Permits
Lotteries, day-use systems, BLM self-issue stations, and the small print that decides whether a trip happens. The permit calendar drives everything else.
Permit first, plan second
Most desert river and backcountry trips have a permit gate before they have a logistics problem. Lotteries open in winter for the next season. Day-use limits and BLM self-issue rules vary section by section. The pages below cover the systems we run regularly — start with the river or route, then read the section dashboard for the current rules.
Permit-focused articles
Long-form pieces on the permit systems we use most.
-
Colorado River rafting permits
Cataract seasonal release, Westwater first-come, Grand Canyon lottery — the systems that gate Colorado-mainstem trips.
-
Dispersed camping rules — Utah
BLM, Forest Service and state trust land: the 14-day limit, setbacks, fire and waste rules, and where Moab is campground-only.
Permit details on the section dashboard
Each river-section page carries the current permit gate, fees, and the link to the issuing agency.