Permits
The Salmon-Challis National Forest manages a variety of natural resources to meet sustainable resource management objectives. Successful management conserves or protects resource values and strives to ensure responsible forest visitor use, as well as visitor health, safety, and enjoyment. To meet these objectives, passes or permits may be required for certain activities or uses while visiting the Forest.
Before you plan an activity on the Forest, please be sure to check whether you need a pass or permit. Passes and permits are available at the Salmon-Challis National Forest Ranger District offices and the Salmon-Challis National Forest Supervisor’s Office.
What is the recreation fee program?
More and more people recreate on national forests and grasslands every year. Meeting the needs of these visitors, delivering quality recreation, heritage and wilderness opportunities, and protecting natural resources has become increasingly difficult.
To help address this issue, President Bush signed the 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act (PL 108-447), which includes the 10-year Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) on December 8, 2004. The Act permits federal land management agencies to continue charging modest fees at campgrounds, rental cabins, high-impact recreation areas and at day-use sites that have certain facilities.
Recreation fees provide crucial resources that allow the federal agencies to respond to increased demand on federal lands. The goal is to provide visitors with a quality recreation experience through enhanced facilities and services
The Salmon-Challis National Forest is currently using the Recreation Fee program for permits on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon Rivers, Campgrounds and Cabin Rentals. 95% of these fees are returned to the Forest.
Middle Fork and Main Salmon River Fee Program
The Salmon-Challis National Forest collects fees for recreation use on the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon Rivers in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Boating on the Middle Fork or Main Salmon Rivers requires a permit all year. Fees from permits are used to improve the services provided for users of the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon Rivers. The forest works with the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) to allocate launch dates. If granted a permit, the Forest charges $4 per-person, per-day user fee. Season Passes entitle the pass holder to float the Middle Fork and/or Main Salmon Rivers without further payment for one year from the date of purchase.
Information on the river permit system is available on the Four Rivers Lottery web page, or by contacting the North Fork or Middle Fork Ranger Districts, 208 865-2700 or 208 879-4101.
Recreation Event/Commercial Permits
Commercial Filming and Still Photography Permits
The requirement to obtain a commercial filming permit depends on the type of activity involved. This is generally based upon whether the activity involves the advertisement of a product or service, creates products for sale or involves the use of actors, models, sets, or props.
- Contact the Public Lands Center in Salmon at 208-756-5100 for additional information and to learn more about the process of obtaining a filming or photography permit.
- For filming permits, please contact Elly Long at Ellyson.Long@usda.gov.
Group Use/Recreation Event Permits
The Forest receives dozens of requests to conduct recreation events each year. A group use permit is required for an activity that involves more than 75 total people, either as participants or as spectators.
The Salmon-Challis National Forest has an open season application process for special use recreation events and temporary outfitter and guide permits on National Forest System (NFS) lands. A special use authorization is required before conducting any type of commercial recreation use of NFS lands. This open season allows time for review and processing prior to an event. The open period for applications is determined by the proposed event or start date. Non-commercial group use and filming special use permits are not subject to open season periods.
The following application periods apply:
- December 1 through February 15 for summer and fall season activities (those occurring between June I-November 30).
- July 1 through September 15 for winter and spring season activities (those occurring between December I-May 31).
A pre-application meeting with the permit administrator is required to ensure the proposal is an appropriate and authorized use on NFS lands. If the request is eligible for consideration, the application and supporting documentation must be received by the applicable open season deadline. Late applications will be held and processed during the next open period. The permit administrator can verify if your application is complete. An incomplete application will delay review of your proposal.
For additional information about the application process for recreation events, please contact Jennifer Smith, permit administrator, at 208-756-5158 or Jennifer.Smith6@usda.gov.
Further information about Obtaining a Special Use Permit with the Forest Service and some guidelines for filling out the application, this link is available for assistance.
Outfitters and Guides
The Salmon-Challis National Forest authorizes commercial outfitting for summer, fall, and winter activities on Forest Service lands. These activities include whitewater rafting, jet boating, hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, sightseeing, mountaineering, trail riding, and other activities.
Forest product permits include:
- Personal-use firewood permit
- Commercial-use firewood permit
- Personal-use post and pole permit
- Personal-use tree and shrub transplants permit
- Personal-use Christmas tree permit
- Mushroom permit
The Salmon-Challis National Forest authorizes commercial outfitting for summer, fall, and winter activities on Forest Service lands. These activities include whitewater rafting, jet boating, hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, sightseeing, mountaineering, trail riding, and other activities.
While visiting the Salmon-Challis National Forest, please ensure that you are traveling with a permitted outfitter. The following are lists of outfitters permitted to operate on this Forest.