River Permit Information
Apply for a river launching permit
Enter the lottery to get a launch date
Wild & Scenic Rivers Requiring a permit
TUOLUMNE RIVER
(Lumsden to Wards Ferry)
U.S. Forest Service
Groveland Ranger District
P.O. Box 709
Groveland, CA 95321
(209) 962-7825
State: California (Pacific Time) / Permits required between: Year round /
Applications accepted: Year round / Trip party size: 16 people maximum / River
length of trip: 40 miles / Class: 4 plus / Skill level: Advanced / Shuttle
length: 60 miles paved road / Scenic qualities: A plus / Comments: California's
best!!! Road conditions may restrict access. Dangerous at
high flows. Two day trips most common. Application fee
$10. Request application in October. First come
basis for permit.
KERN RIVER
(Upper and lower forks of the Kern)
U.S. Forest Service
Cannell Meadow Ranger District
Sequoia National Forest
P.O. Box 6
Kernville, CA 93238
(619) 376-3781
State: California (Pacific Time) / Permits required between: Year round if
entering the Golden Trout Wilderness / Applications accepted: call / Trip party
size: 18 people maximum / River length of trip: 40 miles upper 10 miles
wilderness area / Class: 4 -5 plus / Skill level: Very Advanced / Shuttle
length: Long time dude / Scenic qualities: A / Comments: Dangerous at all flows
DELORES RIVER
(Bradfield Bridge to Bedrock)
Bureau of Land Management
San Juan Resource Area
Federal Building
701 Camino Del Rio
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-4082
(800) 276-4828 River Flow Phone: Gunnison / Delores / Colorado rivers
(970) 382-2258 River Information Hot Line
State: Colorado (Mountain Time) / Permits required between: None required at
this time / Trip party size: 25 people maximum / Slickrock down 16 people
maximum / River length of trip: 100 miles / Class: 3-4 / Skill level:
Intermediate / Shuttle length: 2-3 hours / Scenic qualities: A / Comments:
Snagletooth rapid class 4 scout, Short season, unrunnable late summer
http://www.co.blm.gov/sjra/sjdolores.htm
GUNNISON RIVER
(Below Bedrock) Bureau of Land Management
Montrose District Office
2505 So. Townsend
Montrose, CO 81401
(303) 249-7791
(See phone numbers above for more information). No permits required at this
time, but 1996 permits may be required. Check ahead.
ROGUE RIVER
(From Grave Creek to Foster Creek Bar)
Obtain private river permit applications from:
BLM Medford District.
River Permits/Information.
Galice Road
Merlin, OR. 97532-9725
(541) 479-3735
The Rogue River Permit info site at: http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue/about-permits.php
The e-mail address to the BLM Rand check in office: or110rr@or.blm.gov
On-Line Float Guide
Send permit applications
to:
TRI
P.O. Box 5149
Roseburg, OR 97470
(541) 672-4168 voice, fax (541) 672-4192
TRI Rogue River Lottery Internet Sign
Up
Rogue River Information
State: Oregon (Pacific Time) / Permits required between: May 15 through October
15 / Applications accepted: December 1 through January 31 / Trip party size: 20
people maximum / River length of trip: 28 miles Class: 3 plus / Skill level:
Intermediate / Shuttle length: 40 miles paved road / Scenic qualities: AA plus
/ Comments: National wild and scenic river, most trips leisurely 3-4 days,
Rainie Falls 1.7 miles down from Grave Creek 10 ft. Vertical drop. $5
application fee for lottery and $12 launch fee per person.
ILLINOIS RIVER
U.S. Forest Service
Galice Ranger District
P.O. Box 1131
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(503) 479-3735
State: Oregon (Pacific time) / Permits required between: Year round / Applications
accepted: Year round / Trip party size: 20 people maximum / River length of
trip: 32 miles / Class: 4 / Skill level: Advanced / Shuttle length: 150 miles
paved, gravel, dirt (4 hrs.) / Scenic qualities: A plus / Comments: Portage
Green Wall in high water, Oregon Scenic Waterway, High rain produces extremely
dangerous flows.
LOWER OWYHEE RIVER
(Rome to Reservoir)
Bureau of Land Management
Vale District
Box 700
Vale, OR 97918
(503) 473-3144
(503) 249-0666 River Flow Information
State: Oregon (Pacific Time) / Permits required between: None at this time /
Applications accepted: Register with rangers in Rome March 15 to June 15 / Trip
party size: 20 people maximum / River length of trip: 67 miles 5 to 6 days /
Class: 3 plus / Skill level: Intermediate / Shuttle length: 70 miles / Scenic
qualities: A / Comments: 1200 cfs minimum flow March and April best months.
BRENEAU /JARBRIDGE/UPPER OWYHEE
Bureau of Land Management
Boise District Office
3948 Development Road
Boise, ID 83705
(208) 384-3300
State: Idaho (Mountain Time) / Permits required between: Voluntary /
Applications accepted: Year round / Trip party size: 12 people maximum / River
length of trip: 2 to 6 day trip / Class: 3 to 4 / Skill level: Advanced /
Shuttle length: 4 to 8 hours driving / Scenic qualities: A / Comments: Unique
little traveled rivers.
MAIN SALMON RIVER
(From Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar)
U.S. Forest Service
North Fork Ranger District
P.O. Box 180
North Fork, ID 83466
(208) 865-2383
State: Idaho (mountain Time) / Permits required between: June 20 through
September 7 / Applications accepted: December 1 to January 31 / Trip party
size: 30 people maximum / River length of trip: 88 miles 4 to 6 days / Class: 3
to 4 / Skill level: Intermediate / Shuttle length: 385 miles paved and gravel roads
/ Scenic qualities: A plus / Comments: Fire pans are required, portable toilets
are required. Request application October 1st. $6 fee
MIDDLE FORK OF THE SALMON RIVER
U.S. Forest Service
P.O. Box 750
Challis, ID 83226
(208) 879-4321
(208) 327-7865 River Flow Information for Idaho
State: Idaho (Mountain Time) / Permits required between: June 1 through
September 3 / Applications accepted: December 1 through January 31 / Trip party
size: 24 persons maximum / River length of trip: 5 to 6 days, 100 miles - 8 day
stay limit maximum / Class: 3 - 4 plus / Skill level: Advanced / Shuttle
length: 270 miles gravel and paved / Scenic qualities: A plus / Comments: $6
application fee. Request application October 1st. Fire pans required, snow
blocks road access until June 15.
SNAKE RIVER
(From Hells Canyon Dam to Oregon Washington State Line)
U.S. Forest Service
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
P.O. Box 699
Clarkston, WA 99403
(509) 758-1957
(800) 422-3143 River Flow Information
State: Oregon/Idaho State Line (Pacific Time) / Permits required between: May
26 through September 15 / Applications accepted: December 1 through January 31
/ Trip party size: 30 people maximum / River length of trip: 75 miles / Class:
3-4 / Skill level: Intermediate / Shuttle length: 200 to 300 miles one way
paved / Scenic qualities: A / Comments: Fire pan required.
http://www.recreation.gov
SNAKE RIVER
(Hells Canyon)
U.S. Forest Service
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
P.O. Box 699
Clarkston, WA 99403
(509) 758-0616
State: Idaho (Mountain Time) / Permits required between: May 15 through
September 15 / Applications accepted: December 1 to January 31 / Trip party
size: 30 people maximum / River length of trip: 100 miles / Class: 3 / Skill
level: Intermediate / Shuttle length: 200-300 miles one way paved and gravel
roads / Scenic qualities: A / Comments: Special phone for reservations $6
application fee. Request application October 1st.
SELWAY RIVER
(Paradise Launch Site to Selway Falls)
U.S. Forest Service
West Fork Ranger District
6735 West Fork Road
Darby, MT 59829
(406) 821-3269
State: Montana (Mountain time) / Permits required between: May 15 to July 31 /
Applications accepted: December 1 to January 31 / Trip party size: 16 people
maximum / River length of trip: 47 miles Paradise to Selway Falls / Class: 4 /
Skill level: Advanced / Shuttle length: 245 miles paved and gravel roads /
Scenic qualities: A plus / Comments: May launch dates may encounter snow
blocking roads. $6 fee request application October 1st.
http://www.recreation.gov
YAMPA RIVER
National Park Service
Dinosaur National Monument
P.O. Box 210/4545 Hwy 40
Dinosaur, CO 81610
(970) 374-3000
State: Permits required between: Applications accepted: Trip party size: River
length of trip: 3 to 5 day trip May / June Lodore to Split Mountain 3 to 5 days
/ 139 mile shuttle seven miles gravel road Class: Skill level: Shuttle length:
89 miles paved roads / Scenic qualities: Comments: $10 application fee $40
launch fee March notification for lottery.
http://www.nps.gov/dino
GREEN RIVER
(Dinosaur National Monument)
National Park Service
Dinosaur National Monument
P.O. Box 210/4545 Hwy 40
Dinosaur, CO 81610
(970) 374-3000
State: Utah (Mountain Time) / Permits required between: May 10 through
September 10 / Applications accepted: December 1 to January 15 / Trip party
size: 25 people maximum / River length of trip:(unknown) / Class: 3 /
Skill level: Intermediate / Shuttle length: 139 miles paved 8 miles gravel /
Scenic qualities: A / Comments: $10 application fee and $40 launch fee, March
notification, call for more information.
GREEN RIVER - Canyon of Lodore
River Permits & Information
Dinosaur National Monument
4545 Hwy 40
Dinosaur, CO 81610
Phone: 970-374-2468
http://www.nps.gov/dino/river/
GREEN RIVER
(Desolation and Gray Canyons)
Bureau of Land Management
900 N. 700 E.
Price, UT 84501
(801) 637-4584 - 637-4591
State: Utah (Mountain Time) / Permits required between: April 1 to October 1 /
Applications accepted: December 1 to January 31 / Trip party size: 25 people
maximum / River length of trip: 84 miles / Class: 3 / Skill level: Intermediate
/ Shuttle length: 150 miles paved and gravel / Scenic qualities: A / Comments:
$13 per person fee. one trip per person per year.
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/price/recreation/riverinfo.html
COLORADO RIVER
(Cataract Canyon)
Canyon Lands National Park
2282 S.W. Resource Blvd.
Moab, UT 84532
(801) 259-7164
(801) 259-2911 ext.2120
State: Utah (Mountain Time) / Permits required between: Year round /
Applications accepted: December 15 to January 31 / Trip party size: 40 people
maximum / River length of trip: 3 to 7 days / Class: 4 plus / Skill level:
Advanced / Shuttle length: unknown / Scenic qualities: A / Comments: First come
basis for permit, $30 application fee. Waiting list, high water May and June
www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/reservations.htm
COLORAD0 RIVER
(Westwater Canyon)
Bureau of Land Management
Grand Resource Area
82 Dogwood Suite M
Moab, UT 84532
(801) 259-4421
State: Utah (Mountain Time) / Permits required between: April 1 to October 1 /
Applications accepted: December 1 - January 31 / Trip party size: not specified
/ River length of trip: 17 miles / Class: 3 plus / Skill level: Advanced /
Shuttle length: 30 miles need 4 wheel drive when wet / Scenic qualities: A /
Comments: $3 per person fee. Dangerous at medium and high flows.
http://www.blm.gov/utah/moab/riverec.html
COLORADO RIVER
(Grand Canyon)
National Park Service
River Sub District
Grand Canyon National Park
P.O. Box 129
Grand Canyon , AZ 86023
(602) 638-7888
State: Arizona (Mountain Time) / Permits required between: Year around /
Applications accepted: February / Trip party size: 15 people maximum / River
length of trip: 225 to 280 miles oar powered 13 to 18 days, motored 7-9 days.
Other options also. / Class: 1 to 10 Colorado scale of difficulty / Skill level:
Advanced / Shuttle length: 264 or 359 miles / Scenic qualities: AAA / Comments:
Six years waiting list, but call for cancellations.
$25 waiting list fee (one time), and $50 launch fee.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weightedlottery.htm
SAN JUAN RIVER
Bureau of Land Management
San Juan Resource Area
P.O. Box 7
Monticello, UT 84535
(435) 587-1544
State: Utah (Mountain Time) / Permits required between April 1 to October 1 /
Notified by March 1, Fees $4.50 per person, upper - $9.50 per person, lower -
$12.50 per person Both
http://www.blm.gov/utah/monticello/rec_fr.htm
SMITH RIVER
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks
4600 Giant Springs Rd., Box 6610
Great Falls, MT 59406
(406) 454-3441
State: Montana (Mountain time) / Permits required April 1 to October 1 /
Applications accepted December 1 to February 15 / Lottery for application
before February 15 first come basis after / $15 per person launch fee May to
Sept.; $7.50 per person April and August.
CHAMA RIVER
Bureau of Land Management
Taos Resource Area
224 Cruz Alta Road Taos NM 87571
(505) 758-8851
State: New Mexico / Applications received December 1 - February 1 /
Notification March 1 / $5 application fee and $5 per person launch fee.
SALT RIVER
U.S. Forest Service
Tonto National Forest
2324 East McDowell
Phoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 225-5200
Globe Ranger Station (602) 425-7180
State: Arizona (Mountain time) / Permits required between: March 1 to May 15 /
Applications accepted: December 1 to July 31 lottery / Trip party size: 15
people maximum / River trip length: 50 miles total / Class 3-4 / Skill level:
Intermediate-Advanced / Shuttle length: 1-1/2 hours / Scenic qualities: A
Sonora desert / Fees: $5 application fee plus $2 per person / Comments: high flows
above 6000 cfs. Permit required for all wilderness area except 20 miles. This
can be a four day run. Fire pans and porta potties required. River recreation
guide and map is available on request. / Additional permit required for Indian
Reservation area contact:
Department of Fish and Game White Mountain
Station P.O. Box 220
White River AZ 85941(602) 338-4385
Fee: $10 per person
per day (two days usually required).
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/permits/srpermits.htm
TATSHENSHINI AND ALSEK RIVERS
National Park Service
Uakutat Ranger Station
P.O. Box 137
Yakutat, AK 99689
(907) 784-3370 Information line and permit cancellations. (907) 784-3295 Park
office
State: Alaska (Pacific time) / Permits required between: Year round /
Applications accepted: Year round / Trip party size: 15 people maximum / River
length of trip 140 miles (10 days average) / Class 2 -3 plus / Skill level:
advanced / Shuttle length: 105 miles by air (no roads) / Scenic qualities: AAA
plus / Comments: Premier Alaskan scenic wilderness trip. Prime
season June 10 to September 17th. No facilities on river, remote
wilderness trip. No motors allowed. Preferred boats are rafts and kayaks (NOTE:
kayaks are not carried by many bush pilots) Not suitable for folding kayaks or
open canoes. / Waiting list fee: $25. Permit fee $100.
RIO GRANDE RIVER - Lower Taos Box Canyon
River Permit Information
Bureau of Land Management
POB 1045
Taos, NM 87511
Phone: 505-758-8851
RIO GRANDE RIVER
Big Bend Canyon - Boquillas Canyon
*Colorado Canyon - Lower Canyons
*Mariscal Canyon - Santa Elena Canyon
Big Bend National Park, TX 79850
Phone: 915-477-2251
SALMON RIVER - Lower
River Permits & Information
Bureau of Land Management
Route 3, POB 181
Cottonwood, ID 83522
Phone: 208-962-3245
http://www.id.blm.gov/blmfacts/
http://www.id.blm.gov/cottonwood/lsr/index.htm
SALMON RIVER - Main
North Fork Ranger District
POB 180
North Fork, ID 83466
Phone: 208-865-2725
http://www.recreation.gov/
SALMON RIVER - Middle Fork
Middle Fork Ranger District
POB 750
Challis, ID 83226
Phone: 509-879-4112
http://www.recreation.gov
Website for River Flow Information
Pacific NW - All Rivers
This USGS site gives detailed river flow information for all 50 states.
http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html