Here are some excerps from a site that explains the new system.
“Beginning in 2006, Grand Canyon National Park transitioned (read getting rid of) the Waiting List, a First-Come First-serve list that had grown to over 8,000 waiters waiting up to 20 years for a launch date, to a lottery system. The National Park Service estimates the time it will take someone to win the new lottery system is as long as the old waiting List. Go figure.”
“Question 37:
I’ve participated in river permit lotteries before on the Rogue, Dinosaur, and the Four Rivers Lottery. In those lotteries, we have permit parties, apply for a lot of dates, and all go if one person in our party wins. Why not do that for this Grand Canyon lottery?
Answer:
You can, but consider this: If you win, you get charged the $400 full trip or $200 small trip fee immediately. If your group of friends wins twice or more, you’ll have to pay the fees and cancel one or more of those trips. Say goodbye to your lottery fee and trip fee. Not only is there the fee issue, but also you can only go on one trip a year, and your name can only appear on one application.
Question 38:
This is a mess. I’m frustrated, confused, and don’t even want to apply. The chances of a permit holder getting a permit who has no experience in putting a Grand Canyon river trip together is really high. Who benefits?
Answer:
The majority of summer river access is still, by far, going to the river concessionaires for their customers. The new plan allows 14,385 commercial passengers on 476 trips in the summer, and only 2,270 do-it-yourself boaters on 185 trips, 62 of which are 8 people or less trips.
Question 39:
This is a mess. So what can I do about that?
Answer:
Tell your congressperson. Join RRFW at www.rrfw.org and stay active. This IS your National Park after all.”
I was not involved in the lottery with which we won our permit, but we did win on the first attempt. The lottery is weighted so that the longer the applicant goes without winning, the great his chances become each year.
I’m not attempting to defend the present system. Maybe it could be done better. Camping space is limited on the River, so access has to limited using some methodology.
I also don’t understand Question 38. No one in our group of twelve had ever rafted the Grand Canyon before, although two of the participants did have professional guide credentials. We used an outfitter in Flagstaff for the equipment and food.