Outfitting & Guiding Services

Outfitter Guide proposals (priority given to youth-focused guiding) may be emailed to the Special Uses Permit Coordinator. The Forest Service prefers that proposals and applications be submitted by email to speed up the review and processing.

Submit your proposal early during the open season to allow enough time for screening and, if it advances to the application stage, to complete all required paperwork before the deadline.

New proposals should be detailed and include, at a minimum, the following information: 

• Description of the proposed activities
• Requested number of service days (no more than 200)
• Anticipated number of trips and party size
• Routes and location of starting and ending points for the proposed activities (note: only official Forest Service system trails will be authorized for use)
• Targeted audience or clientele and plans for engaging youth or under-represented groups
• Any other services that will be offered to clients.

Current Information & Application Forms

Before submitting a proposal and/or application, please review the following requirements:

Outfitting and Guiding Licenses in Oregon and Washington

Outfitting and guiding on National Forest Service lands for pecuniary remuneration, or other gain, requires a permit. In addition, the states of Oregon and Washington have separate licensing requirements:

Oregon: Outfitters and guides must have a valid state license or waiver. The Oregon State Marine Board manages this licensing process. Note: This license is required for all outfitter guides operating in the State, not just for river or water-related guiding activities.

Washington: Fishing guides and guides who operate on Whitewater Rivers must be licensed with the state:

• Fishing Guides: https://wdfw.wa.gov/ manages this licensing process.
• Whitewater Guides: Washington State Department of Licensing manages this licensing process.

Liability Insurance

All outfitter guide permits require proof of liability insurance. Minimum coverage amounts depend on the activity being authorized. Additional information on liability insurance requirements may be provided by the special uses coordinator for proposals that are accepted. The permit holder must also provide an endorsement listing the U.S. Government as an Additional Insured.

Use of Contractors: 

All guides operating under a special use permit for outfitting and guiding, both Priority and Temporary, must be employees of the permit holder. Independent contractors are not authorized to operate under a permit issued to another business or entity. Employees must meet the Internal Revenue Service definition of an employee.

Definition of Service Day: 

A client service day equals the number of clients per day you provide service to on National Forest System (NFS) lands. A portion of a day on NFS lands is considered one service day. The total number of service days is calculated by multiplying each service day by the number of clients on each day’s trip. For example, two clients for a one-day trip equals two service days, and two clients for a two-day trip equals four service days. Another example would be if you have two clients for one day, five clients for another day, and ten clients on a third day; this would equal 17 client service days.

Temporary Permit Fees

Currently, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is only issuing temporary permits, which have a maximum term of six months.  The fees are based on the number of client service days authorized in the permit.  The land use fee for temporary permits is $150 for every 50 client service days, for up to 200 days.

Priority Use Permits (not currently available)

There are currently no additional priority use permits (10-year permits) available on the White Salmon or Klickitat Rivers. The fees for priority permits are based on a percentage of gross revenue, with a reduction for time spent off of National Forest System lands. Currently, the Forest Service only issues Temporary (six months, up to 200 service days). Permits for outfitting and guiding use of trails and recreation sites in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. In the future, Priority Use Permits may be available, but only to those permit holders who have shown satisfactory performance under a temporary permit. 

Change of Ownership or Control of a Business

The permit holder and prospective purchaser should be aware of the following:

• Permits are not transferable or real property.
• Permits cannot be used as collateral.
• The holder's permit terminates when the change of ownership or controlling interest in the business is consummated.

Outfitter and guide use on the Wild and Scenic portions of the White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers requires a special use permit from the Forest Service. 

Lower Klickitat Wild and Scenic River 

Up to six temporary permits may be available on a lottery basis for the Lower Klickitat Wild and Scenic River. These permits are limited to 50 client service days each and a maximum term of 6 months. Temporary permits will be restricted to June through September for kayaking, and temporary fishing permits will be subject to State fishing timing regulations and authorize only boat fishing, not bank fishing.  Applications will be screened for completeness and if more than four complete applications are received, each application will be assigned a lottery number. Four numbers will be drawn and the selected applicants will be notified.

Lower White Salmon Wild and Scenic River 

A limited number of temporary use permits will be issued on the White Salmon for the outfitters and guides serving educational purposes, youth or under-represented communities. Temporary permits in July and August will exclude use on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Temporary permits will not be authorized after August 11, during the critical spawning threshold, below Husum Falls. 

Activities that may be allowed under Outfitter Guide permits on trails and at recreation sites include hiking, environmental interpretation, education, mountain biking, horseback riding, and photography. The following restrictions on temporary use permits are anticipated (subject to change):

Eagle Creek Fire Closures

Some trail and area closures caused by the Eagle Creek Fire remain in place, although much progress has been made. Trail itinerary requests for new outfitter guide proposals and re-applications should reflect this information.

Dog Mountain 

Between April 1 and July 1, no outfitter guide use will be permitted on weekends or holidays on the Dog Mountain/Augsburger trail system.

Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness 

No Wilderness use will be authorized except for permit renewals for guided hiking and environmental education.

Waterfall Corridor

Popular trails in and near the highly visited waterfall corridor accessed by the Historic Columbia River Highway are restricted on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day. 

Also review a handy guide to some of our most popular sites, including some of the rules that apply. 

Who needs a special use permit for outfitting and guiding on national forest lands?

A special use permit for outfitting and guiding on National Forest System land is required when an individual, company, organization, institution or non-profit group charges a participatory fee for guiding services and/or provides recreation equipment. 

This policy is based on the following official definitions:

• Guiding - Providing services or assistance such as supervision, protection, education, training, packing, touring, subsistence, interpretation or other assistance to individuals or groups in their pursuit of a natural resource-based outdoor activity for pecuniary remuneration or other gain.
• Outfitting - Providing through rental or livery a saddle or pack animal, vehicle or boat, tents or camp gear, or similar supplies or equipment, for pecuniary remuneration or other gain.

How does the Forest Service determine a need for outfitter and guide services?

The decision to issue an outfitter/guide permit is based on a number of criteria including public need for the particular service and the capacity of the land to support the use.  A public need for outfitting and guiding services exists when such services are essential or required for the well-being of the public, needed to meet the intent of the Forest’s mission to manage and protect resources, provide for public safety and provide high quality public recreation experiences or benefits.  Market generated demand (solicited business) by a potential guide does not by itself constitute a public need.

Why is the Forest Service directed under law to issue outfitter and guide permits?

Outfitter and guide permits help the Forest Service ensure that recreation services and assistance provided to the public on National Forest System lands is of the highest quality.  Permits help protect public health and safety as well as natural resources.  Permits also protect the financial interests of the public by requiring permit holders to provide proof of insurance and by returning a fee to the federal treasury.

Why is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area focusing on permits for youth?

Engaging youth with the outdoors and providing conservation education to under-served communities is a priority for the Forest Service.  Currently, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area does not have many outfitter guides focusing on services for these groups.

May I call someone before I write and submit my application?

Yes! We encourage you to call us before filling out your application, just in case we know whether or not we can authorize your requests. Please call our main line at (541) 308-1700 and we will get you redirected to our Special Uses Coordinator as soon as possible to answer your questions or provide clarification of the details of your application.

May I guide in Wilderness?

Only outfitter guide use that has previously been permitted in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness will be authorized. These permits are limited to hiking, equestrian use, and natural resource education and environmental interpretation. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is not granting new outfitters and guides access to Wilderness areas at this time.

What specific criteria does the Forest Service use to evaluate a proposal for a Special Use Permit?

We first evaluate an outfitter and guide proposal against first and second level screening criteria contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR 251.54).  These criteria apply to all special use permit proposals.

View Screening Criteria (.pdf)

Only after a proposal has passed the above criteria, is it evaluated on its capability to provide for safety, skill, equipment, knowledge, ability to address under-served populations and youth, dispersal of use in time and space, and other factors unique to the Columbia River Gorge.

When this review has been completed, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Manager may accept or deny the proposal. Acceptance allows the proposal to become a formal application.  At this point, resource specialists determine and evaluate any concerns or possible impacts from the application activities on the natural or social resources of the forest.

What is the difference between Temporary Permits and Priority Use Permits?

Priority use permits are authorization of use for up to 10-years, based on a permit holder's past use and performance and applicable programmatic or project decisions for allocation of use.  Temporary use permits are short-term, non-renewable outfitting and guiding permits that are authorized in increments of 50 service days, up to a maximum of 200 service days.  The maximum term for temporary use permits is six months (180 days). The fees for temporary permits are based on the number of client service days authorized in the permit ($150 for every 50 client service days), whereas priority use permit fees are typically based on a percentage of gross revenue. 

Issuance of a temporary use permit does not commit the Forest Service to authorize outfitting and guiding use in the future.  Temporary use permits are not subject to renewal. Temporary permits are not issued through a competitive process, but rather to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, based on seasonal deadlines such as “open seasons” or through a lottery.  

Where competitive interest in outfitting and guiding opportunities exists, priority use permit applications may be solicited through a prospectus. When a priority use permit terminates, the permit is generally subject to renewal without competition, provided that the holder has performed satisfactorily and the use authorized by the permit is consistent with the applicable land management plan, and applicable laws and regulations.

Currently, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is only issuing temporary permits. Outfitter guides are operating under priority use permits (10-year permits) on the White Salmon and Klickitat Wild and Scenic Rivers, but there are currently no additional priority use permits available. All authorized outfitting and guiding activities using trails and recreation sites in the CRGNSA are permitted under temporary use permits. In the future, additional Priority Use Permits may be available, but only to those permit holders who have shown satisfactory performance under a temporary permit.

What is a "service day"?

Outfitting and guiding proposals and applications require you to list your requested number of "service days," also called "user days." The definition of a service day is:

An allocation of use constituting a day or any part of a day on National Forest System lands for which an outfitter or guide provides services to a client.  The total number of service days is calculated by multiplying each service day by the number of clients on the trip.  

For example, if you are a guide taking a group of 5 people to Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena Falls and Horsetail Falls (all National Forest System land) on one day, this equals 5 service days.  If you take 5 people to Multnomah Falls one one day and to Wahkeena and Horsetail on the following day, that equals 10 service days. 

When and how do I submit my proposal?

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area has an open season from September 1 to November 1 for permit renewals and proposals.  This system is necessary to efficiently process the large number of outfitter/guide requests received by the forest.  Specific information on this process and the necessary forms can be found above.