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River Permit Lotteries

Michael Hughes / Saturday, January 5, 2019

Well it is now January and that means it is time to start planning some river trips for the up coming season. Many of the popular multi-day rivers trips of the west require a permit for the peak season, typically May - October.

Permit Application Due January 31st

  • Middle Fork of the Salmon (ID) 4 Rivers Permit Lottery
  • Snake River - Hells Canyon (OR/ID) 4 Rivers Permit Lottery
  • Selway River (ID) 4 Rivers Permit Lottery
  • Main Salmon (ID) 4 Rivers Permit Lottery
  • Rogue River (OR) Rogue River Wild and Scenic Lottery
  • Yampa (CO/UT) Dinosaur Green and Yampa River Lottery
  • Green - Gates Ledore (CO/UT) Dinosaur Green and Yampa River Lottery
  • Green River - Desolation and Gray Canyon (UT) Desolation Gray - Green River Permit Lottery
  • San Juan (UT) San Juan River Permit Lottery
  • Salt River (AZ) Salt River Canyon Wilderness Permit Lottery

Permit Application Due February 14th

  • Smith River (MT) Smith River Permit Lottery

Permit Application Due End of February

  • Colorado - Grand Canyon (AZ) Grand Canyon Permit Lottery

Each February the lottery for the following year opens. There are also cancellation lotteries that open through out the year. When you create your profile you can sign up for email updates on cancellation lotteries.

Permit Application Due December

  • Alsek River (Canada/AK) Tatshenshini-Alsek River Permit
  • Tatshenshini River (Canada/AK) (Canada/AK) Tatshenshini-Alsek River Permit

Send in your application at any time. Dates are picked in December for trips the following year.

Call ahead for Permit

  • Toulumne River (CA) Toulumne Wild and Scenic River Permit
  • Deschutes River (OR) Deschutes River Boater Pass
  • John Day River (OR) John Day River Permit
  • Dolores River (CO/UT) Dolores River Permit
  • Colorado - Ruby Horsethief (CO/UT) Ruby Horsethief Canyon Permit
  • Colorado - Westwater Canyon (UT) Westwater Canyon Permit
  • Colorado - Cataract Canyon (UT) Cataract Canyon Permit
  • Green River - Labyrinth (UT) Flat Water Permit
  • Rio Chama (NM) Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River Permit

Self Issue Permits

  • Grande Ronde River (OR) Grande Ronde River Permit
  • Illinois River (OR) Self issue permits are required for all groups. You can get one at the Rays Food Place in Selma.
  • Owyhee River (ID/OR) Owyhee Permit
  • Lower Salmon (ID) Self issue permit
  • Jarbridge-Bruneau River (ID) Jarbridge-Bruneau River Permit
Author

Michael Hughes

Michael grew up in the small Minnesota town of Stewartville. He spent his days outside in the woods and riding a bike. The only thing that has changed is his location. Oregon is now home and he is still outside, riding a bike, and paddling where ever the water is.

 
 

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Disclaimer: River conditions, obstacles, and rapids can vary for a variety of reasons. Please combine this general information with good judgment and your own river reading skills.


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