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America's premier wilderness rafting adventure—100 miles of continuous whitewate...
Main Salmon River Permit
Idaho Wild Rivers · Idaho
Lottery, then cancellations all season
The River of No Return: 79 wilderness miles from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar, with eight launches a day through the control season and assigned camps.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Main Salmon were gone within 5 minutes.
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Main Salmon Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelHigh8/10
SeasonJune 20 - the lottery control season - September 7; permits are still required outside the control season
Cost$6 non-refundable reservation or lottery application fee, plus a $4 per person per day special recreation fee. Senior and Access Pass holders get a 50% reduction on the $4.
Daily Quota8 permits
Max Group Size30 people
Main Salmon Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Main Salmon in Idaho Wild Rivers, Idaho requires a permit issued via lottery.
- Main Salmon is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Main Salmon lottery typically opens December 1, 8:00 am Mountain Time and closes January 31, 11:59 pm Mountain Time, with results announced February 14; winners must confirm by March 15, and unawarded dates release March 16 at 8:00 am MT.
- The Main Salmon route covers 79 miles, rated moderate.
- Cancelled Main Salmon permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensDecember 1, 8:00 am Mountain Time
Lottery ClosesJanuary 31, 11:59 pm Mountain Time
ResultsFebruary 14; winners must confirm by March 15, and unawarded dates release March 16 at 8:00 am MT
SeasonJune 20 - the lottery control season - September 7; permits are still required outside the control season
Permit Details
TypeRiver Access
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level8/10
LocationFrank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, ID
Pro Tips
- •Apply as a small group. Ten people or fewer buys you eight days on the water; twenty-one or more cuts you to six.
- •Build the boat inspection into your launch-morning schedule. It is mandatory here, unlike on several neighbouring rivers.
- •Watch the Corn Creek gauge. Above 5.0 feet you can cancel three days out without a late penalty, which is worth knowing before you commit a shuttle.
- •Carry the fire pan and ash container even if you plan to cook on a stove - the requirement is unconditional.
- •Cancellations release randomly within 24 hours after March 16, so check often rather than once.
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
79 miles
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
6-8 days
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •79 miles from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar, typically 6 to 8 days
- •Eight float boat parties a day during the control season, commercial and private combined
- •Maximum 30 people per group, with trip length scaled to party size
- •$6 to apply, then $4 per person per day
- •A mandatory Forest Service boat inspection before launching
- •47 miles of road from North Fork, Idaho to the Corn Creek launch
- •Around 10,000 people float this section each year
Best Time to Visit
The control season, June 20 to September 7, is when the river is metered and the beaches are usable. Early in it means higher water and pushier rapids; August and early September mean warm days, low water and easy camping. Outside the control season permits are still required but launches are unlimited.
Hazards & Considerations
- !High water. Above 5.0 feet at the Corn Creek gauge the agency lets you cancel three days out without penalty, which tells you what it thinks of those flows
- !Remoteness - this is the heart of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and help is a long way off
- !Scheduled infrastructure maintenance affecting access to and from the river; delays and closures should be expected
- !Long shuttle logistics on 47 miles of river road
- !Sun and heat on open beaches through midsummer
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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80°
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Sat
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75°
51°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.
2
Apply during the lottery window
Submit your application between December 1, 8:00 am Mountain Time and January 31, 11:59 pm Mountain Time. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.
3
Wait for lottery results
Results are typically announced February 14; winners must confirm by March 15, and unawarded dates release March 16 at 8:00 am MT. Check your email and your Recreation.gov account.
4
If unsuccessful, monitor cancellations
Permits get cancelled daily. Peak cancellation times are 24-48 hours before the trip date.
5
Set up PermitSnag alerts
Get notified when cancellations happen. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
When to Go
Peak: June 20 - September 7Shoulder: Early June and mid-September
Conditions
High, cold water from snowmelt. Permit required but no launch cap before June 20.
Crowd Level
LowAdvantages
- +No lottery and no launch limit
- +Big pushy water for experienced parties
- +Empty camps
Challenges
- !Cold water and cold weather
- !High flows demand real rowing experience
- !First-come first-served camps
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill3/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Competent private boaters who can rig and run a self-supported multi-day trip. The agency describes the water as moderate to fast-paced rather than technical.
Recommended Experience
Multi-day self-supported river experience and the gear list to match. The exposure rating reflects remoteness and high-water flows rather than a specific rapid - the agency names none.
Not Recommended For
First-time trip leaders. Seventy-nine wilderness miles with no road access in the middle is a lot of self-reliance.
About This Permit
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 Experience
Why It Matters
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.
The Route
The Forest Service publishes the run as 79 miles of free-flowing river between Corn Creek and Long Tom Bar. Note the boundary: the permitted section ends at Long Tom Bar, not at the road take-outs further down. From North Fork, Idaho, you turn off Highway 93 onto the Salmon River Road, Forest Road 030, and follow it 47 miles to the Corn Creek launch.
Trip length is tied to party size: 1 to 10 people get up to 8 days and 7 nights, 11 to 20 people up to 7 days, and 21 to 30 people up to 6 days. Outside the control season the maximum group is still 30 but the trip can run 10 days.
The agency publishes no whitewater class rating and names no rapid on the Wild section - so neither will we. What it does publish is that the experience is moderate to fast-paced depending on flow, and that when water levels exceed 5.0 feet at the Corn Creek gauge you can cancel three days out without a late penalty.
The Feeling
Wide beaches, warm afternoons, and a canyon that gets deeper as you go. Around 10,000 people float this section each year and it still feels empty, because only eight parties launch a day and everyone is moving in the same direction at the same speed.
Trailhead Information
Corn Creek Launch Site
The put-in for the Wild section of the Main Salmon.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Before you rely on this water
No treated water at the launch. Bring or treat everything, including for the drive in.
Parking
Launch-site parking and a ramp. Most parties run a commercial shuttle rather than leave a vehicle for a week.
Getting There
USFS: "At North Fork, ID, turn off Highway 93 onto the Salmon River Road (Forest Road 030). Follow the road for 47 miles to the Corn Creek launch site." Allow a long, slow drive on gravel.
Nearest Services
North Fork, at the highway. Full services in Salmon, Idaho.
Long Tom Bar (Take-out)
End of the permitted Wild section, 79 miles downstream.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Before you rely on this water
No treated water. Plan the last day's supply accordingly.
Getting There
Reached from the Idaho County side. The shuttle between Corn Creek and the take-out is long enough that almost every party pays someone else to do it.
Nearest Services
Riggins or Salmon, both a long way off.
Rules & Regulations
- •A permit is required year-round to float the Wild section between Corn Creek and Long Tom Bar
- •During the June 20 to September 7 control season, no more than eight float boat parties may launch per day
- •Maximum group size is 30 people
- •Trip length by party size: 1-10 people up to 8 days, 11-20 up to 7 days, 21-30 up to 6 days
- •Required equipment: portable toilet, fire pan, fire blanket, ash container, shovel, bucket, mesh strainer and AIS stickers
- •Fire pans must be metal, at least 144 square inches with 3-inch sides, and carried even if you do not plan to have a fire
- •All watercraft must be inspected by Forest Service staff prior to going into the river
- •Each boat must carry an Idaho Aquatic Invasive Species sticker and arrive clean, drained and dry
Gear Checklist
Required
- A portable toilet with capacity for the whole group, and a strict no-wipes rule
- A metal fire pan of at least 144 square inches with 3-inch sides
- An ash container, carried whether or not you plan a fire
- A mesh strainer fine enough to filter coffee grounds
- Shovel, bucket, and an Idaho AIS sticker on every boat
Recommended
- A fire blanket - the Forest Service lists it as recommended and says it may be required in future
- Sand stakes for securing rafts on the beaches
- A hard-shell container for any bag waste system
- A dry suit or splash gear for early-season flows
Plan Your Trip
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at Main Salmon
Next season’s application dates aren’t published yet.
We check for them every day. Track Main Salmon now and your concierge picks them up the moment they land, then emails you when applications open, before the deadline, and when results post.
Better odds with a crew
Main Salmon is a lottery. Every friend who applies adds another entry, so a crew gets more shots at the same permit than any one of you alone.
One of you runs the pool (Pro or a $19 alert). Everyone else joins free.
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Main Salmon
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
Corn Creek Launch
The put-in, 47 miles down Forest Road 030 from North Fork on Highway 93.
Frank Church Wilderness boundary
Where the Wild section enters the largest roadless area in the lower 48.
Backcountry airstrips and homesteads
Historic inholdings and landing strips scattered through the middle canyon.
Long Tom Bar
End of the Wild section and the take-out for the permitted run.
Lottery Statistics
Competitive
estimated success rate
Get detailed lottery statistics and tips. Sign up to track this permit.
Boost Your Chances
Apply with a crew to multiply your combined odds, and let auto win-detection tell you the moment you win — you never have to check Recreation.gov. Win-detection reads the result email you forward us, so it takes a one-time setup in your inbox (about two minutes, and we walk you through it). Pool and auto win-detection are on Pro or a $19 permit alert.
Apply these for the best odds
- Apply outside peak summer weeks. Prime-season Main Salmon dates draw the heaviest competition, same pattern as the Middle Fork.
- List multiple date choices on your application. The Four Rivers lottery allows several date picks per river, and spreading them out helps.
Opens the official lottery — you submit your entry. We never automate or store your Recreation.gov login.
Full lottery odds & strategy →Main Salmon FAQ
Do I need a permit to float the Main Salmon River?
Yes, year-round, for the Wild section from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar. During the June 20 to September 7 lottery control season the number of launches is capped; outside it launches are unlimited but a trip permit is still required before you put on.
How many launches per day are allowed on the Main Salmon?
Eight. The Forest Service allows no more than eight float boat parties - commercial and non-commercial combined - to launch each day during the June 20 to September 7 control season. Note the unit: that is parties, not boats and not people.
How much does a Main Salmon River permit cost?
A $6 non-refundable reservation or lottery application fee, plus a $4 per person per day special recreation fee. Senior and Access Pass holders receive a 50% reduction on the per-person fee.
When does the lottery open for a Main Salmon River permit?
Applications are accepted 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, and unawarded dates release on March 16 at 8:00 am MT.
How long is the Wild section of the Main Salmon River?
79 miles, from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar, through the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Trip length depends on group size: up to 8 days for 1 to 10 people, 7 days for 11 to 20, and 6 days for 21 to 30.
What equipment is required for a Main Salmon River trip?
A portable toilet, fire pan, fire blanket, ash container, shovel, bucket, mesh strainer and the appropriate AIS stickers. The fire pan must be metal, at least 144 square inches with 3-inch sides, and carried even if you do not plan on having a fire - as must the ash container. The strainer has to be fine enough to filter coffee grounds.
Does my boat have to be inspected before launching on the Main Salmon?
Yes. All watercraft must be inspected by Forest Service staff prior to going into the river, and every boat must arrive clean, drained and dry with a valid Idaho Aquatic Invasive Species sticker.
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Early and late, when the canyon walls go orange and the river holds the sky. The gorge is deep enough that direct sun arrives late and leaves early.
Best Light
First hour on the water and the last hour in camp. Midday in a mile-deep canyon is flat and hot.
Beat the Crowds
Eight launches a day sounds like a lot until you spread them over 79 miles and assigned camps. You will see other parties at rapids and almost nowhere else.
Classic Shots
- 📍A rigged raft on a white sand beach at dusk
- 📍The canyon walls closing in from river level
- 📍Big water in one of the named rapids from a scouting rock
- 📍Hot spring steam against the river in the early morning
Can't Get a Main Salmon Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Selway River
Same AreaForty-seven miles of technical Class III-IV in the same wilderness complex, with a single launch per day.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Far harder water and by far the hardest permit in Idaho - one party a day, 16 people maximum - but no per-person fee at all.
Middle Fork Salmon
Same AreaThe Main Salmon's more famous tributary, deeper into the Frank Church wilderness.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
More continuous whitewater and a harder draw. Same December-to-January lottery window.
Hells Canyon - Snake River
Similar ExperienceBig-water Class II to V through North America's deepest river gorge, on the Idaho-Oregon line.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Three private launches a day instead of eight parties, no per-person fee, and jet boats sharing the water outside the non-motorized windows.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Main Salmon trip
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