|
If the idea of floating down a wilderness canyon with cliffs shooting
up one mile around you excites you, Grand Canyon National Park
is your kind of boating experience. The main boating activity
in the park is rafting the mighty Colorado River. With an average
width of 300 feet, and an average depth of 40 feet, this is an
incredibly powerful river. There are plenty of options for choosing
the kind of float you would like. There are technical runs of
pounding rapids, and there are nice relaxing flat runs for those
who just want to take it easy. There is an astounding 277 miles
of Colorado River waterway inside Grand Canyon National Park.
Input access is Lee's Ferry in the northeast corner.
Because of the incredibly high demand to float the Colorado River
inside the park, a lottery and permit system were established.
There are 4 main float options for Grand Canyon National Park:
1 day commercial trip
2 to 5 day noncommercial trip
3 to 18 day commercial trip
12 to 25 day noncommercial trip
Boating gear
Commercial trips are via an outfitter who is already set up.
This is by far the most used option for people wishing to do
a Grand Canyon float. For noncommercial trips, you need to apply
for a weighted lottery permit and to be pre-approved and inspected
by the park service. You need to have the gear and the experience
in order to be permitted. You can apply for the permit at this
site: Weight
lottery applications.
Of course, there is a yearly lottery application fee of $25.
If you win your permit, there is a $400 nonrefundable trip deposit,
which applies to final trip permit fees.. There is also a Grand
Canyon National Park Permit Lottery FAQ (pdf) which
is a must read for those interested in doing a noncommercial
float.
Waterproof your valuables. 
A few guidelines for noncommercial trips:
1. Not for profit.
2. Launch dates are final.
3. One trip per year.
4. No more than 16 persons for a standard group
5. Permits nontransferable
6. No pets.
7. Generators limited to emergency situations and inflating rafts.
8. Ranger audits.
9. Sharing camps with other parties when none available.
10. Approved life vests worn at all times on the river.
11. Quality first aid kit recommended.
12. Pack everything out.
13. Soap restricted to mainstream of Colorado only.
14. Gas stoves required.
15. Gathering of wood from alive or downed trees prohibited.
16. Ashes from campfires must be carried out of canyon.
More
rules and regs(pdf).
|
