How to Get a Main Salmon Permit

About Main Salmon

Permits are required year-round to float the Wild section of the Salmon River, from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar. The lottery control season runs June 20 through September 7, and during it no more than eight float boat parties - commercial and non-commercial combined - are allowed to launch each day. Outside the control season the number of launches is unlimited, but you still need a trip permit before launching. A maximum of 30 people is allowed per group, with trip length scaled to it: 1 to 10 people up to 8 days and 7 nights, 11 to 20 up to 7 days, 21 to 30 up to 6 days. Outside the control season the group cap stays 30 and the maximum trip length is 10 days. Fees are a $6 non-refundable reservation or lottery application fee plus a $4 per person per day special recreation fee, with a 50% reduction on the per-person fee for Senior or Access Pass holders. The lottery takes applications from December 1 at 8:00 am Mountain Time through January 31 at 11:59 pm MT. Results post February 14, successful applicants must confirm by March 15 at 11:59 MT, and anything declined, cancelled or unaccepted releases on March 16 at 8:00 am MT. After that, cancellations are randomly released within 24 hours. Required equipment is specific: a portable toilet, fire pan, fire blanket, ash container, shovel, bucket, mesh strainer and the appropriate aquatic invasive species stickers. The Forest Service spells out a metal fire pan of at least 144 square inches with 3-inch sides, carried even if you do not plan on having a fire, an ash container carried on the same basis, and a mesh strainer fine enough to filter coffee grounds. The portable toilet must have enough capacity for the group; no wipes, sticks or rocks go in it. Bag systems are only acceptable for self-contained kayak groups or as a day potty, and WAG-bag style systems for self-support trips must be carried in a waterproof hard-shell container. Every boat must be clean, drained and dry on arrival, carry an Idaho AIS sticker, and - this is the part people miss - all watercraft must be inspected by Forest Service staff before going into the river.

The Wild section of the Main Salmon runs from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar through the heart of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. It is the classic multi-day family river in Idaho: big enough water to be interesting, forgiving enough that the Forest Service describes it as a moderate to fast-paced whitewater floating experience rather than a technical one, and long enough that eight days feels earned.