- Region
- UT, USA
- Country
- United States
- Best for
- hiking
- Best season
- Spring, Summer
- Permits
- A BLM Desolation Canyon permit is required…
- Managed by
- Bureau of Land Management, Price Field Office
Plan with verified data
Desolation Canyon Wilderness trip tools
Tools for a trip here
Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.
Photos of Desolation Canyon Wilderness
How to get there
Sand Wash is the primitive river access point, with a boat ramp, campground, contact/information station, staffed ranger station, and toilets. Bring water and plan to pack out trash. Swaseys Boat Ramp provides more developed river access, with a large concrete ramp, improved parking, toilets, and trash removal. Confirm approach and river logistics with the BLM Price Field Office.
- Sand Wash
Primitive boat ramp and eight-site campground with toilets and ranger facilities. No water or trash receptacles are provided. Four campsites have screened cabins for protection from frequent mosquitoes; contact the BLM Price Field Office at (435) 636-3600 for cabin reservations.
- Swaseys Boat Ramp
Developed river access with a large concrete boat ramp, improved parking, toilets, and trash removal services.
Sources: blm.gov · University of Montana / federal agency partners · Wilderness Connect / federal wilderness boundary inventory. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
UT, USA · United States
- Rafting
- Hunting
- Mountaineering
- Desert Hiking
- Canyoneering
- Sea Kayaking
- Beachcombing
- Hiking
The Green River and the canyon country
Desolation Canyon Wilderness stretches from the West Tavaputs plateau to just north of Green River, Utah. Its defining feature is the Green River corridor through Desolation and Gray Canyons, an 84-mile river segment surrounded by deep tributary canyons, cliffs, arches, and pinnacles. At Rock Creek, the canyon is more than a mile deep. Elevations across the wilderness vary by 5,600 feet, making this more varied country than the desert riverbanks alone suggest. The Green enters Desolation Canyon just north of Sand Wash as it leaves the Uinta Basin. Downstream, the walls change from Eocene stream and lake deposits to the Cretaceous delta and sea deposits of Gray Canyon. A river trip offers a continuous look at that transition; time ashore adds a closer view of the side canyons and erosional features.
River travel, camping, and preparation
More than sixty riffles and rapids break up the river journey. They are not described as particularly difficult, but roughly a dozen can trouble an unprepared group. Treat the relatively moderate whitewater and the remoteness as separate planning questions: boat-handling skills do not replace a sound water, food, and equipment plan. Between Sand Wash and Nefertiti Rapid, travelers set their own itinerary. Camps commonly occupy sandy beaches beside cottonwood groves, where trees provide shade and a windbreak. Sand Wash allows groups to camp before launching, with a primitive eight-site campground, toilets, and ranger facilities. It has neither drinking water nor trash receptacles, so arrive supplied and ready to carry waste out. Mosquitoes can be severe there; four campsites have screened cabins, with reservations handled by the BLM Price Field Office.
Side canyons, habitat, and cultural sites
More than sixty side canyons meet the Green River, and some carry cold, clear streams into its warm, silty water. Hiking trails and opportunities for backpacking extend the experience beyond boating, though a shore excursion should account for desert exposure and the return to camp. Along the river, willow, cottonwood, and box elder support migrant birds, nesting waterfowl, and wintering deer and elk. Beyond that narrow shaded belt, salt shrubs and bunch grasses give way to sagebrush and pinyon-juniper slopes; protected, well-watered alcoves support Douglas fir. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep also frequent the wilderness. Rock art and remains of dwellings, towers, and granaries are widespread. Leave these places undisturbed. The Desolation Canyon National Historic Landmark extends one mile on either side of the river between Nine Mile Creek and Florence Creek.
Permits and east-bank boundaries
Plan river permissions and shore access together rather than assuming a river permit covers every place along the banks. Confirm current Desolation Canyon permit arrangements with the Bureau of Land Management’s Price Field Office. On Ute Tribal Lands above Coal Creek, river left—the east side—has a 75-foot buffer where camping is allowed with a permit issued by the Ute Tribe. Recreational activities there, including hiking and sightseeing, are prohibited without a tribal permit. A valid BLM Desolation Canyon permit is required before obtaining the Ute Tribal permit, which can be purchased online. These boundaries matter when choosing camps and side trips. Build an itinerary around the land your group is authorized to use, and resolve access questions before launching rather than relying on an appealing beach or canyon mouth as evidence of permission.
Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Desolation Canyon Wilderness, United States. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
Coordinates
- Decimal degrees
- 39.2647, -110.1784
- Latitude (DMS)
- 39° 15′ 52.8″ N
- Longitude (DMS)
- 110° 10′ 42.1″ W
Coordinates are an access-point reference for Desolation Canyon Wilderness, not a route. Carry a paper map and confirm trailhead or put-in access with the managing agency before you go.
Topic summary
The most prominent feature of the Desolation Canyon Wilderness is the 84-mile segment of the Green River through Desolation and Gray canyons. The wilderness has an extensive system of deep canyons. The...
Key takeaways
- Region: UT, USA
- Country: United States
- Good for: hiking
- Coordinates: 39.265, -110.178
Intended uses
hiking
Keep planning
Popular pursuits at Desolation Canyon Wilderness
- Rafting
Whitewater sections and the flows that make them run.
- Hunting
Seasons, tags, and the units that hold animals.
- Mountaineering
Glacier and high-route objectives with real consequence.
- Desert Hiking
Water carries and heat management drive the plan.
- Canyoneering
Narrows, downclimbs, and flash-flood timing.
- Sea Kayaking
Coastal crossings, tides, and protected camps.
Animals around Desolation Canyon Wilderness
The Green River and the canyon country
Desolation Canyon Wilderness stretches from the West Tavaputs plateau to just north of Green River, Utah. Its defining feature is the Green River corridor through Desolation and Gray Canyons, an 84-mile river segment surrounded by deep tributary canyons, cliffs, arches, and pinnacles. At Rock Creek, the canyon is more than a mile deep. Elevations across the wilderness vary by 5,600 feet, making this more varied country than the desert riverbanks alone suggest. The Green enters Desolation Canyon just north of Sand Wash as it leaves the Uinta Basin. Downstream, the walls change from Eocene stream and lake deposits to the Cretaceous delta and sea deposits of Gray Canyon. A river trip offers a continuous look at that transition; time ashore adds a closer view of the side canyons and erosional features.
River travel, camping, and preparation
More than sixty riffles and rapids break up the river journey. They are not described as particularly difficult, but roughly a dozen can trouble an unprepared group. Treat the relatively moderate whitewater and the remoteness as separate planning questions: boat-handling skills do not replace a sound water, food, and equipment plan. Between Sand Wash and Nefertiti Rapid, travelers set their own itinerary. Camps commonly occupy sandy beaches beside cottonwood groves, where trees provide shade and a windbreak. Sand Wash allows groups to camp before launching, with a primitive eight-site campground, toilets, and ranger facilities. It has neither drinking water nor trash receptacles, so arrive supplied and ready to carry waste out. Mosquitoes can be severe there; four campsites have screened cabins, with reservations handled by the BLM Price Field Office.
Side canyons, habitat, and cultural sites
More than sixty side canyons meet the Green River, and some carry cold, clear streams into its warm, silty water. Hiking trails and opportunities for backpacking extend the experience beyond boating, though a shore excursion should account for desert exposure and the return to camp. Along the river, willow, cottonwood, and box elder support migrant birds, nesting waterfowl, and wintering deer and elk. Beyond that narrow shaded belt, salt shrubs and bunch grasses give way to sagebrush and pinyon-juniper slopes; protected, well-watered alcoves support Douglas fir. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep also frequent the wilderness. Rock art and remains of dwellings, towers, and granaries are widespread. Leave these places undisturbed. The Desolation Canyon National Historic Landmark extends one mile on either side of the river between Nine Mile Creek and Florence Creek.
Permits and east-bank boundaries
Plan river permissions and shore access together rather than assuming a river permit covers every place along the banks. Confirm current Desolation Canyon permit arrangements with the Bureau of Land Management’s Price Field Office. On Ute Tribal Lands above Coal Creek, river left—the east side—has a 75-foot buffer where camping is allowed with a permit issued by the Ute Tribe. Recreational activities there, including hiking and sightseeing, are prohibited without a tribal permit. A valid BLM Desolation Canyon permit is required before obtaining the Ute Tribal permit, which can be purchased online. These boundaries matter when choosing camps and side trips. Build an itinerary around the land your group is authorized to use, and resolve access questions before launching rather than relying on an appealing beach or canyon mouth as evidence of permission.
Route options
- Green River through Desolation and Gray Canyons84 milesGenerally moderate whitewater; roughly a dozen rapids can trouble unprepared travelers.
The principal river journey through the canyon corridor, with more than sixty riffles and rapids, sandy beach camping, and opportunities to explore side canyons. Prepare for remote travel and confirm river permits before departure.
- Sand Wash to Nefertiti Rapid
A river stretch where travelers set their own itinerary, allowing camp and hiking stops to shape the trip. Check east-bank tribal permissions before planning shore activities on Ute Tribal Lands above Coal Creek.
Sample itineraries
- Sand Wash pre-launch overnight · 1 day
Use Sand Wash as a staging overnight before a permitted river trip. Organize boats at the primitive ramp and camp in the eight-site campground. Bring water and pack out trash. Screened cabins offer protection from mosquitoes; arrange reservations with the BLM Price Field Office.
- Side-canyon hiking layover · 1 day
Build a hiking layover into a longer permitted Green River trip. Between Sand Wash and Nefertiti Rapid, groups set their own itinerary. Explore a side canyon within the group's abilities, returning to river camp. Check land boundaries first: recreation on east-bank Ute Tribal Lands requires a separate tribal permit.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Spring; check current river and weather conditions
Plan for changing weather across a landscape with substantial elevation differences. Riparian vegetation supports migrant birds and nesting waterfowl; give birds space and avoid disturbing nesting areas. Choose river and hiking plans around current conditions rather than the calendar alone.
Summer
Summer; plan around desert exposure
Away from riverside shade, the canyon becomes desert. Carry adequate drinking water and sun protection for hikes. Cottonwood groves provide shade at many sandy camps. Sand Wash can have severe mosquitoes, so bring insect protection.
Fall
Fall; confirm conditions before departure
Pack layers for changing weather and exposed camps. Desert slopes, shaded riverbanks and higher terrain call for different clothing and water planning. Confirm river conditions before committing to a trip through this remote canyon system.
Winter
Winter; assess weather and access before travel
Prepare for cold-weather exposure and verify access and river conditions with BLM. The riparian corridor provides winter habitat for deer and elk. Keep enough distance that animals do not need to move away from feeding or resting areas.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Spring; check current river and weather conditions | Plan for changing weather across a landscape with substantial elevation differences. Riparian vegetation supports migrant birds and nesting waterfowl; give birds space and avoid disturbing nesting areas. Choose river and hiking plans around current conditions rather than the calendar alone. |
| Summer | Summer; plan around desert exposure | Away from riverside shade, the canyon becomes desert. Carry adequate drinking water and sun protection for hikes. Cottonwood groves provide shade at many sandy camps. Sand Wash can have severe mosquitoes, so bring insect protection. |
| Fall | Fall; confirm conditions before departure | Pack layers for changing weather and exposed camps. Desert slopes, shaded riverbanks and higher terrain call for different clothing and water planning. Confirm river conditions before committing to a trip through this remote canyon system. |
| Winter | Winter; assess weather and access before travel | Prepare for cold-weather exposure and verify access and river conditions with BLM. The riparian corridor provides winter habitat for deer and elk. Keep enough distance that animals do not need to move away from feeding or resting areas. |
Permits, fees & closures
A BLM Desolation Canyon permit is required before obtaining a Ute Tribal permit. On Ute Tribal Lands above Coal Creek, east-bank recreation requires the tribal permit; permitted camping is allowed within a 75-foot buffer. Confirm current trip requirements with the BLM Price Field Office.
Reservations: Reserve Sand Wash screened cabins through the BLM Price Field Office at (435) 636-3600. Four campsites have screened cabins. Ute Tribal permits may be purchased online after obtaining a valid BLM Desolation Canyon permit.
Official source: Desolation Gray - Green River Permit - Utah · Verified October 19, 2026
Hazards & regulations
- More than sixty riffles and rapids punctuate the river trip. About a dozen can trouble unprepared travelers; match boating skills and equipment to current conditions.
- Sand Wash experiences frequent mosquito plagues. Carry insect protection rather than relying on a screened cabin being available.
- Water is not provided at Sand Wash. Arrive with drinking water and a workable water plan for the full trip.
- Leaving the shaded riparian corridor puts hikers directly into desert terrain. Plan water, sun protection and turnaround decisions accordingly.
- The area is remote, with deep side canyons, cliffs and substantial elevation differences. Keep hikes within the group's abilities and carry navigation and emergency supplies.
What to pack for Desolation Canyon Wilderness
- Properly fitted personal flotation device
- Boat repair supplies appropriate to the craft
- Dry bags for clothing and sleeping gear
- River navigation information
- Drinking water and carrying capacity
- Sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Layered clothing and weather protection
- Sturdy hiking footwear
- Insect repellent and head net
- Shelter and sleeping system suited to the forecast
- Trash bags for packing out waste
- First-aid kit and emergency communication device
Desolation Canyon Wilderness FAQ
- Where is Desolation Canyon Wilderness?
- It stretches from the West Tavaputs plateau to just north of Green River, Utah. Its defining feature is the Green River through Desolation and Gray Canyons, surrounded by an extensive network of deep canyons.
- How long is the river segment?
- The Green River segment through Desolation and Gray Canyons is 84 miles long. Groups set their own itinerary between Sand Wash and Nefertiti Rapid; plan the overall schedule around boating ability, river conditions and time ashore.
- What facilities are available at the river access points?
- Sand Wash has a primitive boat ramp, eight-site campground, information station, staffed ranger station and toilets, but no water or trash receptacles. Swaseys Boat Ramp has a large concrete ramp, improved parking, toilets and trash removal.
- Can river travelers hike on either bank?
- Not without checking land boundaries and permits. East-bank recreation on Ute Tribal Lands above Coal Creek requires a tribal permit, including hiking and sightseeing. A valid BLM Desolation Canyon permit must be obtained before the tribal permit.
- What is distinctive about the geology?
- Desolation Canyon exposes Eocene stream and lake deposits, transitioning to Cretaceous delta and sea deposits in Gray Canyon. At Rock Creek, the canyon is more than a mile deep. Arches, pinnacles and other erosional formations add variety beyond the river corridor.
- Are there cultural sites along the river?
- Rock art and remains of dwellings, towers and granaries occur throughout the canyon. The Desolation Canyon National Historic Landmark extends one mile on either side of the river from Nine Mile Creek to Florence Creek. Leave artifacts in place and avoid touching rock art.