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Permit Guide

Desolation & Gray Canyons Permit

Eighty-four miles of the Green River through country that has barely changed since Powell rowed it. It is also the only genuine lottery near Moab, and the deadline falls in January, four months before anyone starts thinking about summer.

The quick answer

Apply between 1 December and 31 January for launches from 1 May to 30 September. There is a $6 non-refundable application fee. Results are emailed around 15 February, winners must accept by 14 March, and unaccepted permits are cancelled on 15 March and released as cancellations. Launches run from a single point at Sand Wash, six per day.

At a glance

Managing agency
BLM. Price Field Office
Permit required
Yes, year-round
Allocation
Lottery for 1 May to 30 Sep launches
Length
84 miles, Sand Wash to Swaseys Rapid (Nefertiti)
Launch point
Sand Wash only
Launches per day
6
Application fee
$6, non-refundable
Difficulty
Class II to III
Group size limit
Confirm with the Price Field Office
Field office
(435) 636-3600
Desolation Canyon, Green River. Photo credit pending

The Lottery Timeline

This is the most date-sensitive permit in the region. Miss a step and there is no recovery within the system.

  1. 1 December Applications open For launches between 1 May and 30 September. A $6 non-refundable application fee applies.
  2. 31 January Applications close Hard deadline. There are no late entries and no waitlist to join.
  3. ~15 February Results emailed Successful applicants are notified directly. Check spam folders.
  4. 14 March Acceptance deadline Winners must accept their reservation by this date or lose it.
  5. 15 March Unaccepted permits cancelled Anything not accepted is cancelled and returns to the pool.
  6. 15 March onward Cancellations appear Released permits post to Recreation.gov at random times. There is no notification and no queue.
Confirm this year's dates before you rely on them

Lottery dates shift. The sequence above reflects the published system as of July 2026, but the Price Field Office is the authority and dates can move year to year. Call (435) 636-3600 or check Recreation.gov before the December opening.

If You Do Not Draw

Most applicants do not. The realistic options:

  • Watch for cancellations. Released permits appear on Recreation.gov at random after 15 March. There is no alert system, so this comes down to checking often. Plenty of trips happen this way.
  • Look at October. The lottery covers 1 May to 30 September. Launches outside that window are allocated differently, ask the Price Field Office what applies.
  • Choose a different river. Labyrinth Canyon is free and self-issued, Ruby-Horsethief opens on a rolling 60-day window, and the Canyonlands flatwater sections have no lottery and no daily cap. All are excellent multi-day trips you can actually get.
  • Go with an outfitter. Commercial operators hold their own allocation. If your heart is set on Desolation this year, that is the reliable route.

About the Trip Itself

Desolation and Gray Canyons run 84 miles from Sand Wash to Swaseys Rapid, usually taking four to six days. The whitewater is Class II to III, enough to be engaging, gentle enough for competent first-time multi-day boaters. What draws people back is everything around the rapids: rock art, homesteads, outlaw history, and a canyon that stays genuinely remote the whole way.

With six launches a day from a single ramp, you will not have the river to yourself, but the canyon absorbs traffic well.

A permit is not a competence check

Holding a permit means you may launch. It does not mean this section is within your abilities, that your equipment is adequate, or that conditions on your date are survivable. Assess your group honestly, and if you are unsure, go with a licensed outfitter instead.

Common Questions

Desolation Canyon Permit FAQ

When does the Desolation Canyon lottery open?

1 December, closing 31 January, for launches between 1 May and 30 September. Confirm the current year's dates with the Price Field Office before relying on them.

How much does it cost to apply?

$6 per application, non-refundable, whether or not you draw.

When will I know if I got a permit?

Results are emailed around 15 February. You must accept by 14 March or the reservation is cancelled on 15 March.

What if I miss the lottery deadline?

There are no late entries. Your remaining route is cancellations, which post to Recreation.gov at random after 15 March, with no notification. Alternatively pick a section without a lottery. Labyrinth, Ruby-Horsethief, or the Canyonlands flatwater reaches.

How many launches are there per day?

Six, all from Sand Wash. The single launch point is what makes this permit competitive.

How long is the trip?

84 miles from Sand Wash to Swaseys Rapid, typically four to six days depending on flow and how much time you spend hiking side canyons.

Sources

Last reviewed: July 2026. Permit rules, fees and dates change annually. Confirm with the managing agency before you plan around anything on this page, and if you find something out of date, tell us.