⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
84 mi
Length
Class I–III
Difficulty
2000–10000 cfs
Optimal
5,200 cfs
Avg Flow
4,800 cfs
Hist. Median
#09315000
USGS Gauge
BLM Desolation Canyon Wilderness Study Area
Eighty-four miles of wilderness whitewater through the deepest canyon in the Uinta Basin — deeper than the Grand Canyon at its maximum point. Desolation Canyon is one of the great multi-day river trips in North America: Class I–III rapids through 2,000 feet of layered sandstone, cottonwood groves sheltering ancient Fremont rock art, bighorn sheep on every cliff band, and not a road or power line for the entire run.
Trip sections
Sand Wash to Rock Creek — 28 mi, Class I–II, canyon entry and Fremont rock art
Rock Creek to Three Fords — 28 mi, Class II–III, deepest canyon section
Three Fords to Swasey Rapid takeout — 28 mi, Class II, widening canyon and desert benches
Permit Required
⚠This river requires a permit for overnight trips
Desolation Canyon River Permit
Managed by: BLM Price Field Office
Type: Lottery
Required for: Overnight trips
Application Window
Opens: December 1
Closes: January 31
Results announced: Mid-February
Season & Logistics
May 1 – September 30
Group size: 1–25 people
Eighty-four miles of Class II–III wilderness through the deepest canyon in the Uinta Basin. Cost is a per-person fee — current schedule on the BLM site. Trip length typically 5–7 days. Take-out at Swasey\u2019s Beach (Green River, UT) requires a separate boat ramp fee. Sand Wash put-in is reached by a 2WD-passable dirt road.
⚡
Commercial trips available
Several licensed outfitters run guided multi-day Desolation Canyon trips. See outfitters below.
Last verified: 2025 · Permit rules change annually — always confirm with the managing agency before applying.
Outfitters
Holiday River Expeditions
Desolation Canyon multi-day guided trips
OARS
Green River Desolation Canyon expeditions
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.