recreation/san_juan_river.html

Permit:  http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/monticello_fo/recreation.Par.12835.File.dat/2010%20final%20app.pdf

 

 

 

Westwater Canyon on the Colorado

 

Westwater River Permits

BLM, Grand Resource Area                                                       

82 E. Dogwood, Suite G                                                            435-259-7012

Moab, Ut   84532                                                                       Permit Season:  year round

 

Info:  http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/moab/recreation/river_recreation/westwater_canyon.html

Permit:  http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/moab/recreation/river_recreation/how_to_obtain_a_private.html

 

1 to 2 days, Class III+ to IV depending on water level.

This is a desert canyon with long flatwater stretches at the top and bottom.  The center section contains all the rapids and lots of surfing.  Most of the rapids are big and turbulent but not technical.  This is also one of the few rivers that is more fun late in the season than at high water early in the season. 

 

The permits are issued on a first come, first served basis 2 months in advance.  It is easy to obtain weekday permits but if you want a weekend permit, call before 8:30 am (they open at 8:00 am) exactly 2 months in advance.

 

 

 

 

 

Desolation & Grays Canyon on the Green River

 

Desolation Cyn                                                                         Due: Jan 30

BLM, Price Rv. Resource Area                                                   435-636-3622

125 So.  600 West

Price, Ut.   84501

 

Info:  http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/price/recreation/riverinf.html

 

4 to 5 days, Class II+

This is a large deep mostly desert canyon with plenty of wildlife.  The Grays Canyon run we do with beginners is the last stretch of this run.

 

Permits are issued up to 5 months in advance on a first come, first served basis.  Call the permit office for the permit.  They will charge you $20 for the permit and $25 per person for the permit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cataract Canyon

 

Canyonlands Nat. Park, Cataract Canyon Permits                       435-259-4351

2282 S.  West Resource Blvd.

Moab, Ut. 84532

 

4 to 6 days, Class III to IV depending on flow rate

Most of Cataract Canyon is flatwater or easy whitewater.  The biggest attraction is the scenery and the side hikes.  The last day or 2 on the river however is where the big whitewater occurs.  In high water, Big Drop can be as big as anything in the Grand Canyon.  In low water, these are completely different rapids.  The trip ends at Hite Marina which used to be on Lake Powell but due to to the low reservoir level, is now on the river.

To obtain a permit go to http://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/backcountrypermits.htm.  A $30 fee will be required for the permit.

 

 

Middle Fork Salmon

Main Salmon

Selway

Hells Canyon on the Snake River

 

Note:  The permit system for the 4 Idaho Rivers has changed.  This year you need to apply online between December 1 and January 30.  For more info go to

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/articleid/30570/display/full/

 

To apply go to http://www.recreation.gov/

 

 

Middle Fork of the Salmon

5 to 8 days, Class III+ to IV+ depending on flow rate.

This is a long, 100 mi, canyon with beautiful clear water.  The canyon starts in forested mountain country and ends in high desert country.  Wildlife and hot springs are both plentiful. 

 

This river is not dam controlled and the flow rate changes dramatically during the season.  Late in the season around August, the flow frequently drops too low for rafts at the upper put-in.  There is always enough water for kayaks and canoes but rafts sometimes need to be flown in to a landing strip farther down stream.  For this reason, it is much easier to get late season permits.  We've usually done this as an August kayak self-support trip.

 

Main Salmon, Corn Creek Put-in

5 to 7 days, Class III to IV depending on flow rate.

Large river in high desert canyon.  Excellent semi-wilderness trip.

 

 

Selway

4 days, Class IV

Short season (June thru July).  The water is usually too low by Aug for rafts.

This is a beautiful mountain river with only 1 group launch per day.

 

 

Hells Canyon on the Snake River

5 days, Class III to IV

Hells Canyon is the deepest canyon in the US with a very large river.  Low water is considered to be anything below 15,000 cfs.  Only 2 hard rapids are present, both of which can be portaged.  The other rapids are all fairly easy. 

Note:  Jet boats go up this river on a regular basis.  Check the Hells Canyon web site for info about when the jet boats aren't allowed.   http://www.fs.fed.us/hellscanyon/things_to_see_and_do/snake_river/non-motorized-calendar.shtml

 

 

 

 

Rogue River Wilderness Run

 

Rogue River, TRI                                                                       Due: Jan 31

P.O. Box 5149                                                                          (541) 479-3735 - BLM

Roseburg, OR  97470                                                                (541) 672-4168 - Tioga Resources, Inc.

                                                                                               

3 to 4 days, Class III to IV

This is a lush forested canyon with clear water and plenty of wildlife.  For permit info check

http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue/about-permits.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salt River

 

River Permits and Info                                                               (602) 225-5237

Tonto National Forest                                                                $10.00 fee w/permit app.

2324 E. McDowell Rd.                                                               Permit App Dedline: January 15

Phoenix, AZ 85006

 

3 to 5 days, Class IV

This is beautiful and unusual river and canyon.  The canyon contains Sonoran desert type vegetation including large saguaro cactus.  The permit season is March 1 thru May 15.  In exceptionally high water years, the river can be run thru the end of May.

For a copy of the 2010 permit info and application contact me or check the club's web site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Canyon

 

15 to 25 days

Big Water Class IV

The Grand Canyon is one of the most scenic river trips anywhere in the world.  The rapids are very big but not technical.  It has been described as the worlds biggest Class III.  There is also a lot of great hiking to be had from the river.

 

The Grand Canyon has gone to a lottery system.  To obtain a permit go to

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/overview-lees-ferry-diamond-ck.htm