Advanced Reservations Are Required

How do I get a permit?

Applications for the San Juan River are available from the link above.

Permit applications for the following season are normally available in early November.

If you want to be eligible for the lottery, your permit applications must be received PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 1.

A lottery drawing of those permits received prior to February 1 is conducted the first week of February. If you don't fill out the application correctly or it is illegible, it will not be processed. A notification card is sent only to those permit applicants who received a launch date. If you do not hear from us by March 1, you did not draw a launch.

To keep the launch date awarded to you, you must pay for the permit 30 days in advance of your launch. If we do not receive your money 30 days in advance, your launch goes up for grabs. You may now pay with a credit card over the phone.

If you do not draw a launch date in the lottery or you do not get your application in by February 1, you can call in (435-587-1544 between 8 am and 12 noon ) for unfilled launch dates or cancellations, starting March 1, however, we must already have your permit application on file.

What if I need to cancel or change my launch?
If you receive a launch reservation which you will not be using, please notify us as soon as possible so other boaters may make use of the river. Changes to the permit must be made in advance through this office. Only trip leaders may request changes or add persons to the permit. No more than 2 changes may be made. If you have already paid for your permit and cancel your reservation at least 30 days prior to the launch date, we will authorize a credit equal to the amount of the permit fee. The credit may be applied towards payment of permit fees, if you are able to obtain a launch later this season on any one of the three river sections administered by Southeast Utah BLM offices (San Juan , Desolation Canyon, or Westwater Canyon ). You must ask for a credit at the time you cancel.

NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED

Where do I launch?
There are two major launch points for the San Juan River.  Sand Island (3 miles west of the town of Bluff ) has a campground, boat launch ramp, and a nice petroglyph panel to look at while you are waiting for the shuttle.  

Mexican Hat (26 river miles downstream) is the second launch point or take out if you launched from Sand Island. The boat launch ramp is identified by a small sign on the east end of town. We do not recommend camping or leaving your vehicles at the Mexican Hat launch ramp due to some vandalism problems we have had in the past.

The last take out for the river is at Clay Hills Crossing (84 river miles from Sand Island ). There is an unpredictable waterfall  (sometimes there, sometimes not) three miles downstream from Clay Hills, so make sure you don't miss the take out.

How long does the trip take?
The average trip length from Sand Island to Mexican Hat (26 miles) is 2.3 days, from Mexican Hat to Clay Hills (58 miles) is 4.8 days, and from Sand Island to Clay Hills (84 miles) 6.2 days. At higher flow levels, trips are more rapid.

How do I find out the river flow?
During the boating season, river flow information can be obtained by calling (801) 539-1311 for a daily recorded flow summary or at their website at www.cbrfc.gov.

How long are the shuttles?
Shuttles from Sand Island to Mexican Hat take one hour, while shuttles from Sand Island to Clay Hills take 4-5 hours. Commercial outfitters provide the shuttles for a fee.

May I bring my pets?
NO! Pets are prohibited on river trips between Sand Island and Clay Hills.

Where are the Indian lands?
The left bank of the river and the Montezuma Creek launch point are on the Navajo Indian Reservation.  Permits are required for hiking or camping on the Navajo Reservation. This means that if you want to camp on the left bank of the river you should have a permit.
Permits are issued by: 

Navajo Parks and Recreation Dept.
P.O. Box 9000
Window Rock, AZ 86515
928-871-6647

Be aware that it may take at four to six weeks to get this permit.

Where may I camp?
You must have a permit to camp on the south side of the river, please see Indian Lands above.  

Camping on the north (right) side of the river is okay, except at the Butler Wash Petroglyph Panel which is closed to camping. 

From March 1 - May15, and June 15 - Oct 31, campsite occupancy is limited to two nights in the portion of the river from mile 66 to Clay Hills.  You may not camp at the same campsite for two nights and no more than one night may be spent at Slickhorn. From May 15 - June 15, campsite occupancy is limited to ONE night in this portion of the river.  None of these camps may be shared by more than one party.

Campers must register for the following sites: 
Slickhorn A, B, C, D, and E campsites, 
Campsites at the mouth of Grand Gulch, Trimble Camp (mile 71.7, river left), Oljeto Wash (mile 75.6, river left) and Steer Gulch (mile 77.4 river right)

What should I bring?
There are some things you are required to have for the trip. These are:

• A washable, reusable toilet system that allows for the carry-out disposal of solid human body waste in a responsible and lawful manner.  It must be adequate for the size of the group and length of trip and accessible during the daytime
• A major first aid kit adequate for the group
• A repair kit with adequate materials to repair the types of boats used on the trip
• An air pump or pumps
• A durable metal fire pan at least 12 inches wide with at least a 1.5 inch lip around its outer edge (a fire pan is required even if stoves are to be used for cooking)
• A proper size life jacket for each member of the party
• An extra oar or paddle for each raft, dory, or canoe; parties using small capacity vessels (kayaks and inflatable kayaks must carry a spare paddle for every 3 kayaks or fraction thereof (i.e., 1-3 kayaks require 1 spare paddle; 4-6 kayaks require 2 spare paddles)
• A bail bucket or bilge pump (does not apply to self bailers or kayaks)
• A type IV throwable device or throw bag with at least 40 feet of line for each boat 16 feet or longer
• A whistle or horn capable of a 4 to 6 second blast.

Here are a few things that are not required but strongly suggested:

• sunscreen
• hat
• rain gear
• insect repellent

How much water should I bring?
You should bring all your drinking water.  There are no reliable, potable sources of drinking water on the San Juan.  Filtering the water is difficult because the San Juan is very silty.  A gallon per person per day is suggested.

How do I get a river map/guide?
Guide books are available through Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) by mail or phone order at (800) 840-8978 or at their website www.cnha.org

What if I want to go with a commercial outfitter?

The San Juan River currently has a number of commercial companies permitted to offer trips. Click here to see a list of permitted river outfitters. You can get a list of outfitter services and accommodations from the Utah Canyon County Area Information at (800) 574-4386, extension 4139 or (435) 587-3401, or on the internet at www.utahscanyoncountry.com. 

River Office hours are from 8 am to 12 noon