RMCC Information on Trips and Permits

Updated 12/27/07 by ba

With thanks to Karen Amundson and Richard Ferguson for assembling the information on permits

This page contains information about applying for permits and scheduling trips for paddling river sections to which access is limited by a government agency. To schedule a trip on a river section where a permit is not required, please see the non-permitted trip planning page.

Check out the riverpermit2008.pdf document for additional updated permit information, including success rates in the previous year.

Let's help ourselves to plenty of opportunities for trips on permitted rivers. It would be good to avoid scheduling conflicts, and at the same time maximize opportunities for paddling these great river sections. To facilitate coordination of trips and dates, please use these suggestions:

1. Select one or more permitted trips you'd like to schedule. The table below has information on a few popular trips, but feel free to schedule other trips.

2. Go to the Permit Status page and see if another club member has applied for a permit for that trip.

3. Select dates for the trip you propose and submit an application to the permitting agency. URLs for the agencies that issue permits are in the table below.

4. Apply for the permit, and at the same time, please email the Trip Coordinator (Bill Ashworth) with the following information: 

    (a) River and section, or put-in and take-out
    (b) Trip date(s) to which permit would apply

When I receive your email, I will update the Permit Status page to show that a permit has been applied for.

5. When you know the decision regarding the application, again send email to me (Bill Ashworth) with the following information: 

    (a) River and section, or put-in and take-out
    (b) Trip date(s) applied for, and
    (c) Whether the permit was issued or denied

When I receive your email, I will update the Permit Status page to show the outcome of the application.

PLEASE--For this system to be helpful to planners/leaders of permitted trips, I really need to receive the information regarding permits on a timely basis--Thanks!


Popular permitted river trips    Top of page

River

Miles

Class

Days

Contact

Comments (website)

Rio Chama

25

II+ (III)

3

Al Johnson

Starts at El Vado Dam, NM; May to mid June with weekend release thru August (hot) in a wet year. (web page)

Upper Salt R. (in Arizona)

52

IV

3-5

Bill Rivers

Nov. 15 – Jan. 15 permits are accepted for the March 1 to May 15 season; need tribal permit too. (web page)

Yampa River

71

III-
(IV-)

5-6

???

A very rare permit. Can portage worst rapid. Mid June thru early July (wet year) are best canoe levels. Permit required at any time of year. There is only one launch on either river (Yampa or Green) permitted during the low-use season whether it is in the Spring or the Fall. Application and permit fees are the same for the low-use season as during the high-use season. (web page)

Lodore (Green R.)

44

III

4-5

Karen Amundson

Lodore Ranger Stn. to Split Mtn. campground. Can only apply for Yampa OR Lodore. Long season and can run it in late-Sept/October. Permit required at any time of year. The low-use permits in the Fall for the Gates of Lodore are on a first-come, first-served basis. There is only one launch on either river (Yampa or Green) permitted during the low-use season whether it is in the Spring or the Fall. Application and permit fees are the same for the low-use season as during the high-use season. (web page)

Desolation-Gray (Green R.)

95

III

6-9

Karen Jankowski

Karen likes > 5000 cfs; mid June thru July is best. Starts easy and ends with the biggest rapids. (web page)

San Juan R.

84

III-
(III+)

3-7

Greg or Karen Jankowski

2 sections: Bluff to Mexican Hat to Clay Hills Crossing; can run 1 or both. April & June good; May+ is high water; July/Aug lower water & hot. (web page)

Middle Fork of Salmon R.

100

III

6-7

Scott McDonald

Numerous good rapids and a few hot springs. (web page)

Main Fork of Salmon R.

125

III+
(IV)

5-8

Bonnie Gallagher

Can do this along with non-permitted day trips above it. (web page)

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the popular river stretches above, there are several others that involve different, yet easier permits as shown below.

River

Miles

Class

Days

Contact

Comments

Flaming Gorge (Green R.)

27

II+ (III)

3

Karen Amundson

Must reserve 1st night’s campground, but no permit needed for the river; can run it April to October due to guaranteed 800+ cfs flows. (web page)

Labyrinth Canyon (Green R.)

68 or less

I+

3-7

Eric Nyre

Permits are free. Can shorten it by starting at Ruby Ranch. (web page).

Stillwater Canyon (Green R.)

55

I+

4-7

Karen Amundson

$20 permit is easy to get from Canyonlands Natl. Park. (web page)

Westwater (Colorado R.)

24

IV

1-2

Greg Jankowski

Obtain permits 2 months ahead on 1st come basis. No beaches so must roll/remount midstream; recommend raft support. (web page)

Big Bend (Rio Grande)

44 & 84

III

4-5 & 5-7

Paul Holscher

Upper & Lower Canyons. Easy to get permits from Big Bend National Park and [Big Bend State Park or Wild & Scenic Rivers]. (web page)