Applications available for annual Grand Canyon rafting lottery

Thousands expected to apply for 462 permits

GRAND CANYON NAT'L. PARK, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Grand Canyon is now accepting applications for its highly competitive lottery for non-commercial rafting trips on the Colorado River.

The National Park Service says only 462 permits are available for specific launch dates in 2021. Anyone 18 and old can apply for the trips which last between 12 and 25 days.

The park opens the lottery each February. It then hold additional draws for trips canceled or left over after the February 25 deadline.

The park service expects several thousand people to apply. Those drawn can only participate in one commercial or private trip through the Canyon each year.

You can click here for more information on how to apply.