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Last call to apply for Idaho’s “Big 4” rivers

River rafting on the Salmon River is not all white water. There are calm stretches of water where floaters can kick back and relax. (Mike Brodwater / The Spokesman-Review)
By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com(509) 459-5508
River rafting on the Salmon River is not all white water. There are calm stretches of water where floaters can kick back and relax. (Mike Brodwater / The Spokesman-Review)
River rafting on the Salmon River is not all white water. There are calm stretches of water where floaters can kick back and relax. (Mike Brodwater / The Spokesman-Review)

RIVER RUNNING — Applications to get coveted permits for floating the Selway, Snake, Middle Fork of the Salmon, or wild main Salmon rivers for this coming season must be submitted online by Monday.

The shift by the Forest Service to online applications includes a few other new twists:

  • Reservations will be accepted only at the national public lands recreation website: recreation.gov .
  • Each applicant must have a unique e-mail address to create an online profile.

Officials say the new system will be faster and allow applicants to file for more launch options. Safety alerts and notices can be sent to river permit holders as their trips draw near.

Boaters also can use the Forest Service website to make reservations for preseason and postseason launches for the Middle Fork and wild main Salmon rivers.

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Outdoors Blog." Read all stories from this blog