Trip Length

So should you be so lucky to obtain a permit to raft Grand Canyon, one decision you will need to make is how long should your trip be. Factors that influence this decision will be family and work constraints, trip participant constraints, and time of year constraints. Another factor offsetting those constraints is how hard it is to get a permit. Maybe it's better to slow down and spend time in the Canyon vs. rushing through.

No matter what you decide, the National Park Service varies trip lengths depending on the time of year and where the trip starts. Here's a list with the most recent trip lengths:

PLEASE NOTE: LEE'S FERRY TO DIAMOND CREEK IS MEASURED IN TRIP DAYS, NOT NIGHTS Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek:

Summer Launch (May 1 – August 31)

Maximum Trip Length in Days Noncommercial Motor 12 days Noncommercial Oar 16 days

Shoulder Seasons Launch (March 1 -April 30/Sept 1 or 15 - October 31)

Noncommercial Motor 12 days (Motor free season is Sept 15 to April 1)

Noncommercial Oar 18 days (Sept 1-15), 21 days the remainder of Shoulder Season)

Winter Launch (November 1 – February 28) Noncommercial Motor Free Season, Noncommercial Oar 25 days

PLEASE NOTE: DIAMOND CREEK TO PEARCE FERRY IS MEASURED IN TRIP NIGHTS, NOT DAYS

Diamond Creek to Pearce Ferry Ramp Maximum Number of Nights

Diamond Creek to Separation Canyon (Zone 1)

SUMMER May 1 -September 30 One Night

WINTER October 1 -April 30 One Night

Separation Canyon to RM 260 (Zone 2)

SUMMER May 1 -September 30 One Night

WINTER October 1 -April 30 Two Nights

RM 260 to Lake Mead (Zone 3)

SUMMER May 1 -September 30 One Night

WINTER October 1 -April 30 Two Nights

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