Do I need a permit to float Selway River?
Yes. You need a permit to float Selway River in Idaho Wild Rivers. Cancelled permits return to the booking system through the season, and the rest are awarded by lottery.
Lottery permit
What the Selway River permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $6 non-refundable application and reservation fee. There are no per-person recreation fees for a Selway River permit.
- Group size limit
- 16 people
- Applications open
- December 1
- Applications close
- January 31, 11:59 pm Mountain Time
- Results
- February 14 or February 15, 2026 (the permit page gives both)
- Season starts
- May 15
- Season ends
- July 31
What the rules require
- 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
Published rules for the Selway River, quoted as written.
Getting one
Lottery winners cancel and miss payment deadlines, and those dates go back into the booking system through the season. PermitSnag checks Selway River and tells you the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Selway River permit
Do I need a permit to float Selway River?
Yes. You need a permit to float Selway River in Idaho Wild Rivers. Cancelled permits return to the booking system through the season, and the rest are awarded by lottery.
How much does a Selway River permit cost?
$6 non-refundable application and reservation fee. There are no per-person recreation fees for a Selway River permit..
When can I apply for a Selway River permit?
The application window opens December 1. It closes January 31, 11:59 pm Mountain Time. Results: February 14 or February 15, 2026 (the permit page gives both).
How many people can be on one Selway River permit?
16 people.
When is the Selway River permit season?
Season starts: May 15. Season ends: July 31.
What if I lose the Selway River lottery?
Lottery winners cancel and miss payment deadlines, and those dates return to the booking system through the season. PermitSnag checks Selway River for those cancellations and tells you when one appears.