ST. GEORGE — The National Park Service announced Thursday they have begun accepting applications for noncommercial river trip permits to raft the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park for specific launch dates within calendar year 2025.
The Colorado River flows in the upper River Basin, Lees Ferry, Ariz., May 29, 2021 | Photo by Ross D. Franklin, The Associated Press, St. George News
A total of 482 permits will be available for 12- to 25-day river trips. Eligible individuals may apply online at the weighted lottery website. Applications will be accepted online through noon MST on Feb. 26, according to the news release.
Each year in February, a main lottery is held to assign launch dates for river trips occurring the next year. Public notifications regarding main lotteries are made by both email and news release. In addition to the annual main lottery, follow-up lotteries are held as needed throughout the remainder of the year to reassign canceled and/or unassigned launch dates.
Public notifications for these follow-up lotteries are made by email.
The weighted lottery website can be accessed year-round to create or modify an account and to sign up to receive email notifications. Individuals who are interested in a future noncommercial river permit are encouraged to create an account. Lottery applications are accepted through the weighted lottery website only when lotteries are open.
Individuals must be 18 years or older to apply for a river trip permit. Noncommercial river trips must be self-guided, and technical whitewater experience is mandatory on each trip. Individuals may participate on a maximum of one recreational river trip per year (commercial or noncommercial).
Individuals interested in professionally-guided river trips should not apply through the lottery, but instead request space on a commercial trip. A list of commercial companies offering guided trips can be found by visiting this website.
For more information about the 2025 Main Lottery, please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website, contact the River Permits Office at 1-800-959-9164 or 928-638-7884, or email grca_riv@nps.gov.