🚣 River
Yampa Canyon (Dinosaur National Monument)
About This Permit
The Yampa is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Colorado River system, and its season is entirely dictated by spring snowmelt — typically a 6–8 week window each year. The 71-mile float through Dinosaur National Monument delivers Class IV whitewater, towering canyon walls, and exceptional solitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Yampa Canyon float season?
The Yampa is only reliably runnable during snowmelt, typically mid-May through early July. Water levels drop sharply in mid-summer, often making the river too low to float. The exact season shifts year to year based on snowpack.
How does the Yampa Canyon permit lottery work?
Applications are submitted December 1 – January 31 on recreation.gov. Winners are notified around February 14. Unfilled and cancelled dates are released March 6 at 8am MST as rolling first-come reservations.
Can the Yampa and Gates of Lodore (Green River) be combined?
Yes. Both rivers are covered under the same Dinosaur National Monument permit (facility 250014). Floating both in sequence is possible with a short overland connection at Echo Park.
Key Facts
- State
- CO
- Float Season
- High-use: mid-May – early July (water-dependent snowmelt river)
- Launch Quota
- 25 persons max per launch; limits vary by permit type and season
- Put-in
- Deerlodge Park (put-in)
- Take-out
- Split Mountain Boat Ramp
- Difficulty to get permit
- 3/5(Competitive)
Get an SMS the moment a cancellation opens — we scan every 60 seconds.
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