(Grand Canyon, AZ) - The National Park Service is now accepting applications for non-commercial river trip permits to raft the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. The permits are for specific launch dates within calendar year 2012. A total of 436 permits will be awarded for 12-to-25 day river trips. Eligible individuals may apply online at the weighted lottery web site. To access the web site go to Grand Canyon River Trips then select “Weighted Lottery”. Applications will be accepted online through noon on February 23, 2011.

Each year in February, a main lottery is held to assign launch dates for river trips occurring the next year. Public notifications regarding main lotteries are made by both e-mail and press release. In addition to the annual main lottery, follow-up lotteries are held as needed throughout the remainder of the year to reassign canceled and/or left-over river trips.

Public notifications for these follow-up lotteries are made through e-mail or an RSS Feed. The weighted lottery web site can be accessed for free year-round to create or modify an account and to sign-up to receive email notifications.

Individuals who are interested in a future river permit are strongly encouraged to create an account. Lottery applications are accepted through the weighted lottery web site only when lotteries are open.

Individuals must be 18 years or older to apply for a river trip permit.

Noncommercial river trips must be self-guided, and technical whitewater experience is mandatory on each trip. Individuals may participate on a maximum of one river trip per year (commercial or noncommercial).

Individuals interested in professionally-guided river trips should not apply through the lottery, but instead request space on a commercial trip.

A list of commercial companies offering guided trips can be found by visiting www.nps.gov/grca, selecting “River Trips/Permits”, then "Day Commercial Trips”.

For more information about the 2012 weighted lottery, visit the Grand Canyon National Park website at nps.gov/planyourvisit or contact the River Permits Office by e-mail at grca_riv@nps.gov, (800) 959-9164 or (923) 638-7884.