How to get in01 pathLottery
Selway River
One private party launches per day in the Selway control season — allocated by the Four Rivers lottery on Recreation.gov.
Multi-day
RiverCampTechnicalPhysical effort · Estimate
Technical — Skills or exposure beyond a standard hike — canyoneering, scrambling, etc.
Remote control-season float with technical water and wilderness camping.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Photo by US Forest Service
Good fitExperienced wilderness float teams who will enter the winter lottery for a single daily launch.
Usually notCasual day paddles or anyone needing guaranteed multi-party launches.
Lottery type
Four Rivers Lottery
How you get in
No % yet
Agency has not published odds
Control season typically May 15 – July 31 with one launch per day. Outside that window, permits are not required (Official).
When to apply
Not open yet
Dec 1 – Jan 31
Lottery application window · Official dates
Apply December 1 – January 31. Results about February 14; winners must confirm by March 15. Cancelled / declined dates release March 16 at 8:00 a.m. MST first-come (Official USFS / Rec.gov).
We checked 2026-09-23
The managing agency (and Recreation.gov when the product lives there) is authoritative for dates, fees, and whether registration is open. We summarize — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
If you miss this window, try these instead:
- Main Salmon (Rec.gov 234622)
- Middle Fork of the Salmon (Rec.gov 234623)
- Post-control-season floats when permits are not required
Backup options
Nearby or alternate ways in if these draws miss.
- Main Salmon / Middle Fork / Snake–Hells Canyon in the same Four Rivers family
- Outside control season when permits are not required
- Main Salmon (Rec.gov 234622)
- Middle Fork of the Salmon (Rec.gov 234623)
- Post-control-season floats when permits are not required
Field notes
All field notesPlaybooks for the confusing parts of applying — not live calendars.
Dates, group rules, a backup, entry day — the apply checklist is under Before you go
The managing agency (and Recreation.gov when the product lives there) is authoritative for dates, fees, and whether registration is open. We summarize — always confirm on the official page before you apply. Rec.gov permit 234624 (Selway / 4 Rivers). Control season typically mid-May – late July; Dec–Jan application window. Permits not required outside control season (Official USFS / Rec.gov). About Official / Estimate / Not confirmed yet