Very High DemandLottery5 min read

Updated August 9, 2026

How to Get a Hells Canyon Permit

31.5 miles of Class II to V below Hells Canyon Dam, three private launches a day, and not a cent of per-person fee.

Check Hells Canyon permit availability

$6 non-refundable application and reservation fee. There are no per-person recreation fees for a Snake River permit.

Permit Cost

3-5 days

Duration

31.5 miles

Distance

expert

Difficulty

About Hells Canyon

The Snake River through Hells Canyon runs a primary permit season from the Friday preceding Memorial Day through September 10 - for 2026 that is May 22 to September 10. A secondary season runs September 11 through the Thursday preceding Memorial Day. During the primary season the river allows three private launches and two commercial launches per day. Outside primary season the same rules apply with no limitations on the number of launches per day, and permits are self-issued Monday through Thursday during the primary season and throughout the secondary season. Scenic floats launching from Pittsburg are separately limited to two per day on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during the primary season. Party size cannot exceed 8 craft or 24 people, and the permit holder must be 18 by the launch date. Fees are a $6 non-refundable application and reservation fee, and there are no per-person recreation fees at all. The 2026 lottery took applications from December 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm PST, with results on February 14, confirmation by March 15, and unconfirmed, declined and cancelled dates releasing on March 16 at 8:00 am PST. Required equipment: firepans, with no cutting or gathering of firewood allowed; a personal flotation device for each person, worn by children 12 and under; washable, leakproof toilet systems, with human waste packed out; and an aquatic invasive species permit or sticker from Idaho or Oregon. Wood fuel is prohibited from June 1 through September 30. Camping limits differ by section: three days and two nights per site on the Wild River from the dam to Upper Pittsburg; four days and three nights on the Scenic from Upper Pittsburg to Cache Creek; one night at Upper and Lower Granite and at Oregon Hole. In the secondary season the limit rises to 14 days and 13 nights, and the maximum trip length is 14 days. On current conditions we can offer less than we would like. The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest's alerts page showed no Hells Canyon-specific closure and moderate fire danger as of an early-July 2026 reading, and a forest-wide 14-day camping limit order starting May 26, 2026 - but fs.usda.gov returns 403 to automated requests, so nothing more current than that could be verified. Check the forest directly before you drive.

The Snake through Hells Canyon is the biggest water in the Pacific Northwest and one of the few great multi-day rivers that costs nothing beyond the $6 application. The Wild section from Hells Canyon Dam to Upper Pittsburg Landing carries rapids the agency rates as high as Class V, and the Scenic section below it runs another 36 miles.

The Experience

Huge volume in a huge canyon - deeper than the Grand at its deepest - with the two big drops, Wild Sheep and Granite, coming in the first ten miles while everyone is still settling in.

The agency divides the river in two. The 31.5-mile section between Hells Canyon Dam and Upper Pittsburg Landing is designated Wild, with rapids varying from Class II to Class V. The 36-mile section downstream from Upper Pittsburg Landing to river mile 180.2 is designated Scenic. Heller Bar at mile 168.5 is the final public launch.

It names two rapids: Wild Sheep Rapids, which it uses as the boundary of the non-motorized zone, and Granite Creek rapids, approximately seven miles downstream from Hells Canyon Dam. A full named-rapid list is not published.

Motorised traffic is part of this river and the rules around it are worth reading before you book. Floatcraft operators may carry a kicker motor of 15 hp maximum, but operating a motor on the Wild River section is prohibited except in emergencies. Motorized operation is banned Monday through Wednesday on alternating weeks from the first Monday of June through August between Wild Sheep Rapids and Kirkwood - for 2026 those dates are June 1-3, 15-17 and 29-30; July 1, 13-15 and 27-29; and August 10-12 and 24-26. Launching floatcraft from private powerboats is prohibited year-round on the Wild River and on Friday, Saturday or Sunday on the Scenic. No-wake zones apply within 200 feet of developed sites.

What to Expect

31.5 miles of Wild section from Hells Canyon Dam to Upper Pittsburg Landing, Class II to V

36 more miles of Scenic section below that, to river mile 180.2

Three private and two commercial launches per day in the primary season

$6 to apply and nothing per person

Maximum 8 craft or 24 people per party

Jet boats share the water except on the published non-motorized dates

Self-issued permits Monday through Thursday in primary season and all secondary season

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Permit Requirements

The primary permit season runs from the Friday preceding Memorial Day through September 10 - May 22 to September 10 in 2026

Three private launches and two commercial launches per day during the primary season

Party size cannot exceed 8 craft or 24 people; the permit holder must be 18 by the launch date

Firepans are required and no cutting or gathering of firewood is allowed

Washable, leakproof toilet systems are mandatory and human waste must be packed out

A PFD is required for each person, and children 12 and under must wear one

Wood fuel is prohibited June 1 through September 30

Motor operation on the Wild River section is prohibited except in emergencies; kicker motors are limited to 15 hp

Camping limits: 3 days/2 nights per site on the Wild River, 4 days/3 nights on the Scenic, 1 night at Upper and Lower Granite and Oregon Hole. Maximum trip length 14 days

An Idaho or Oregon aquatic invasive species permit or sticker is required

Gear & Preparation

Required Gear

•A firepan - and no gathering or cutting of firewood on the river
•A washable, leakproof toilet system, with waste packed out
•A PFD for every person on the trip
•An Idaho or Oregon AIS permit or sticker
•Fuel that is not wood, from June 1 through September 30

Recommended Gear

•A serious wrap kit; Wild Sheep and Granite are both big-water Class IV
•A spare oar per boat
•Sun shade for the open beaches - this canyon gets very hot
•A whistle or horn for the no-wake zones and jet boat traffic

Hazards & Safety

Rapids the agency rates as high as Class V in the Wild section

Wild Sheep Rapids and Granite Creek rapids, both within the first ten miles below the dam

Jet boat traffic outside the published non-motorized windows

Heat, in a canyon deeper than the Grand with little shade on the beaches

Current 2026 fire and closure status that could not be verified - fs.usda.gov returns 403 to automated requests

Best Time to Visit

June through August, within the May 22 to September 10 primary season. Early June has the biggest water; August is hot but the rapids are more forgiving. If you want the canyon without jet boats, target the published non-motorized dates - June 1-3, 15-17 and 29-30; July 1, 13-15 and 27-29; and August 10-12 and 24-26 in 2026.

Pro Tips

There is no per-person fee on this river. Six dollars covers the application and that is the whole permit cost, which makes it the cheapest big multi-day in the West.

Monday through Thursday in the primary season is self-issue. If your schedule is flexible, that removes the lottery entirely.

Target the published non-motorized dates if you want the canyon quiet - they are listed by the day for each season.

Wild Sheep and Granite come early, within about seven miles of the dam. Have the boats rigged properly before you launch, not after lunch.

Verify fire and closure status with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest directly. Its pages block automated checks, so we cannot tell you what is current today.

Written by

PermitSnag Team

100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience

This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a Hells Canyon permit?

Hells Canyon permits are distributed through a lottery system. Apply during the lottery window, and if you're not selected, check for cancellations as they become available.

When is the best time to visit Hells Canyon?

How difficult is Hells Canyon?

Experienced big-water boaters. Class V is in the published range for the Wild section and the volume is unlike anything else in the region.

What if I don't win the Hells Canyon lottery?

Cancellations happen regularly. Use PermitSnag to monitor availability and get alerts when spots open up. You can also check for walk-up permits or consider similar alternatives in the area.

What gear do I need for Hells Canyon?

Essential gear includes: A firepan - and no gathering or cutting of firewood on the river, A washable, leakproof toilet system, with waste packed out, A PFD for every person on the trip, An Idaho or Oregon AIS permit or sticker, Fuel that is not wood, from June 1 through September 30.