River permits › San Juan River
Permit GuideSan Juan River Permit
The San Juan runs west across the southern edge of Utah through a series of wild canyons, past cliff dwellings and rock art, with the Navajo Nation along its south bank. A permit is required year-round. Beyond that, we would rather tell you what we have confirmed than what we have assumed.
A permit is required year-round to float any section of the San Juan between Montezuma Creek and Clay Hills. The river is managed by the BLM Monticello Field Office. We have not yet confirmed the current allocation method, application window, group limit or fees against a primary source, so call (435) 587-1500 before planning around anything you read elsewhere.
At a glance
- Managing agency
- BLM. Monticello Field Office
- Permit required
- Yes, year-round, Montezuma Creek to Clay Hills
- Managed as
- Special Recreation Management Area
- Common launches
- Sand Island, Mexican Hat
- Common take-outs
- Mexican Hat, Clay Hills
- Difficulty
- Class II to III
- Allocation method
- Confirm annually with BLM
- Group size limit
- Confirm annually with BLM
- Fees
- Confirm annually with BLM
- Field office
- 365 North Main, Monticello, UT 84535 · (435) 587-1500
The Rules That Do Not Change
All of the following comes directly from BLM:
- A permit is required year-round to float any section between Montezuma Creek and Clay Hills.
- The river is managed by the Monticello Field Office as a Special Recreation Management Area.
- Most trips launch at Sand Island or Mexican Hat and take out at Mexican Hat or Clay Hills. A further section runs upstream between Montezuma Creek and Sand Island.
- The south bank is Navajo Nation land, as are upstream parts of the river.
- BLM also manages the downstream portion inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, under a joint agreement with the National Park Service.
What to Confirm for Your Launch Year
Plenty of websites publish San Juan lottery dates, group limits and fees with confidence, and plenty of them are out of date. A wrong permit deadline costs someone a trip. Call the Monticello Field Office on (435) 587-1500 and ask about:
- Whether launches are allocated by lottery or reservation, and for which dates
- The application window and any deadlines
- Group size limits
- Current fee structure
- Daily launch caps, if there are any
- Whether a separate Navajo Nation permit is needed for camping or hiking on the south bank
If you get current figures from the field office, send them to us and we will publish them with the date confirmed, and credit you.
Launches and Take-Outs
Most trips launch at Sand Island or Mexican Hat and take out at Mexican Hat or Clay Hills. Access roads matter here more than on most rivers, the Clay Hills take-out ends in eleven miles of dirt that BLM warns can become impassable when wet.
Full detail on each ramp, the access roads and where to get maps is on our San Juan River trip guide.
Respecting the Navajo Nation Boundary
The river's south bank is Navajo Nation land, as are upstream stretches. Camping, hiking or stopping on that side is subject to tribal jurisdiction and may require separate permission. Confirm the current requirements before your trip rather than assuming river access implies land access.
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.
San Juan River Permit FAQ
Do I need a permit to float the San Juan?
Yes. BLM requires a permit year-round to float any section between Montezuma Creek and Clay Hills.
Is the San Juan permit a lottery?
We have not confirmed the current allocation method against a BLM primary source, so we are not going to state one. Call the Monticello Field Office on (435) 587-1500 for the authoritative answer.
Where do most trips start and finish?
Most launch at Sand Island, about three miles west of Bluff, or at Mexican Hat. Take-outs are at Mexican Hat or Clay Hills. There is also an upstream section between Montezuma Creek and Sand Island.
What vehicle do I need for the Clay Hills take-out?
The final eleven miles are dirt, and BLM warns the road may become impassable to two-wheel-drive vehicles when wet. Moderate ground clearance is recommended, and weather should factor into your shuttle planning.
Can I camp on the south bank?
The south bank is Navajo Nation land and subject to tribal jurisdiction. Confirm what permission is required before your trip, a BLM river permit does not by itself grant access to tribal land.
Sources
Annual figures come from the field office rather than from other websites, which is the only way to be sure they are current. The number is (435) 587-1500.
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.