One of the most exciting and intriguing ways to experience Dinosaur National Monument is from a raft floating down either the Green or Yampa rivers as they course through this magnificent landscape. And if you want to land a permit for a 2014 private float trip, the Park Service is making it a tad bit easier by moving the application process online.

Moving the process to recreation.gov is part of the park's efforts to better serve visitors and to go “green” by incorporating a paperless online system.

From December 1, 2013, to January 31, 2014, applicants can apply online instead of filling out a form and mailing it in with a check to the monument’s river office. Through the online system, applicants can also pay using a credit or debit card. Recreation.gov does require each applicant to register and create a profile with their unique email address and a password so that they can process payments.

Previously, a potential river user could file only one application for only one possible launch date on one river. For the 2014 season, applicants can still file only one application, but they may choose up to four possible launch date/river choices on the application. The Yampa and Green Rivers are still combined in one drawing system.

“This quadruples the number of launches you can ask for,” said Kelly Kager, Dinosaur National Monument’s river office manager. “That’s a real plus for putting the lottery online. You also won’t have to write a check or rummage around for a stamp. A similar lottery has been run successfully online for the Four Rivers in Idaho for several years. With the new system, we anticipate that we will be able to let people know the lottery results much faster. Lottery applicants will receive a notification by email.”

During the open period, applications can be submitted online any time of day, and the fee remains the same as previous years at $15 per application. Permit fees are also the same as last year: $185 for a multi-day permit and $20 for a single day permit.

The Dinosaur National Monument lottery for 2014 permits opens December 1 at www.recreation.gov and closes on January 31, 2014. This year, only the lottery application process is moving online. Dinosaur National Monument’s River Office will continue the processing of all permits for successful lottery applicants. Reservations for the pre/post season launches or one day permits in Dinosaur National Monument will be also processed through the river office beginning March 1, 2014 at 8 a.m. Mountain time, as they have been in the past.

For more information, go to www.nps.gov/dino or call the Dinosaur National Monument river office at (970) 374-2468 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to Noon.