Procrastinators miss out on top spots

Hikers and river runners who would like to visit some of the Northwest’s top wilderness areas and rivers this spring and summer had better be making applications for coveted permits this winter.

Although no-show permits and a portion of available permits sometimes are held back and issued on a daily basis at ranger stations, locking in a reservation is key to planning.

Following are some of the most sought-after permits in the region.

Idaho’s Selway, Salmon, Middle Fork Salmon, Selway, and Snake River through Hells Canyon had 16,257 applications for 1,049 permits issued last year in the lottery for non-commercial float trips. The number of available permits will be lower this year, since permit holders whose trips were canceled because of 2007 forest fires were given the option of getting the same launch date rolled over to the 2008 float season.

•Deadline for applications: Jan. 31. Details: www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/recreation/4rivers.

Montana’s Smith River is a classic multiday floating and fishing experience in Central Montana. Typically, several thousand floaters apply for about 800 permits during the peak float and fishing season from early May to early July.

•Deadline for applications: Feb. 15. Details: www.fwp.mt.gov or call state Fish, Wildlife and Parks, (406) 454-5840.

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area’s Enchantment Lake Basin, plus Stuart, Colchuck, Snow and Eightmile lakes areas near Leavenworth would be swarmed with hikers if it weren’t for the lottery permit system for overnight use from mid-June through mid-October. In 1987, the Enchantments portion of the Alpine Lakes became the first Forest Service Northwest wilderness with entry limits for backpackers.

Roughly 5,000 people apply for about 1,500 group permits issued in advance.

•Deadline for applications: Feb. 21. Details: www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/ passes/enchantments or call Wenatchee National Forest Leavenworth Ranger Station, (509) 548-6977.

Mount Rainier’s permits for the 94-mile Wonderland Trail that circumnavigates the mountain are a hot item in a normal year, but this season may not be normal. Massive floods in November 2006 wiped out large portions of the trail and no reservations for through-trips were offered for most of the season.

In August, the trail was partially rerouted, sometimes forcing backpackers onto park roads. Park officials last week said they won’t know until late March at the soonest whether the entire circumnavigation will be possible this season.

•Deadline for applications: March 31. Details: www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/ wilderness-camping-permits.htm or call (360) 569-2211, ext. 3314.