2027 river permit lottery dates
Every Western river permit lottery, river by river: when to apply, when results come out, the deadline to accept, and when unclaimed dates open to everyone.
Applications open for 10 lotteries on Tue, Dec 1, 2026, in 28 days.
| River | Apply | Results | Accept by | Unclaimed dates open | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur: Gates of Lodore and YampaDeerlodge Park to Split Mountain · Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain · Split Mountain Canyon, Dinosaur National Monument | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | By mid-February, by email | — | Mar 6 8 AM MTLow-use, one-day and unclaimed high-use dates | |
| Desolation and Gray Canyons | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | Feb 15 | Mar 14 | Mar 15 8 AM MTUnawarded and cancelled dates | |
| San Juan River (Utah)Upper: Sand Island to Mexican Hat · Lower: Mexican Hat to Clay HillsFlood closure: on Oct 26, 2026 the BLM closed Sand Island Campground, the Sand Island and Mexican Hat boat ramps and the floodplain between them, and it has cancelled all San Juan River permits through Dec 31, 2026. Neither the BLM nor Recreation.gov says yet whether the 2027 lottery is affected. Call the BLM river desk at 435-587-1544 before planning. | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | Feb 14 | Mar 15Accept and pay | Mar 16 8 AM MTRemaining launches and cancellations | |
| Middle Fork of the SalmonFour Rivers lottery | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | Feb 14 | Mar 15 | Mar 16 8 AM MTCancelled, declined and unconfirmed dates | |
| Main SalmonFour Rivers lottery | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | Feb 14 | Mar 15 | Mar 16 8 AM MTCancelled, declined and unconfirmed dates | |
| SelwayFour Rivers lottery | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | Feb 14 | Mar 15 | Mar 16 8 AM MTCancelled, declined and unconfirmed dates | |
| Hells Canyon of the SnakeFour Rivers lottery | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | Feb 14 | Mar 15 | Mar 16 8 AM MTCancelled, declined and unconfirmed dates | |
| Salt River Canyon (Arizona) | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | Not published | Feb 20Pay the $125 permit fee | Remaining dates, first come first served (no date published) | |
| Rogue River (wild section)Expected dates: agency page not updated for 2027 yet | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | Feb 15By email | — | No date published | |
| Rio Chama | Dec 1 to Jan 31 | Not published | — | Apr 1 8 AMOther launch days, first come first served | |
| Smith River (Montana)Expected dates: agency page not updated for 2027 yet | Jan 1 to Feb 15 | Feb 18Drawing (winners emailed) | — | Reservation line for cancellations opens in early March | |
| Grand Canyon (2028 trips)Expected dates: agency page not updated for 2027 yet | Expected in February 2027 (last year: Feb 2 to 24). Not announced yet. | After the lottery closes | — | Follow-up lotteries reassign cancelled dates during the year |
Dates checked against each agency page on Nov 3, 2026. All times Mountain. Expected means the agency has not posted 2027 dates yet and last season’s pattern is shown. Not listed: the Tatshenshini-Alsek in Alaska, which uses a waiting list rather than a lottery. Always confirm on the agency page before you apply.
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Wavetrain is an early build. Flow readings are USGS provisional data and may be revised. Runnable ranges and run details are drafts for paddlers to review. Permit dates and rules come from the agency pages linked on each permit and can change. Snowpack figures come from NRCS SNOTEL stations, are provisional, and are grouped into basins by watershed, so they may differ from official NRCS basin reports. Nothing here replaces scouting, local knowledge or a conversation with a nearby outfitter.