Upper Salt River Permits Available

Phoenix, Arizona Applications for rafting permits for the Upper Salt River Canyon Wilderness are now available from the Tonto National Forest. They can be obtained by calling the Globe Ranger District at (928) 402-6200 or by visiting the Tontos website, www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto. Instructions for applying are included in each application packet. The application deadline is January 15, 2006. A Forest Service permit is required from March 1 through May 15 of each year to raft that portion of the river which flows through the Upper Salt River Canyon Wilderness. The segment of the river under the permit system starts approximately 20 miles downstream from the traditional put-in point at First Campground on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The White Mountain Apache Tribe requires a recreation permit throughout the year for boating on the reservation. For more information regarding tribal permits and regulations call (928) 338-4385.