Four Rivers Lottery and Permit Reservation System

Selway, Hells Canyon-Snake, Wild Main Salmon, Middle Fork of the Salmon (4 Rivers)

The Selway River, (Wild Main) Salmon River, Hells Canyon-Snake River, and Middle Fork of the Salmon River (aka 4 Rivers) use randomized lottery drawings to assign launch reservations for their control (primary) seasons.

2019 Four Rivers Lottery Results were posted on February 19.

Applicants - log into your profile at www.Recreation.gov to see the results of your lottery application; this information will not be given over the phone. If you have difficulty getting logged into your profile, contact the help desk at 1-877-444-6777.

Successful applicants must accept their awarded launch date before 11:59 pm Mountain Time on March 15.

All successful lottery applicants must log into their profile and accept their awarded launch date before 11:59 pm Mountain Daylight Time on March 15 to confirm their reservation. Unconfirmed awards will be cancelled.

To accept, enter at least one person, the exit date, and any required information on the Order Details page before continuing to the cart to finalize the confirmation process. Changes to the number of people and other trip details are allowed up to 3 days prior to receiving your permit. The Salmon and the Middle Fork require payment of recreation fees to confirm your launch reservation. The Selway and Hells Canyon-Snake Rivers do not charge additional fees for passengers or days of use, but you must still progress through the cart to finalize your acceptance.

Successful applicants do not receive a paper packet of confirmation materials. Boaters will need to access the respective river's information webpage for details about equipment requirements, regulations and trip information. The website will be listed on the confirmation letter that will be emailed once the reservation is confirmed. Or you can click on the river's links at the bottom of this page.

Starting March 16 at 8 am Mountain time, any unconfirmed or declined lottery dates for the Selway River can be reserved at www.recreation.gov.

However, further availability of declined lottery launch dates for the Salmon, Middle Fork of the Salmon, and Hells Canyon-Snake rivers has been delayed. Any unconfirmed or declined lottery dates will be released on March 23 at 8 am Mountain Time.

We realize that this delay is undoubtedly frustrating and ask for your patience and understanding while we work to provide unconfirmed and declined dates on March 23rd.

Lottery applications, reservations, cancellations and recreation fee payments for permits to float these Four Rivers are processed at www.Recreation.gov. For Reservations or Customer Service, the phone number is 1-877-444-6777.

Boaters should try to anticipate high and low water levels before submitting an application or reserving a launch date.

The 4 Rivers Lottery Control (Primary) seasons:

Selway River: May 15 - July 31

Hells Canyon-Snake River: Friday before Memorial Day - Sept. 10

Wild Main Salmon River: June 20 - Sept. 7

Middle Fork of the Salmon River: May 28 - Sept. 3

All four rivers are part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. To learn more about the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018, visit www.rivers.gov/wsr50/ .

Pre/Post Season Reservations: Each river has different reservation/permitting requirements for pre/post season trips. For details, click on the river name at the bottom of this page. For a summary about each river, see Whitewater Rafting on the Four Rivers page.

Reservations for 2019 pre/post season launch dates on the Middle Fork Salmon and Wild Main Salmon rivers was delayed from the typical October 1st opening. The start time will remain as 8 am Mountain time, but the date was pushed back to October 15 for just this year. The Wild Main Salmon River has unlimited launches for pre/post season dates. The Middle Fork only allows 7 launches per day throughout the year.

The www.recreation.gov website is also the method boaters will use to update their reservation details, or to cancel their reservation if necessary. This is also the place to submit payment of recreation fees for the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon Rivers. Complete and final payment of recreation fees must be entered in your reservation prior to your launch date; payments will not be accepted at the launch sites.

River Contact Information:

Email the Four Rivers Lottery group. We welcome your comments and questions.

 Weighted Lotteries for the Four Rivers