Rafting the section of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park is a big deal among adventure seeking tourists. It's rather challenging, making it engaging and memorable. Plus, it's hard to beat the scenery. The Grand Canyon is picturesque year round and from any angle, but seeing it from the bottom is a much different experience, one that less visitors have. But those rafting tours are usually through companies and don't tend to be inexpensive.
The National Park Service is currently running a weighted lottery for self-guided tour permits of the Grand Canyon section of the Colorado River. They are for 12 to 25 day long trips in 2026, and there are only 450 of them. Naturally, the guided tours through approved companies remain the main option but this is a much different experience. The lottery closes Februrary 25.
There are, of course, some terms and conditions that you need to take into account. Anyone applying for a self-guided permit has to be at least 18 years old and have previous technical white water rafting experience. Again, this section of the river is quite challenging and is definitely not for beginners. Then, there are the costs for applying, the actual permit costs, and all the expenses related to kitting your group out for the actual adventure. It will be worth it, though.
Grand Canyon National Park is one the most visited national parks in the United States at nearly five million guests per year. That's second only to Great Smoky Mountains National Park which has more than 13 million visitors per year. The Grand Canyon is a stunning natural formation that offers a number of ways to view it. In addition to rafting, there are also hikes, donkey rides, and more. On top of that, there is a great deal of wildlife in the area.