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Oregon's premier wild river. 34 miles....
Hells Canyon Snake River Permit
Pacific Northwest Rivers · Oregon
Lottery, then cancellations all season
Deepest river gorge in North America.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Hells Canyon were gone within 5 minutes.
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Hells Canyon Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelHigh7/10
SeasonMay 22, 2026 - the Friday preceding Memorial Day - September 10
Cost$6 non-refundable application and reservation fee. There are no per-person recreation fees for a Snake River permit.
Max Group Size24 people
Hells Canyon Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Hells Canyon in Pacific Northwest Rivers, Oregon requires a permit issued via lottery.
- Hells Canyon is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Hells Canyon lottery typically opens December 1, 2025 and closes January 31, 2026, 11:59 pm PST, with results announced February 14, 2026; confirm by March 15, and unconfirmed dates release March 16 at 8:00 am PST.
- The Hells Canyon route covers 31.5 miles, rated expert.
- Cancelled Hells Canyon permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensDecember 1, 2025
Lottery ClosesJanuary 31, 2026, 11:59 pm PST
ResultsFebruary 14, 2026; confirm by March 15, and unconfirmed dates release March 16 at 8:00 am PST
SeasonMay 22, 2026 - the Friday preceding Memorial Day - September 10
Permit Details
TypeRiver Access
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level7/10
LocationHells Canyon National Recreation Area, OR
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.
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
31.5 miles
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
3-5 days
Difficulty
ExpertHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
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Backcountry Tips
- Tomorrow: 73% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
- Day 3: 71% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
Today
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85°
54°
Sun
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72°
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73%
Mon
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72°
52°
71%
Tue
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74°
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Wed
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Thu
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84°
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Fri
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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, 2025 and January 31, 2026, 11:59 pm PST. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.
3
Wait for lottery results
Results are typically announced February 14, 2026; confirm by March 15, and unconfirmed dates release March 16 at 8:00 am PST. 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 Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill5/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk4/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
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.
Recommended Experience
Solid Class IV big-water boating and multi-day self-support. The exposure rating reflects the volume and the Class V ceiling rather than technical rock work.
Not Recommended For
Boaters without big-volume experience, and anyone uncomfortable sharing a river corridor with jet boats.
About This Permit
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 Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
- 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
Plan Your Trip
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at Hells Canyon
Next season’s application dates aren’t published yet.
We check for them every day. Track Hells Canyon 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
Hells Canyon 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 Hells Canyon
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Lottery Statistics
Competitive
estimated success rate
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Boost Your Chances
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Hells Canyon FAQ
Do I need a permit to float the Snake River through Hells Canyon?
Yes during the primary season, from the Friday preceding Memorial Day through September 10 - May 22 to September 10 in 2026. Outside that, and Monday through Thursday during the primary season, permits are self-issued. The fee is $6 non-refundable, and there are no per-person recreation fees.
How many launches per day are allowed in Hells Canyon?
Three private launches and two commercial launches per day during the primary season. Outside the primary season there are no limitations on the number of launches per day. Scenic floats launching from Pittsburg are separately limited to two per day on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during the primary season.
How hard is the Snake River through Hells Canyon?
The 31.5-mile Wild section between Hells Canyon Dam and Upper Pittsburg Landing has rapids varying from Class II to Class V. The agency names Wild Sheep Rapids and Granite Creek rapids, the latter approximately seven miles downstream from the dam. It publishes no full list of named rapids.
What is the group size limit on the Snake River in Hells Canyon?
Party size cannot exceed 8 craft or 24 people - both limits apply. The permit holder must be 18 years old by the launch date.
Are there jet boats on the Snake River in Hells Canyon?
Yes, and the rules around them are published. Motorized operation is banned Monday through Wednesday on alternating weeks from the first Monday of June through August between Wild Sheep Rapids and Kirkwood - in 2026 that is June 1-3, 15-17 and 29-30; July 1, 13-15 and 27-29; and August 10-12 and 24-26. Floatcraft may carry a kicker motor of 15 hp maximum, but operating it on the Wild River section is prohibited except in emergencies.
When does the lottery open for a Hells Canyon permit?
Applications ran December 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm PST, with results available February 14, 2026 and a confirmation deadline of March 15. Unconfirmed, declined and cancelled dates released on March 16 at 8:00 am PST.
How many nights can I camp at one site in Hells Canyon?
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 section from Upper Pittsburg to Cache Creek; and one night at Upper Granite, Lower Granite and Oregon Hole. In the secondary season the limit rises to 14 days and 13 nights, and the maximum trip length is 14 days.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Hells Canyon trip
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