Dinosaur National Monument - River Permit Frequently Asked Questions (U.S. National Park Service)

How can I get on the waiting list?
Dinosaur National Monument does not have a waiting list for the river permitting system.
When is the best time to pick up a launch date through the call-in system?
We have about a 30% cancellation rate due to either non-payment of fees, or private trip leader cancellations. The river office cancels trips for non-payment 28 to 30 days from the launch date, depending on how the calendar falls. Trips canceled by permit holders can occur at any time. Contact (970) 374-2468 M-F between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 (Mountian Time Zone).
Do I need to have my name in the lottery to obtain a call-in launch?
You do not need to have a lottery application on file to obtain a launch date on a call-in basis. If your desired date is available, it will take about 5 minutes to answer all the questions. If you pick up a date that is less then 30 days from the launch date all fees will need to be paid at the time of the reservation. ALL fees are non-refundable.
How can I or my passengers receive emergency messages?
Once a trip launches, no guarantee can be made that an emergency message can be delivered to members on that trip. A river trip is a wilderness experience with only a few areas where rangers could access the river. Due to low staffing levels, Law Enforcement personnel would determine if the situation is truly an emergency before attempting to deliver any message. In the event that you must pass on an emergency message (severe illness or death) to a friend or relative on a river trip, you may contact the river office during office hours or the headquarters office at (970) 374-3000. You will be asked for the permit holders’ name, the date of launch, the launch site, the participant’s name you are trying to reach and their birth date.
What type of toilet system can I use?
The park requires washable, reusable toilet systems and waste containers allowing for the sanitary transfer of waste materials to the human waste disposal unit at Split Mountain. Plastic buckets or paint pails are not permitted. Rocket boxes are permitted but do not provide the best human waste disposal system. Bag systems similar to "Scat Packers" or "Wag Bags" are not permitted. Bag systems are not permitted to be deposited in the Uintah Basin landfill. Plastic liners are not permitted as they can not be disposed of at any of the human waste disposal units.
Is there potable water at Lodore and Deerlodge Park, or at Echo Park?
The water systems are generally turned on and tested near the end of May after the chance of a freeze has lessened. During the fall, the availability of water depends on two factors: when the seasonal staff leaves, and/or when cold weather approaches. Water is generally available until approximately October 1. Contact the river office for specifics.
How do I make group site campground reservations for the launch and take-out locations?
Lodore and Deerlodge Park campgrounds are on a first-come first-served basis. To make reservations at Split Mountain campground, contact (435) 781-7759. The reservation fee is $10.00 per site.
Who can I contact for river shuttles within Dinosaur National Monument?
River Runners Transport (800) 930-7238, Vehicles only
Wilkins Bus Lines (435) 789-2476, can shuttle people and vehicles
Why did we change from Social Security Numbers (except for check writers), to birth dates?
We will continue to request a portion of the SS# of the person writing a check in order to request Bill of Collections if the fee check bounces. In case of an emergency, we need some form of identification other then the name of the participant. Due to the concerns expressed by private permit holders, and the policy begun by Grand Canyon in 2007, we will now request the birth date of all participants in place of a portion of the social security number. The information will be utilized during DNM accident investigations. If the river office receives a phone call stating there is an emergency and we need to contact a particular river party, the caller will be asked to provide a birth date of the party they need to contact to verify that the phone call is not a hoax.
River Program Improvements
The River computer program is currently in the process of being overhauled to increase efficiency and allow for increased benefits to river users. The first phase of the system overhaul is to replace the river program. Once this has been completed successfully, the second phase will include the possibility of completing lottery applications on-line with a program similar to that which is utilized by the Grand Canyon. The proposed completion date for the on-line application process will be November 1, 2008 in preparation for the 2009 lottery season. Eventually, a computer interface with the Utah side of the monument will allow the monument to issue one-day permits outside of river office hours effectively and efficiently.