Green River › Desolation & Gray
Green RiverDesolation & Gray Canyons
Eighty-four miles of the Green River through country that has barely changed since Powell named it. Deep canyon, playful Class II to III rapids, rock art, homesteads and outlaw history, and almost nobody, because the permit is a lottery you have to enter in December.
84 miles from Sand Wash to Swaseys Rapid, four to six days, Class II to III. The best wilderness multi-day trip in the region, and the hardest permit to get. It is a genuine lottery, with applications open 1 December to 31 January for May to September launches. Six launches a day, all from one ramp.
At a glance
- River
- Green
- Difficulty
- Class II to III
- Length
- 84 miles, Sand Wash to Swaseys Rapid (Nefertiti)
- Trip length
- 4 to 6 days
- Launch point
- Sand Wash only
- Launches per day
- 6
- Private permit
- Lottery, apply 1 Dec to 31 Jan
- Managing agency
- BLM Price Field Office · (435) 636-3600
What the Trip Is Like
Desolation is a canyon that deepens as you go. The first days are open and gradual; by the middle of the trip the walls are high enough that you lose the horizon entirely. Gray Canyon follows, and the character shifts again toward the take-out.
What sets this trip apart is not the whitewater. It is everything else: ancestral rock art, abandoned homesteads, and the outlaw history of a canyon that was genuinely useful to people who did not want to be found. There is more to walk to here than on any other multi-day trip in the region.
With six launches a day from a single ramp, you will see other parties. The canyon absorbs them, 84 miles is a lot of river.
Desolation's rapids are well documented in printed river guidebooks, and features shift with flow and over time. Carry a current one.
How Hard Is It?
Class II to III, engaging without being intimidating, and forgiving enough for competent first-time multi-day boaters. The rapids are frequent enough to keep the trip interesting and small enough that a mistake is usually just wet.
The real demands are logistical rather than technical: 84 miles of self-sufficiency, a long way from any road.
International Scale ratings assume a range, not a fixed number. The same rapid at spring runoff and at September low water are different problems. Check current flows before you commit, and treat any rating, including ours, as a starting point rather than a promise.
When to Go
The lottery covers 1 May to 30 September, which is effectively the season. Late spring brings higher water and cooler temperatures; midsummer is hot, with afternoon thunderstorms and flash flood risk in the side canyons; September offers the most settled weather and the lowest flows.
Guided TripsGoing With an Outfitter
Licensed outfitters hold their own permits, supply the boats and gear, and handle the shuttle. For most visitors this is the sensible way to run Desolation, and on the harder sections it is the only realistic way without significant whitewater experience.
Publishing soon: Trip comparison Moab outfitters What trips cost
Private BoatingGetting a Permit
This is the only genuine river permit lottery near Moab, and the deadline falls long before most people start planning. Applications open 1 December and close 31 January for launches between 1 May and 30 September, with a $6 non-refundable application fee. Results are emailed around 15 February, winners must accept by 14 March, and anything unaccepted is cancelled on 15 March and released.
Cancellations post to Recreation.gov at random after 15 March, with no notification and no queue. Plenty of trips happen this way, but it takes persistence. Full detail and alternatives in our Desolation permit guide.
Desolation Canyon FAQ
How long is Desolation Canyon?
84 miles from Sand Wash to Swaseys Rapid, also known as Nefertiti. Most parties take four to six days.
How difficult is Desolation Canyon?
Class II to III. Engaging but forgiving, and suitable for competent first-time multi-day boaters. The challenge is self-sufficiency over 84 remote miles rather than technical whitewater.
When does the Desolation lottery open?
1 December, closing 31 January, for launches from 1 May to 30 September. Results are emailed around 15 February.
How many groups launch each day?
Six, all from the single ramp at Sand Wash. That constraint is what makes the permit competitive.
Is Desolation good for families?
The water is well suited to it. Class II to III with good camps and plenty to explore. The commitment is the consideration: four to six days a long way from help, with no easy exit.
Last reviewed: July 2026. River conditions, access and regulations change. Confirm current details with the managing agency before your trip, and if something here is wrong, tell us.