The National Park Service has begun to accept applications for noncommercial rafting trips down the Colorado River in 2022.

Every year, the park has a lottery for a do-it-yourself version of what some people call a once-in-a-lifetime adventure: a raft trip down the Colorado River.

This year’s lottery will assign 246 non-commercial permits.

River parties must be self-guided, and whitewater experience is mandatory.

Follow-up lotteries will be conducted to account for canceled outings or leftover permits.

The online applications will be accepted through noon on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

For more information about the 2022 lottery, go to the Grand Canyon National Park website. You can also contact the river permits office at 1-800-959-9164 or 928-638-7843. The office can be reached by email at [email protected].

For a list of commercial companies offering guided trips, visit www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/river-concessioners.htm.