Although the hike into Red Rock Canyon is by no means an easy day, it is significantly less steep than the other inner canyon routes to the river. Permits are required (including day users) and are only available through the reservation lottery system.

Distance: 3.4 miles (5.4 km) one way
Vertical Drop: 1330 feet (405 m)

Take Bostwick Park Road to the East Parking Area. All vehicles park here. The first mile of the hike is private property, and all hikers must stay on the double track road. At the end of the road is the trailhead, where hikers sign the register and pay the entrance fee.

The beginning of the route into Red Rock Canyon is relatively clear to follow. Mid-way down the route, numerous stream crossings can make route finding challenging. From mid-way to the bottom, poison ivy is prolific.

2009 RESERVATION LOTTERY SYSTEM
Reservation requests may be made by mail or fax, (no phone or e-mail) from 8:00 am January 2, 2009 through 4:00 pm (MST) March 13, 2009. All applications received during this time period will be treated equally. Applications received before the time period will be returned to the applicant. Applications received after March 13 will be held until after the lottery requests have all been filled, at which time they will be responded to in the order in which they are received. However, it is highly unlikely that any permits will be available after the lottery.

Please use either version of the electronically fillable form below. If you choose to print, fill out by hand and fax, please use the Microsoft Word doc. 

Reservation Request Form » (Microsoft Word doc)
Reservation Request Form » (Adobe Acrobat pdf)

If you have questions about the lottery process, you may call us at (970) 641-2337 ext. 205, or email us.

Permit Limitations & Regulations

• The 2009 season runs from May 15 to October 5.
• Each group is limited to a total of 4 people.
• Each group is limited to 3 consecutive user days (2 nights). 
• There is a limit of 8 people per day, or 3 groups, whichever fills first. Each person is limited to 8 user days per year.
• Parking is limited to 3 vehicles at any given time. Carpooling is recommended. 
• An entrance fee of $7.00 per person will be charged at the trailhead.
• All Black Canyon wilderness regulations apply.
• Part of the road and parking lot for the trailhead is located on private land. A right of access on the private land has been negotiated with the landowner. While on private property, please be respectful. No smoking is allowed on the private road.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. If a party enters red Rock Canyon to go either up or down stream to exit by another route, would that count towards the 8 users that day?
A. YES, even though they may only be in the Red Rock Canyon for a short time, that will still constitute use and will be counted towards the daily total.

Q. What about kayakers who begin their trip at East Portal and spend time or overnight in the Red Rock canyon area?
A. NO. Generally, kayakers seek more isolated sections of the canyon for campsites, and are less likely to choose the Red Rock Canyon sites for this reason. Since the use is infrequent (and difficult to control), the users will not be considered part of the reservation/permit process and their use will not be counted towards the daily totals. Kayakers are required to have a wilderness use permit, which they can obtain at East Portal or the South Rim Visitor Center.

Q. Will the visitors who enter the Red Rock Canyon area from the west side or other routes be expected to make a reservation?
A. YES. They will need a reservation and their numbers will count towards the 8 user totals. The west access crosses private land and NPS does not have an arrangement with the landowners. In addition to obtaining a reservation from the NPS, hikers must obtain permission from the landowners to use the west access. 

Q. Can I hire someone or ask a friend to carry our gear down (they won’t stay)?
A. NO. Commercial use is prohibited. Therefore you may not hire someone to carry your gear. However, if you ask for assistance from someone for no pay, they may carry your gear ONLY if they are part of your permit. For example, if there are 3 people on your permit, you may not have a fourth person pack equipment down, even if they do not stay the night.

Q. Can I use pack horses or other pack animals?
A. No, horses and other pack animals are not permitted in the inner canyon.

Q. How did the NPS establish a total of 8 users a day for Red Rock Canyon?
A. This is based on past usage, observed impact on park resources, accommodating usage patters to maximize the number of people who can enjoy a wilderness experience, and an agreement to limit parking on private lands.

Q. Why were the usage limits changed in 2008?
A. The NPS made these changes to better accommodate patterns of demand, and increase the number of people who can enjoy the canyon each year without causing adverse impacts. Changes in 2008 include:

• Decrease in group size from 5 to 4. Historic use was 3 or 4 people per group, and this will allow more groups in the canyon over the course of the season.
• Increase in daily limit from 7 to 8. This will allow two maximum size groups to make a reservation on any given day. In the past, groups of 4 or 5 limited the size of any second group in the canyon on the same day
• Decrease in number of nights from 3 to 2. Shorter trips mean more people can enjoy the canyon, though for less time. Under the older system, a maximum group size for maximum stay used nearly 30% of permits available in a month. Now they would take closer to 15%.
• Monthly limit increase from 75 to 100 (125 in June). Last minute cancellations mean some user-days go unused. The increase in limit is in anticipation that some dates will be cancelled. This year these permits will not be refilled unless reserved days dip below 75 in one month. June has a higher limit to accommodate a few more people during the hatch.

Q. What about visitors who want to hike into Red Rock Canyon before May 15th and after October 5th? Do they have to make a reservation?
A. The reservation period was established per agreement with the landowner as to when public access would occur. Public access will not be permitted across the landowner's property outside of the reservation period.

Q. Where can additional cars park?
A. Car poolers can leave vehicle(s) at the Gunnison Point parking lot on the South Rim, or at the small park (Lions Park) at the junction of U.S. Highway 50 and CO Highway 347.

Q. If users have previously paid a park entrance fee for the South Rim, do they still have the pay the individual $7.00 entrance fee? If one member of the group has an Interagency Pass, does that cover all users or just the individual? How about Senior /Access Pass users?
A. Since entry is by foot, valid passes cover the user and up to three other adults, as stipulated on the back of the pass. If they have previously paid an entrance at the South or North Rims, and their receipt is still valid, all people who were in the car at that time are covered – this also includes those who entered the South or North Rims using a pass to pay for all in the car. Conversely, if an entrance fee or $7.00 is paid at the trailhead, and then the hikers go to the South or North Rims, they must pay the additional $8.00 for the total $15.00 car fee.

Q. Why are lottery requests only accepted by mail and fax and not by e-mail or phone?
A. A federal regulation restricts the National Park Service from accepting forms and collecting information by email or via the Internet. Phone requests do not allow for applicants to sign the acknowledgement of terms.

Q. Sometimes users are told that reservations are full and their group can not add people or days, but when they get into the canyon they find themselves alone and no one else has been in the canyon for a week. Why is this?
A. In addition to daily limits, there is a monthly limit on user days. Once a monthly limit is reached, there are inevitably days with only one group using the canyon, and several days with no users.