Hells Canyon Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in northeastern Oregon and western Idaho, United States
Hells Canyon Wilderness is a protected area spanning northeastern Oregon and western Idaho, bisected by the Snake River into two distinct sections. The landscape features steep canyons, rocky slopes, grassland benches, and groves of Douglas fir that create a varied and rugged terrain.
The United States Congress established this wilderness in 1975 to protect a section of North America's deepest river gorge. The designation reflected a broader effort to safeguard wild river landscapes across the western United States.
The Nez Perce grazed horses and cattle in the main canyons from the 1730s, and by the 1800s homesteaders on the Oregon benchland ran sheep, cattle and horses through the valleys. Cattle grazing continues today in a small portion of the wilderness, permitted under the 1964 Wilderness Act.
The southern sections are accessible via the Copper Creek trailhead, located a short distance north of Oxbow, with primitive camping available at no charge. Visitors should prepare for rugged terrain and steep trails that require good physical fitness.
Three rivers with national protection flow through the area: the Snake, Imnaha, and Rapid rivers. These waterways represent some of the last free-flowing river sections remaining in the region.
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