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Contact: Sandra Snell-Dobert, 970-641-2337 ext. 227
Superintendent Connie Rudd of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is pleased to announce the 2009 lottery system for the assignment of wilderness permits into the Red Rock Canyon area of the park. The park is accepting reservation applications for the lottery from now until March 13. The 2009 season for Red Rock Canyon is May 15 – October 5. "Preserving the natural resources of the canyon and the wilderness experience for those enjoying the Red Rock area is our primary goal,” explained Superintendent Rudd. “The lottery gives us a means to be good stewards while allowing access." The Red Rock Canyon area, on the western end of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, is accessed via an easement across private property. The area is especially popular with anglers during the stonefly hatch in mid-June. Later in the season hikers enjoy this route, which is significantly less steep than other routes into the narrow gorge. Red Rock Canyon is within the congressionally designated wilderness area of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. It is managed to preserve wilderness qualities, including plant and wildlife habitat and solitude for hikers. To ensure these values are protected, only eight people per day are permitted into the canyon, with a three-day visit limit. Please visit the park website for more information about regulations and requirements. To apply for the lottery, visitors may go to the Black Canyon webpage at: https://www.nps.gov/blca and click on “Red Rock Lottery 2009”. There, they may download the reservation form. Forms may also be requested by contacting the visitor center at 970-641-2337 x205 or cure_info@nps.gov. After filling out the form, they may mail or fax it to the park. Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on March 13, 2009. All applications will be randomly assigned a priority number. On March 16, park staff will begin confirming reservations according to the random order. Visitors who have questions or would like to request a lottery form may contact the Elk Creek Visitor Center at 970-641-2337 x205 or at cure_info@nps.gov. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015