Salt River Permit Information

PRIVATE BOATERS' PERMIT

A mandatory Reserved Date/Visitor Permit program is in effect for noncommercial boaters utilizing the Salt River within the Salt River Canyon Wilderness Area. The permit season runs from March 1 through May 15 annually.

A Visitor Permit authorizing a specific entry date is required for all groups that boat from the Wilderness boundary (located at the lower end of Gleason Flat) for approx. 30 miles downstream to the Highway 288 Bridge River Access Point. Gleason Flat is approximately 20 miles downstream from a put-in area near the Highway 60 Bridge (which is located approximately 40 miles N.E. of the city of Globe, AZ).

Visitor Permits are available ONLY to noncommercial boaters. The Trip Leader must ensure that the river-runners do not participate in commercial use or activity defined "any use of activity (a) where an entry or participation fee is charged, or (b) where the primary purpose is the sale of a good or service, and in either case, regardless of whether the use or activity is intended to produce a profit" (36 CFR 251.51). Normally a trip is not considered commercial if ALL participants share costs.

For further information on the Reserved Date/Visitor Permit program, contact the GLOBE RANGER STATION.

PERMIT APPLICATIONS

Application for the 2010 season
Note: ADOBE's Acrobat Reader is required to read
PDF (portable document format) files.

You can view a sketch-map of the area of the Upper Salt River Area.

You can also see a hydrograph showing water levels for several typical years.

The dates to remember if you are interested in obtaining a reserved date are as follows: Nov. 15 - Jan. 15 Visitor Permit Applications Accepted Jan. 16 - Jan. 31 Random Drawing Conducted and Trip Leaders Notified. Feb. 1 - Feb. 15 Waiting List Requests Taken (Unsuccessful Applicants Only) Feb. 16 - May 15 Waiting List Requests Taken (General Public) March 1 - May 15 Visitor Permit Required in Salt River Wilderness May 16- Feb. 28 No visitor permit required by the Forest Service.

TRIBAL PERMITS

Recreation Permits are required to utilize the Tribal lands and waters of those portions of the Salt River Canyon which are within the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. These permits are required 365 days a year. Permits may be obtained at the Salt River Trading Post near the Highway 60 Bridge.

Boating is strictly prohibited by the Tribe through the portion of the Salt River Canyon upstream of Apache Falls (located 1/4 mile upstream of the Highway 60 Bridge). In addition, all overland visitation (both on foot or by vehicle) is prohibited in the Salt Banks area (located 10.5 miles downstream of the Highway 60 Bridge). This area is a sensitive cultural and religious site.

For further information about the rules and regulations on Tribal lands and waters, contact the White Mountain Apache Outdoor Recreation Division at (928) 338-4385.

US Forest Service - Tonto National Forest
Last Modified:  Monday, 16 November 2009 at 12:26:16 EST