Below are the river use stipulations as they appear on non-commercial river permits.
General
- This permit is nontransferable and is valid only for the person, dates, places, and number of people listed on the permit. Permittee must have government issued photo identification.
- A signed permit must be in the permittee's possession at all times and must be presented to any authorized person upon request.
- This permit is valid for non-commercial use only. Charging trip participant fees in excess of actual trip costs, amortizing equipment, or advertising in order to seek further participants for the trip, are activities consistent with commercial guiding. Only companies authorized by the National Park Service may conduct guided trips.
- Groups launching upriver from the park must specify the date on which they will pass Mineral Bottom or Potash. Backpackers using pack rafts or other methods to float downstream may launch and/or take out in other locations, but only as specified on their permit.1
- Groups traveling under one permit must travel and camp together and occupy only one campsite. Groups may not separate for the purpose of securing campsites ahead of other groups.
- Two or more permitted groups may join together and travel as one group for safety. When combined groups camp together, they may not exceed the maximum group size (40 people).
- The permittee is responsible for the conduct of all participants and ensuring that all participants comply with park regulations.
Required Equipment
Federal and state regulations outline an assortment of equipment necessary for river trips. The following items are required:
- A metal fire pan that is at least 12 inches in diameter with a 2½-inch lip around the edge.
- A means to securely contain and remove human waste from the backcountry. Systems approved for river use are washable, reusable containers equipped with RV dump fittings, or commercial bag systems (e.g. Wag Bag, Restop II) that render human waste into a non-hazardous material. Bag systems must be stored in hard-sided containers or heavy-duty, waterproof bags labeled "Human Waste."
- One approved, serviceable type I, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD)2 for each trip participant.
- One spare PFD2 for every five people on the trip, or one per boat; whichever is fewer.
- A readily accessible spare means of propulsion capable of maneuvering the vessel (oar, paddle, motor, etc.) for each boat. Low capacity boats designed to carry two or fewer occupants (canoes and kayaks) may carry one spare paddle for every three boats. Commercially made hand paddles are approved for hard-hulled, whitewater kayaks.
- A serviceable, type IV throwable device (throw cushion) for every boat 16 feet or more in length. A commercially made throw bag with at least 40 feet of line is allowed in lieu of a type IV throwable device.
- Repair kit or kits adequate for repairing the number and types of boats on the trip. Hard-hulled boats may carry epoxy and duct tape or an equivalent means of repair.
- If boats with inflatable components are used on the trip, an air pump or pumps.
- A bailing device or bilge pump for boats that are not self-bailing.
- A first aid kit adequate for the number of trip participants and length of trip.