How to get a Cancellation River Permit

So, you didn’t score a rec.gov river permit this year. Neither did anyone you know, and neither did anyone they know. It can be very discouraging to put in year after year and never win. 

The good news is you can still win a cancellation permit or run a river that doesn’t involve a lottery. Let’s look at the cancellation process, best practices for increasing your cancellation chances, and a few rivers you can run without the hassle of a permit lottery. 

Cancellation Process

River lotteries exist to distribute permits in a “fair” way and prevent overcrowding. Permits help disperse the use impacts and protect river and wilderness resources from excessive. The application window for river permits runs from December 1-January 31. Then, permits are awarded within the first couple of weeks of February.

Permit winners must claim and confirm their permits by mid-March. Unclaimed, cancelled, and forgotten permits are made available to the public on a first come basis. To be the first when cancellations are made available takes a little know-how and good time management. Here are a few tips and tricks from cancellation permit winners.

How to Apply for a Cancellation Permit

First and foremost, you need to be certain which day and time your desired cancellation permits go live. It is not the same for every river. Some river lottery permits become available in early March and others aren’t available until mid-March. For example, the below popular rivers are available at the following times.

Dinosaur Green And Yampa River Permits

Permits for the Green and Yampa Rivers through Dinosaur National Monument are available sooner than you think. 
March 6, 2025, 8 AM MST. 

Middle Fork of the Salmon

This is one of the most highly-coveted multi-day trips in the country. This means it’s unlikely someone would give up a permit. However, it is still worth being online at the right time.
March 16, 2025, 8 AM MST, March 16, 2025

Hell’s Canyon

The Snake River through Hell’s Canyon runs along the border of Idaho and Oregon, in both Mountain and Pacific Time zones. Unconfirmed, declined, and cancelled lottery dates are released for reservation starting at 8 AM Pacific Time or 9 AM MST, March 16, 2025.

San Juan River

A gem of the Southwest, the San Juan is another desirable river run. Cancelled lottery permits are available March 16, 2025, 8 AM MST.

Desolation Gray - Green River Permit

The Green River runs through Desolation and Gray Canyons downstream of Gates of Lodore and is the perfect family trip. For these cancellation permits, be online at 8 AM MST, March 15, 2025.

Tips and Tricks

Knowing when your desired cancellation goes live is a great start but not enough to increase your chances. Here are a few tips and tricks to scoring a cancellation river permit.

Be on Time

When we say permits are available at 8 AM, we mean 8 AM on the dot. If you log in at 8:01 AM, we can almost guarantee you will see no available permits. 

Be Logged In

You can see and select river trip launch dates without being logged in. However, you cannot pay and claim your dates without logging in. This is problematic because by the time you’ve logged in, the dates you added to your cart but didn’t pay for will likely be gone. With this in mind, ensure you are logged in and in the correct screen for the desired permit a few minutes before the hour.

Know Which Dates You Want

In the seconds after the permits go live, there is no time to second-guess when you can go or double-check your calendar. Have two or three dates in mind, and be ready to click on your first option the second the clock strikes the hour. 

Team Up

Many permits go online at the same time (8 AM, March 16, 2025.) If you want to try to pick up more than one cancellation permit, you should team up and each be online and ready for a different one. In the seconds after the permits become available, you won’t have time to flip between two rivers. 

Out of Season and Non-Lottery Rivers

Even if you do everything right, log in beforehand, have your dates ready, and double-team the permits you want, sometimes you still get skunked. This doesn’t mean your river season is ruined. There are pre- and post-season options and rivers that aren’t yet controlled by the lottery system.

Pre and Post Season Runs

The lottery permit system controls use during busy times. In other words, most rivers have pre- and post-season permits that are easier to get. These permits usually allow for trips during the Spring and Fall. Although weather and water flows can make boating during the Spring and Fall difficult or impossible, it’s still worth checking when lottery season begins. For example,

Dinosaur Green And Yampa River Permits

For the Green River, lottery, AKA high-use season, runs from May 12 to September 12. The Yampa is a free-flowing river and its high use season runs from May 12-July 12. During high water years, the Yampa is runnable past July 12.  All low-use permits from March 7th, 2025 - March 6th, 2026, are available at 8 AM MST March 6, 2025. 

Middle Fork of the Salmon

The Middle Fork of the Salmon’s high-use season runs from May 28, 2025, to September 3, 2025. The Middle Fork is also free-flowing, and water flows, road access, and weather can make low-use permits unviable. 

If you do score a low-use permit either in the Spring or the Fall, there are options for getting to the river, including flying in or running Marsh Creek. Pre- and post-season permits are open annually on October 1 of the previous year.

Hell’s Canyon

During high season, which runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 10th each year, the Snake River allows three private and two commercial launches daily. As it is dam-controlled, the Snake River through Hell’s Canyon is a great pre or post season option. 

Outside high-use season, river permits are required for the entire river corridor, but do not require an advanced reservation. You can fill out self-service permits at any Hell’s Canyon put-in. 

San Juan River

The San Juan River’s randomized lottery system covers trips launching from April 15 to July 15. Launching outside these days still requires a permit. These low-use permits became available on a first-come basis, December 1, 2024.

Don’t forget that the Navajo Nation manages the left bank of the river from Montezuma Creek to Trimble Camp. The Navajo Nation requires additional permits to camp, hike, or visit archaeological sites on river left. For more information on obtaining a Navajo permit, call the Navajo Parks and Recreation Office at (928) 871-6647. 

Desolation Gray - Green River Permit

February 1 to May 14 and August 15 to November 30 are considered Low-Use Seasons on the Green River through Deso and Gray Canyons. Permits are required during these times and are available on a first-come basis beginning December 1, 2024. Check rec.gov any time throughout the year for available permits.

Non-Lottery Multi-day Rivers

There are many great multi-day river stretches that operate without any sort of lottery system, regardless of time of year. Running non-lottery rivers does not mean you don’t need a permit or can disregard important Leave No Trace practices. It just means demand and human impact haven’t yet required restricting use. We’ve compiled a list of a few multi-day trips in the Southwest and beyond.

Owhyee, OR

Known as the Grand Canyon of Oregon, the Owyhee River from Rome, Oregon to Leslie Gulch, Oregon is a fifty-mile river trip through breathtaking canyon landscape and up to class 3+ whitewater. 

The best time to run the Owyhee is from March to June with peak flows in March or April depending on snowpack and weather. Permits can be filled out at BLM.com. Make sure to sign the permit and drop the top copy into the registration box at the launch site. The trip leader should carry the bottom copy. 

Labyrinth Canyon, Green River, UT

Although Labyrinth Canyon has no whitewater to speak of, it is a stunning stretch of canyon with access to world-class hiking. Because the stretch is calm, it is perfect for first-time river runners, canoes, packrafts, and stand up paddle boards.

Spring and Fall are perfect for this stretch with the summer months being uncomfortably hot, especially for hiking. Start in Green River for a 68-mile trip or Ruby Ranch for a 48-mile float and take out Mineral Bottom.

Find and fill out permits for Labyrinth Canyon at blm.com and required permits for Canyonland National Park online. Simply fill out the permits and follow directions for where to send them.  

Escalante-Dominguez Canyon on the Gunnison River, CO

The most common section of the Gunnison River through Escalante-Dominguez Canyon is the twenty-nine-mile overnight trip from Confluence Park in Delta, CO, to Whitewater Boat Ramp. 

This stretch of river is very mellow with one class two rapid, and provides access to some of the best scenery and hiking in the area, including a spectacular waterfall at the confluence of the Gunnison and Big Dominguez Creek. 

Self-issue, free camping permits for overnight boating are available at the Escalante Boat Launch and accommodate up to 25 beings per permit, including dogs!

Cataract Canyon, Colorado River

Cataract Canyon of the Colorado River includes impressive canyons, delightful hiking, and big whitewater. The best part is that it’s an easy permit to get. Permits are available on a rec.gov no more than four months, and no less than two days, before the permit start date.

The best time of year to run Cat is late Summer and Fall. Spring flows can make the already challenging rapids fast and dangerous. For an easier shuttle, use the Potash Put-in and Northwash takeout. Beware that the last approximately 30 miles of flatwater after Gypsum Creek Rapid can be challenging and that Northwash Creek Takeout is treacherous.

Gunnison Gorge

The Gunnison Gorge boasts exciting whitewater, gold medal fishing, and dramatic canyon views. Difficult access and a challenging put-in make it a less frequented and therefore lottery-free stretch. Fill out a permit and pay with cash or check at the Chukar Boat Launch to purchase a Gunnison Gorge Wilderness permit. 

As mentioned, Gunni Gorge access is not easy. Chukar road, that leads to the trailhead, is a primitive, rough road that requires four-wheel drive and becomes impassable when wet. Once you’ve made it down the road, the boat launch is still a mile down a steep and twisting trail. You can hike your gear down or hire mules to do the heavy lifting.

Lower Salmon, ID

The Lower Salmon in eastern Idaho offers river rafters fun Class III-IV whitewater, ample opportunity to spot wildlife, and beautiful white sand beaches. This free-flowing river is runnable all-year even into the Fall. However, above 10,000cfs the whitewater can be consequential.

The permit process is as easy as filling out a self-serve permit and ensuring it is on your person as you float the river. Campsite competition can be an issue on this stretch of river, especially during summer weekends.

The typical run is from Hammer Creek Boat Ramp near White Bird, ID, to take-out at Heller Bar in Asotin, WA, about 20 miles downstream of the confluence with the Snake. To float any Idaho river you must have an Invasive Species Sticker displayed on each watercraft. To buy stickers visit the following link.

Diamond Down, AZ

Getting a Grand Canyon permit feels impossible at times, but running from Diamond Down, a 70-mile trip ending at Pearce Ferry, is an alternative. Permits for this two to five day trip are available to the public starting one year in advance. They are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

You must also obtain a permit to cross Hualapai Tribal land and launch at Diamond Creek. To request a permit from the Hualapai Tribe in advance of your launch date, call (928) 769-2210 or (800) 622-4409). 

The trip from Diamond includes Killer Fang Falls, a deceptively difficult rapid, Travertine Canyon and waterfall, and historical separation canyon. 

Running Non-Lotteried Rivers

Unrestricted rivers are a gift and should be treated as such. The more folks who use a river corridor, the more impact on the area. Everyone running any stretch of river and especially unrestricted sections must protect these resources. Remember and practice the following:

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace principles apply to river trips with variations depending on the environment. Always double-check with a ranger or your permit for river-specific regulations. Here’s an overview of the seven Leave No Trace Principles and how they might apply on a river trip.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

River trips take a lot of planning, but the more you can know ahead of time, the better. Learn about river-specific issues, regulations, and permits for each new trip. River guide books can be very helpful for planning a trip.

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

It is essential to camp in established sites along the river. Stick to where vegetation is absent like rock, gravel, and sand, and make sure to select a campsite big enough for your group. Leave camps better than you found them. When it comes to hiking, stay on the trail.

Dispose of Waste Properly

In river environments, there are very specific ways to remove waste. Liquid waste often goes into the main channel of the river, and all solid waste is packed out. This includes human waste that will go into a groover or portable toilet system.

Leave what You Find

Humans have traveled and lived in river corridors for thousands of years. As you explore the area, observe cultural or historic structures and artifacts, but do not touch them.

Minimize Campfires

On the river this means using a firepan and packing out all ash and partially burned wood. In some river corridors and depending on the season, you can collect driftwood for fires. Bring your own firewood if collecting wood is not permitted. 

Respect Wildlife

There is something special about spotting wildlife from the river. Make sure to observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them, and never feed wildlife, it can damage their health and expose them to predators.

Be Considerate of Others

Unrestricted rivers may be busier than lottery rivers. Avoid conflict by communicating with other river visitors about your floating and camping plans, leaving larger camps for larger groups and
letting nature's sounds prevail.

Cleaned, Drained, and Dry 

Aquatic invasive species, plants or animals, can move between bodies of water by attaching themselves to your boat or gear. Invasive species are not native to an ecosystem, and their presence can cause economic or environmental harm. 

For example, invasive species introduce diseases, out-compete native species, alter food chains, and change the physical characteristics of aquatic habitats.

You can do your part to minimize the spread of invasive species by ensuring your gear is: 

• Cleaned (free from visible plants, mud, and large-bodied organisms attached to or in boats, trailers, or equipment)
• Drained (all water is drained from the boat)
• Dry (Allow everything to dry for at least five days OR wipe with a towel before reuse.)

SYOTR

We have a love/hate relationship with the lottery system. On the one hand, we never win. On the other hand, the lottery system protects the rivers we love from overuse and degradation. 

The years we don’t win, (most of them) we know how to get a cancellation, when to go pre or post season, and which rivers don’t operate under a lottery system.

Most importantly, we follow Leave no Trace and clean, drain, and dry our gear between bodies of water to keep the places we recreate in good shape. 

Good luck this cancellation season and we’ll SYOTR!