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America's premier wilderness rafting adventure—100 miles of continuous whitewate...
Selway River Permit
Idaho Wild Rivers · Idaho
Lottery, then cancellations all season
Remote Idaho wilderness river.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Selway were gone within 5 minutes.
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Selway Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelHigh8/10
SeasonMay 15 - July 31
Cost$6 non-refundable application and reservation fee. There are no per-person recreation fees for a Selway River permit.
Max Group Size16 people
Selway Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Selway in Idaho Wild Rivers, Idaho requires a permit issued via lottery.
- Selway is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Selway lottery typically opens December 1 and closes January 31, 11:59 pm Mountain Time, with results announced February 14 by the permit's narrative text, February 15, 2026 by its own dates table - the two disagree.
- The permit season for Selway runs May 15 through July 31.
- The Selway route covers 47 miles, rated expert.
- Cancelled Selway permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensDecember 1
Lottery ClosesJanuary 31, 11:59 pm Mountain Time
ResultsFebruary 14 by the permit's narrative text, February 15, 2026 by its own dates table - the two disagree
SeasonMay 15 - July 31
Permit Details
TypeRiver Access
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level8/10
LocationSelway-Bitterroot Wilderness, ID
Pro Tips
- •Apply every year. One launch a day across a 78-day season makes this the longest odds in river running, and the $6 application is the cheapest ticket in it.
- •Carry the toilet and firepan even though they are only recommended. The agency's own reason - to preserve the resource - applies whether or not it is written as a requirement.
- •Check the Paradise gauge before you commit the shuttle. Above 5 feet the cancellation penalty is waived; above 6 the agency advises against launching at all.
- •Budget a full day for the drive. It is 49.3 miles of Forest Road 468 to the launch after you leave the ranger station.
- •Cancelled dates keep releasing right through the season, not just on March 16 - it is worth watching all summer.
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
47 miles
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
4-6 days
Difficulty
ExpertHighlights
- •One launch per day for the entire May 15 to July 31 permit season
- •A maximum party of 16 in season, 20 outside it
- •47 miles from Paradise to Race Creek, dropping an average of 28 feet per mile
- •Many technical Class III and IV rapids, and an extremely demanding section below Moose Creek
- •$6 to apply, and no per-person fee at all
- •49.3 miles of Forest Road 468 to reach the launch
- •No mandatory boat inspection, unlike the neighbouring Main Salmon
Best Time to Visit
Mid-June through July, once the peak of the snowmelt has passed. May and early June are the highest water of the season and the agency's own guidance is not to launch above 6 feet at Paradise. By late July flows drop and the technical rapids become rockier but far more forgiving.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Flow. Launching above 6 feet at the Paradise gauge is not recommended by the agency itself
- !The section immediately below the Moose Creek confluence, where the gradient rises to 50 feet per mile with increased volume - the agency calls it extremely demanding
- !Snowmelt timing: the permit season opens May 15, which is often peak runoff
- !A 49.3-mile access road that can be snow-blocked into the season
- !Total isolation - one party a day means nobody is coming along behind you
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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78°
45°
Sun
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66°
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Mon
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61°
44°
41%
Tue
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71°
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Wed
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73°
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80°
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Fri
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81°
53°
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 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 by the permit's narrative text, February 15, 2026 by its own dates table - the two disagree. 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.
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand4/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill5/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk4/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation3/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment5/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Experienced Class IV private boaters with self-rescue skills and a party that can handle a wrap without outside help.
Recommended Experience
Solid Class IV boating and multi-day self-support. The exposure rating combines the water below Moose Creek with the fact that you are alone on the river by design.
Not Recommended For
Anyone who has not run continuous technical Class IV, and anyone at high water. One party a day means no other group is coming.
About This Permit
The Selway's limited permit season runs May 15 to July 31, and during it only one launch per day is allowed - a single party of up to 16 people. Outside the season no permit is required, but pre-season boaters must be off the river by 11:59 pm on May 14 and post-season floaters may not launch until 12:01 am on August 1, when the maximum party size rises to 20.
The fee structure is the friendliest of any major river: a $6 non-refundable application and reservation fee, and no per-person recreation fees at all.
The lottery takes applications from December 1 to January 31 at 11:59 pm Mountain Time. Results are a genuine ambiguity in the source: the permit's narrative text says applicants will be notified on February 14, while its own structured dates block says February 15, 2026. Both are on the same page and we are not going to pick one for you - check on the 14th. Successful applicants must confirm by March 15, and any dates declined, cancelled or revoked during the confirmation period become reservable by others starting March 16, with releases continuing until the end of the permit season.
Required equipment is unusually thin for a river of this difficulty, and the wording matters. Only two things are required: carry a bucket and shovel for fire-fighting and camp sanitation, and attach boat tags with the permit number to each watercraft. A portable toilet system and firepan are recommended to preserve the resource - recommended, not required. No strainer, ash container, PFD rule or bear-container requirement is published for the Selway. That is what the agency says; it is not what a competent party should actually carry.
An invasive species sticker is required for watercraft boating in Idaho. Unlike the Main Salmon, no mandatory boat inspection is published here.
Flow is the other gate. The agency states that launching at water levels above 6 feet at the Paradise launch site gauge is not recommended, and that when levels exceed 5 feet, or snow blocks the road to Paradise, the late cancellation penalty is waived.
The Experience
Why It Matters
The Selway is the most restrictive river permit in the country and the reason is deliberate: a single party a day means you can float 47 miles through the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and never see another group. The Forest Service says the season exists to protect the wilderness and river resources while providing opportunities for solitude, adventure and a quality floating experience.
The Route
The river flows 47 miles from the Paradise launch site to the Race Creek take-out, dropping an average of 28 feet per mile. The agency describes crystal clear water and many technical Class III and IV rapids, and singles out one section: immediately below the confluence with Moose Creek the gradient increases to 50 feet per mile and the volume jumps, creating what it calls an extremely demanding technical section of the river.
Access is its own commitment. From the ranger station it is about 0.8 miles to the Nez Perce Road, Forest Road 468, then 49.3 miles - driven with caution - to the launch site.
The agency names no individual rapid on this river, so neither do we.
The Feeling
Clear water over granite in a canyon nobody else is in. The gradient averages 28 feet per mile over the whole run and the river reads technical the entire way - this is not a float, it is a driving course.
Rules & Regulations
- •A permit is required to float the Selway from May 15 to July 31; one launch per day
- •Maximum party size is 16 during the permit season and 20 pre- and post-season
- •Pre-season boaters must be off the river by 11:59 pm on May 14; post-season floaters may not launch until 12:01 am on August 1
- •Carry a bucket and shovel for fire-fighting and camp sanitation
- •Boat tags with the permit number must be attached to each watercraft
- •Use no soap, including biodegradable soap, in any stream or river
- •Haul out all unburnable garbage, including someone else's left behind
- •An Idaho invasive species sticker is required for watercraft
Gear Checklist
Required
- A bucket and shovel - the only equipment the agency actually requires beyond boat tags
- An Idaho invasive species sticker
- Class IV-capable boats and boaters; the gradient below Moose Creek doubles
- Rescue gear appropriate to a river 49 miles from a paved road
Recommended
- A portable toilet system and a firepan - the agency recommends both, and every comparable river requires them
- A mesh strainer and an ash container, on the same reasoning
- Dry suits; the Selway runs in May and June on snowmelt
- A satellite communicator, because the road out is 49 miles of gravel
Plan Your Trip
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at Selway
Next season’s application dates aren’t published yet.
We check for them every day. Track Selway 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
Selway 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 Selway
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Shuttle Services
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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
- Every Four Rivers application allows four date choices on one river. Spreading choices across shoulder dates helps.
- Hells Canyon has the best odds of the four rivers if you mainly want a wilderness whitewater draw.
Opens the official lottery — you submit your entry. We never automate or store your Recreation.gov login.
Full lottery odds & strategy →Selway FAQ
How many permits per day are issued for the Selway River?
One. During the May 15 to July 31 permit season the number of launches is limited to one launch per day - a single party of up to 16 people. It is the most restrictive private river permit in the country.
Do I need a permit to float the Selway River outside the season?
No. Permits are not required outside the control season. Pre-season boaters must be off the river by 11:59 pm on May 14, and post-season floaters may not launch until 12:01 am on August 1. Outside the season the maximum party size rises from 16 to 20.
How much does a Selway River permit cost?
$6, non-refundable, as the application and reservation fee. There are no per-person recreation fees for a Selway River permit - which makes it the cheapest major multi-day river permit in the West.
How hard is the Selway River?
The agency describes many technical Class III and IV rapids over 47 miles, with the river dropping an average of 28 feet per mile. Immediately below the confluence with Moose Creek the gradient increases to 50 feet per mile and the volume jumps, which it calls an extremely demanding technical section. It names no individual rapids.
When does the lottery open for a Selway River permit?
Applications are accepted from December 1 through January 31 at 11:59 pm Mountain Time. On the results date the permit contradicts itself - its narrative text says February 14, its structured dates block says February 15, 2026. Check on the 14th. Successful applicants must confirm by March 15, and released dates become available to others from March 16.
What equipment is required for a Selway River trip?
Formally, very little: a bucket and shovel for fire-fighting and camp sanitation, and boat tags with your permit number attached to each watercraft. A portable toilet system and firepan are recommended rather than required, which is unusual - every comparable river mandates both. Carry them anyway.
What flow is too high for the Selway River?
The agency states that launching at water levels above 6 feet at the Paradise launch site gauge is not recommended. When levels exceed 5 feet, or snow blocks the road to the Paradise launch, the late cancellation penalty is waived.
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Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Main Salmon River
Same Area79 miles from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar through the same wilderness complex.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Eight parties a day instead of one, up to 30 people, and water the agency describes as moderate to fast-paced rather than technical. Costs $4 per person per day.
Middle Fork Salmon
Same AreaIdaho's best-known multi-day, dropping through the Frank Church wilderness.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
More launches per day than the Selway and a longer season, with continuous whitewater and hot springs.
Hells Canyon - Snake River
Similar ExperienceClass II to V big water on the Idaho-Oregon border, with three private launches a day.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Much better odds and no per-person fee, but shared with jet boats outside the published non-motorized windows.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Selway trip
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