Selway River Permit
Idaho Wild Rivers · Idaho
Remote Idaho wilderness river.
Get an alert when a Selway launch date opens.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Selway were gone within 5 minutes.
Selway dates: cancellations and the lottery
We alert you to cancellations. The lottery runs December 1 to January 31.
- CancellationsWe alert you the moment one opens.We alert you the moment one opens.
- Lottery<1% success, 2025Dec 1–Jan 31 · Results, Feb 15
- Permit seasonMay 15–Jul 31
Who issues Selway permits. Source: Recreation.gov. Read the official permit page.
- route distance, point to point
- 47mi
- max group size
- 16people
How to get a Selway permit
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. Cancelled Selway permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Selway lottery opens December 1 and closes January 31, 11:59 pm Mountain Time, with results announced February 14 or February 15, 2026 (the permit page gives both). The permit season for Selway runs May 15 through July 31. The Selway route covers 47 miles, rated expert.
- Type
- River Access
- Location
- Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, ID
Step 1: Check for cancellations
Permits get cancelled daily. Peak cancellation times are 24-48 hours before the trip date.
Step 2: 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.
Step 3: 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.
Step 4: 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.
Step 5: Wait for lottery results
Results are announced February 14 or February 15, 2026 (the permit page gives both). Check your email and your Recreation.gov account.
Selway pro tips
- Set a cancellation alert, and 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. Keep an alert on it all summer.
More on Selway: Live availability activityWhen Selway permits open upSelway River lottery datesDo I need a Selway River permit?Selway lottery odds
Selway lottery odds
<1%
The Selway is the longest-odds river draw in the Four Rivers lottery, with under 1% of applications winning a launch. It issues only one launch per day in the control season.
Source: Recreation.gov — Selway River (4 Rivers) · Idaho News 6 — Four Rivers lottery odds reporting.
Success rate by year and lottery
- 2025 · Four Rivers lottery (Dec-Jan)<1%One launch per day, May 15 - July 31 control season
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.
How much a Selway permit costs
Selway permit fee: $6 non-refundable application and reservation fee. There are no per-person recreation fees for a Selway River permit.
The Selway trip
- Distance
- 47 miles
- Route Type
- Point to Point
- Duration
- 4-6 days
- Difficulty
- Expert
One launch per day. Not one lottery winner per day. One party, sixteen people, on forty-seven miles of Class III-IV, for the whole permit season.
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.
Dates declined, cancelled or revoked after the lottery become reservable by others starting March 16, with releases continuing until the end of the permit season, and a cancellation alert catches each one. The lottery itself takes applications from December 1 to January 31 at 11:59 pm Mountain Time. The permit's narrative text says applicants will be notified on February 14, and its dates block says February 15, 2026. Check the page on the 14th. Successful applicants must confirm by March 15.
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 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.
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 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.
Selway trip highlights
- 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
How hard the Selway trip is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills5/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential4/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity3/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route5/5
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.
When to float Selway
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.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
70°
44°
Wed
69°
49°
Thu
72°
47°
Fri
72°
50°
Sat
75°
48°
Sun
81°
50°
Mon
79°
56°
Selway rules, gear and safety
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 gear
- 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
Rules & regulations
- 01A permit is required to float the Selway from May 15 to July 31; one launch per day
- 02Maximum party size is 16 during the permit season and 20 pre- and post-season
- 03Pre-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
- 04Carry a bucket and shovel for fire-fighting and camp sanitation
- 05Boat tags with the permit number must be attached to each watercraft
- 06Use no soap, including biodegradable soap, in any stream or river
- 07Haul out all unburnable garbage, including someone else's left behind
- 08An Idaho invasive species sticker is required for watercraft
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
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Selway.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Selway · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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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. Results are due February 14 (the permit's dates block says February 15, 2026), so 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.
Selway river conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Selway permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Main Salmon River
79 miles from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar through the same wilderness complex.
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.
- Same AreaPermit required
Middle Fork Salmon
Idaho's best-known multi-day, dropping through the Frank Church wilderness.
Tradeoffs
More launches per day than the Selway and a longer season, with continuous whitewater and hot springs.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Hells Canyon - Snake River
Class II to V big water on the Idaho-Oregon border, with three private launches a day.
Tradeoffs
Much better odds and no per-person fee, but shared with jet boats outside the published non-motorized windows.
Where to stay near Selway
- Rombo campgroundBitterroot National Forest
- Medicine Point LookoutBitterroot National Forest
- Painted Rocks State Park campgroundMontana
- All Idaho campgrounds
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
No permit needed to start
Two ways to land it
Track cancellations or run a lottery pool
Fast Lane tracking
We check Selway for cancellations 24/7 and alert you when a spot opens so you can book before it's gone.
Set a free cancellation alertLottery pool
Apply with a crew. Each person multiplies your combined odds. We coordinate invites, deadlines, and outcomes.
See plans to start a poolMost crews do both: get alerts for cancellations, and pool for the lottery.
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at Selway
Applications open December 1, 2026 and close January 31, 2027. Results are posted February 15, 2027.
Missed the draw or skipped it? Set an alert and we tell you the moment a Selway cancellation opens. We remind you about the lottery dates too.
Better odds with a crew
Selway permits are drawn by 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.
Know the moment you win
Auto win-detection tells you the moment your Selway application wins, so you never have to check Recreation.gov. It 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). Auto win-detection is on Pro or a $19 permit alert.
Turn on auto win-detectionOpens the official lottery. You submit your entry. We never automate or store your Recreation.gov login.
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