A steep, technical wilderness river reserved for expert paddlers only. Known for continuous Class IV–V whitewater, cold snowmelt flows, and extreme remoteness within the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Snapshot
Important information for this section of river
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Current Availability
The following dates have one or more sites available
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Water Level
FAQ: What's the current water level for Selway River?
1,840 CFS
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FAQ: What's the ideal range for this section of river?
700 – 35,000 CFS
Key Dates
Here are some key dates to remember for Selway River.
May 15 – Jul 31
May 15 – Jul 31
Permits required to float the Selway River (assigned by lottery or through cancellation)
Permit Details
The limited permit season runs annually from May 15 to July 31, and is designed to protect the wilderness and river resources, while providing opportunities for solitude, adventure and a quality floating experience. Unconfirmed/declined/cancelled lottery dates are released for reservation at 8 AM Mountain Time on March 16. Permits are not required outside the control season on the Selway River.
Common Questions
What paddlers most often want to know about Selway River.
How do I get a permit for the Selway River in Idaho?
Selway River permits are managed through Recreation.gov. Unconfirmed, declined, and cancelled lottery dates are released for first-come, first-served reservation at 8:00 AM Mountain Time on March 16 each year. The permit control season runs May 15 through July 31.
What class of rapids does the Selway River have from Paradise to Selway Falls?
The Selway River runs Class IV–V through the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, featuring powerful, continuous drops of cold snowmelt water in an extremely remote canyon. The most significant rapids require careful scouting and expert boat handling.
How many launches per day are allowed on the Selway River?
Only one launch group per day is allowed on the Selway River during the permitted control season (May 15–July 31). This strict limit — one of the lowest on any permitted river in the US — ensures true wilderness solitude throughout the trip.
What is the permit season for the Selway River?
The Selway River permit control season runs annually from May 15 to July 31. Outside these dates, no permit is required, though flows outside the control season can be very low or dangerously high.
What are the ideal flow levels for running the Selway River?
The Selway River runs best between 700 and 6,000 CFS. Flows of 1,500–3,500 CFS are considered ideal for most expert paddlers. Above 6,000 CFS the river becomes extremely powerful and the commitment level of this wilderness run increases dramatically.
Weather Forecast
What's the daily forecast at the put-in for Selway River?