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Grand Canyon, USA packraft expedition 2027

So, anyone who wants to experience a packrafting adventure in 2027 in the USA just needs to raise their hand 🙋

By Packrafting.cat

December 23^rd, 2025

Interested?

Contact info@packrafting.cat

Grand Canyon non commercial permits 2027

https://grandcanyon.com/planning/private-non-commercial-river-trip-information

The idea: to dream (and paddle) big again

As some of you already know, in 2026, packrafting.cat organised a 20-day expedition through the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. It was an incredible experience... and, as is often the case with these types of trips, we were left wanting more.

In addition, many colleagues were unable to attend or were left out due to a key limitation:

👉 the maximum of 16 people permitted by the park for non-commercial expeditions.

Or simply because 2026 was not their year or for personal reasons they could not come. So we have decided to try again.

But this time, with more experience, more leeway, and a much better thought-out plan.

The proposal for USA 2027 is based on a very simple idea:

Organise an incredible trip to the rivers near the Grand Canyon, regardless of the outcome of the non-commercial permit draw.

Below we explain how we approach it, step by step.

Step 1 · Create the group and play the Grand Canyon lottery

The first step is to assemble a group of individuals who are genuinely interested in the trip and participate—for the first time or again—in the Grand Canyon non-commercial permit lottery.

Some key points of the process:

🗓️ The lottery takes place in February
It usually starts on day 1.
It ends around the 20-something mark.
By the end of February, you will know if you have won.
💰 Approximate cost: £25 per person
🎯 Strategy: To maximise options, all participants select the same 5 days of rig day (shipping day).

Before arriving here, we will have already decided:

The preferred dates
The type of expedition (completely self-sufficient, semi-self-sufficient, with support from a company such as Ceiba Adventures, etc.). The 2027 expedition will probably be somewhat shorter than the 2026 expedition and more self-sufficient, although this is still to be defined.

Step 2 · Two scenarios... but only one real plan

This is where the key to the whole project comes in. Option A · It's our turn for the draw 🎉

Perfect.

We repeated the experience of organising a full expedition through the Grand Canyon, applying everything we had learnt on previous trips.

Option B · We are not involved in the draw (and that's fine)

If the permit is not granted, we activate Plan B, which actually becomes the real Plan A.

This plan consists of organising an expedition to some of the most spectacular rivers in the area, such as:

Green River
Escalante
San Juan River
(and others that are on the table)

👉 Very important:

This trip is organised as if it were the definitive one, as if we had never discussed the Grand Canyon.

That means:

Book flights in advance
Plan routes
Define logistics
Genuine commitment from the group

No "waiting to see what happens".

Step 3 · Secure travel... and the door open to the Grand Canyon

At this point, two things can happen:

Let's go straight to the alternative expedition (Escalante, Green River, San Juan River, etc.)
Throughout the year, we keep an eye on the Grand Canyon's Follow-Up Lotteries.
If suitable rig day dates become available, we can return to the Grand Canyon Plan.

Las Follow-Up Lotteries:

They are much easier to win.
But also much more hasty
Sometimes you win with very little preparation

Precisely for this reason, in Step 2:

The trip is now closed.
Purchased flights
And, if the group so decides, even with some deposit paid.

In summary: a plan in which we always win

There may be chance along the way, yes.

But the approach is clear:

Whatever happens, we ended up having an amazing packrafting trip through the south-western United States.

Grand Canyon or not, the plan is a great plan.

Indicative budget

Here comes one of the key questions: How much does a trip like this cost?

To answer accurately, I can only base my response on actual data: what the Grand Canyon 2026 trip cost us, a 20-day trip with full support.

When I say full support, I mean something similar to an "all-inclusive" adventure version: a local company takes care of absolutely everything you need to enjoy the river experience safely and comfortably.

Main costs (reference Grand Canyon 2026)

Equipment hire and full logistics:
Approximately 1,300$ per person (20 days).
Includes:
Rafts / boats
Transportation to and from the river
Permits and deposits
Kitchen equipment
Food for the entire expedition
Portable washbasins (mandatory by regulation in the Grand Canyon)
General expedition logistics
In short: you arrive, get on the river and just worry about paddling and enjoying yourself.
International flights: Between 600€ and 800€, depending on dates and how far in advance you book.
Checked baggage: Between 100$ and 200$, depending on the airline and the number of bags.

⚠️ All these costs assume that you already have your basic packrafting equipment (paddle, life jacket, helmet, etc.).

Other expenses to consider

Accommodation before and after the river:
In budget motels, you can find options for around 15$ per night.
Land transport:
The usual airports are Phoenix or Las Vegas.
The most practical option is usually to hire a car to Flagstaff, at an approximate cost of 50$ per day.
The non-refundable $25 fee to participate in the draw
The $90-100 price of the Grand Canyon permit, if applicable.
The cost of admission to national parks. In 2025, an annual pass will cost $80, but Trump could complicate matters here.
Other permits to Indian tribes
Any other activity carried out on the days before or after.

Total estimated budget

Broadly speaking, and depending on:

the final duration of the journey,
the type of logistics chosen,
and the number of days away from the river,

The total budget ranges between:

👉 1,750€ and 2,500€ per person

Ejemplo de material packraft para una expedición 20 días en el Grand Canyon del Colorado

Yes — there will be a lottery for non-commercial permits for the Grand Canyon for the 2027 launch year, and the application period is expected to be in February 2026. GrandCanyon.com

📅 Estimated dates for the 2027 lottery

Lottery opening: 1 February 2026 (00:00 MST).
Lottery closing date: 25 February 2026 (12:00 noon MST).
Results are usually announced at the end of February 2026.
These dates are listed in an updated guide to the 2027 Weighted Lottery for non-commercial permits. GrandCanyon.com

📍 How it works

Each year, usually in February, the National Park Service (NPS) opens the main lottery to allocate launch dates for self-guided rafting on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon for the following year. nps.gov
In addition to this main draw, there may be follow-up lotteries throughout the year if dates become available after cancellations. nps.gov