Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

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652,488 Acres of Beauty and Adventure Hells Canyon, North America's deepest river gorge, encompasses a vast and remote region with dramatic changes in elevation, terrain, climate and vegetation. Carved by the great Snake River, Hells Canyon plunges more than a mile below Oregon's west rim, and 8,000 feet below snowcapped He Devil Peak of Idaho's Seven Devils Mountains. There are no roads across Hells Canyon's 10-mile wide expanse, and only one road on the Idaho side that leads to the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington boundary.

World-class whitewater boating, hiking, horseback riding, fishing diverse and abundant wildlife, artifacts from prehistoric tribes and rustic remains of early miners and settlers - Hells Canyon National Recreation Area truly offers something for everyone, and much to explore by road, trail or boat.

***Featured Businesses listed on the menu are exclusive members of North Central Idaho Travel Association and have committed to supporting tourism by providing the visitor with hospitality and a valued experience.

Access by Road:

From White Bird take US Forest Service road 493, locally known as Deer Creek Road, 17 miles to Pittsburg Landing. The road is paved the first 3 miles and well maintained gravel the remaining miles. Roadway is 2 lane with several turnouts, winding and steep in locations. Road is maintained all year but check conditions for winter travel. Summertime you can expect high traffic use. Watch for large vehicles pulling trailers, boats or stock trailers. Once in the canyon you can access the boat launch, trail heads, view the petroglpyhs, fish or camp.

Access by Trail:

Black Lake Trailhead - Access at Black Lake Campground, situated at the very southern end of the Seven Devils Mountains in the Hells Canyon Wilderness (Idaho side, HCNRA). The campground has four units. There is no potable water source but the lake is easily reached from the camping area. Water treatment is recommended. To reach Black Lake, take Hwy 95 to Council, ID. From Council, take Forest Road #002 to Forest Road #105 (near the town of Bear, no services). From Forest Road #105, travel to Forest Road #112 (just past Bear Guard Station). Forest Road #112 will continue on to Black Lake. The last part of this drive is very rough and a high clearance vehicle is recommended. The area is usually open and free from snow the latter part of July through the first part of October.

Snake River Trailhead - The Snake River Trailhead, serving the Snake River National Recreation Trail (Trail #102), is located adjacent to Upper Pittsburg Landing. The trailhead is accessed by Forest Road 493, also known as the Deer Creek Road, and leaves Hwy 95 just south of White Bird. It is 17 miles from Hwy 95 to the Pittsburg Landing Area. Follow the signs to Upper Pittsburg Landing and the Snake River Trailhead. The trailhead consists of a large parking area, stock unloading ramp, hitch rails, and a barrier free vault toilet. Nearby, at Pittsburg Landing, is a twenty-eight-unit campground with potable water in season. Upper Pittsburg Landing has 7 camp units although there is no potable water available. The area is generally open year round, although storms can cause some access problems on Pittsburg Saddle in the winter months. The road has some steep grades and is not recommended for RV traffic.

Windy Saddle Trailhead - Windy Saddle is the primary access to the high country trails in the Seven Devils Mountains of the Hells Canyon Wilderness. To access this trailhead, take Forest Road #517 which leaves Hwy 95 just south of the town of Riggins. It is 17 miles from Hwy 95 to Windy Saddle. Facilities consist of two small campgrounds and a pack and saddle stock staging facility. Seven Devils Campground has 10 units and Windy Saddle has nine, four of which are designed for campers with pack and saddle stock. There is no potable water available in any of these areas. The area is usually open and free of snow from the first part of July through the first part of October. RVs or vehicles pulling camp trailers are not recommended.

Access by Boat:

Access Hells Canyon by river with a permit from the Forest Service or with experienced outfitters who can arrange one- to six-day trips. Some will even drop you and your gear off at a sandy beach for an overnight stay in a rustic river campsite. Guided jet boat tours leave from Lewiston and White Bird daily.

If you like sunshine, natural beauty and water, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is an experience that will satisfy your senses and create memories to last a lifetime.

This national treasure covers 652,488 acres, including some of the most rugged, spectacular wildlands on earth. The area straddles the wildest whitewater stretch of the mighty Snake River where it runs south to north on the Idaho-Oregon border. To enhance public enjoyment of this outdoor paradise, the Forest Service protects and restores historical sites and improves roads, trails, viewpoints, campgrounds, and other facilities.

Getting into the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area from neighboring towns offers unmatched scenic adventure. Access ranges from two-lane paved roads to steep narrow jeep trails, taking you deep into this beautiful outdoor wonderland. Or choose the Grand Tour... the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, a 314-mile route over state, county and national forest roads.

And once you arrive, oh what a view! An 8000-foot drop from He Devil peak to the Snake River five air miles away creates one of Mother Earth's most breathtaking scenes. But unlike the more famous (and less deep) Grand Canyon, you can't just go to the edge and look in. A number of scenic overlooks and fire lookouts offer panoramic views to those who choose the adventure of getting there.

Nearly 215,000 acres of the National Recreation Area, almost one-third, is managed as wilderness. No machines, motors, or motorized vehicles operate in the Hells Canyon Wilderness. The natural character of the land here remains intact and humans are just visitors, leaving little trace of their presence, whether camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, or horseback riding.

From top to bottom, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area offers a smorgasbord of scenery, flora, and fauna, and unlimited opportunities to get back in touch with the basic land experience. Starting high in the Seven Devils mountain range, alpine vegetation and snowfields grace sculptured peaks rising to over 9000 feet in elevation, sporting names like "She Devil," "The Goblin," and "Twin Imps." In their shadow, sparkling mountain lakes teem with hungry trout waiting to strike a shiny lure or native bait.

As the landscape continues its descent to the churning Snake River, rocky outcrops and cliffs increase in number and height. At the canyon bottom, wildflowers and native vegetation thrive and provide colorful displays throughout the seasons.

Interested in water sports? The Forest Service will issue a permit to pilot your boat or raft to a sandy beach. Try picnicking, sunbathing, or staying overnight in a rustic riverbank campsite, or if you prefer first-class treatment, contact an experienced outfitter to arrange a rafting, fishing, or jetboat trip sure to satisfy your appetite for sun, fun, and wild water.

If rafting is your adventure of choice, your outfitter will put in at Hells Canyon Dam for a one- to six-day float trip you will treasure forever. Experience a ride that takes you through heart-pounding rapids and mixes in lazy drifts down river that will tempt you to dangle your feet or a fishing line over the side. At day's end a lavish meal served ranch-style will satisfy your appetite and later, a chance to fish, kayak, swap camp stories or swim in a tranquil pool.

Hells Canyon adventure and fun isn't just for the sunny days. Some roads are accessible year-round depending on weather. Winter is a great time to discover this gorgeous gorge. Snow lovers will find traditional winter fun snowmobiling or Nordic skiing at higher elevations. Get a rare treat and hike or camp the snow-cloaked trails along the shoreline of the Snake and Imnaha rivers. Hungry fish bite all winter, especially steelhead trout up to 15 pounds. Perhaps the most spectacular treat is a jetboat ride up the Snake River when a gentle blanket of snow covers the towering hillsides and big game is plentiful along the riverbanks.

Hunters come for a chance to bag a trophy elk, mountain goat, or bighorn sheep in the vast kaleidoscope of benches, draws and mountains in and around Hells Canyon. Other inhabitants of the Canyon area include bear, cougar, mule deer, and the chukar partridge. Many species of owls, hawks, eagles, falcons and songbirds can be seen from one of the many vantage points.

Western history has left its mark in and around Hells Canyon. Researchers have identified over 700 archeological sites, with evidence of human habitation going back over 7000 years. Sites with historical significance range from petroglyphs and rock paintings to pioneer cabins and homes of Chinese miners. One of these structures, Sterling Cabin at historic Kirkwood Ranch, is open for public enjoyment. It is approximately five-miles upriver by trail or water from Pittsburg Landing (18 miles from White Bird) and is the only interpretive center in Hells Canyon.

If you are planning to visit Hells Canyon and enjoy all the beauty and splendor it holds, the Hells Canyon Visitor Association can provide information on recreation, accommodations, water sports, local history and much more. Contact them at (877) 774-7248 or visit them at www.hellscanyonvisitor.com. Come and explore this spectacular, untamed outdoor wonder and enjoy one of nature's most dramatic works of art!

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