Ruby Horsethief Canyon Permits
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The Ruby-Horsethief section of the Colorado River runs through beautiful red rock canyons and has many day hike opportunities offering both solitude and exploration. This section of the canyon, from Loma, Colorado, to Westwater, Utah, is a 25-mile stretch of mostly flat water with sections of Class I and II rapids. The Black Rocks section is composed of rock known as Vishnu schist, which dates back about 1.7 billion years. This same rock is exposed in certain sections of the Grand Canyon.
There is an abundance of wildlife in the area including great blue herons, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, mule deer, and desert bighorn sheep. Look up in old cottonwoods trees and you are likely to spot nests and eagles. Please note that humans are prohibited from approaching within a half-mile of eagle nests or harassing the birds in any way.
Motorized use is allowed in Ruby-Horsethief. Visitors can expect to see motorized and non-motorized craft in Ruby-Horsethief.
Floaters: Be aware that powerboats can only travel in narrow channels in some sections of river. Even though float boats have the right-of-way in the river, powerboats work hard coming upstream. As a courtesy, pull to one side of the channel, if possible, when you see a powerboat coming and let it by.
Powerboaters: Be cautious and courteous when passing other boats, especially when they are moored along shore. Slow down if possible, and give them a wide berth. You must also slow to a "no wake" speed at boat landing facilities.
Upstream motorized travel is prohibited downriver of the Colorado/Utah state line.
For experienced boaters looking to lengthen their trip and add some whitewater, consider continuing downriver through Westwater Canyon. Westwater Canyon River Permits can be found here. Westwater Canyon is a challenging stretch of river at all water levels and is only recommended for experienced boaters. This 17 mile stretch of river includes 11 named rapids that range in difficulty from class I to class IV. The canyon may be run in one long day or as an overnight trip.
Permit & Season Information
Due to limited camping in this 25-mile stretch of the Colorado, overnight camping permits are required year-round and must be reserved in advance.
Reservations for Ruby-Horsethief camping permits can be made 2 months in advance on a daily rolling window. Reservations open at 8:00 am MDT.
You can print your permit 7 days before your launch.
Visitors can reserve multi-night trips within the open window.
Visitors are limited to one active reservation at a time.
Visitors can have multiple permits per year.
A permit is not required for day use in Ruby-Horsethief.
Black Rocks sites are limited to one camping night on Friday and Saturday nights. No layovers.
Important Dates
| Dates | Information |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2024 - October 31, 2024 | High use season, camping fees are charged, permit required |
| November 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025 | Low use season, no camping fees are charged, permit required |
How Does the Quota Work for this Permit?
The quota for this permit is based on the number of campsites. Each campsite can have one group per night. Groups cannot have more than 25 individuals including dogs. However, some sites do have a smaller group limit due to the size of the camp.
