Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, National Recreation Area in eastern Oregon and western Idaho, United States.
The Snake River flows through steep canyon walls reaching depths of 7,900 feet, creating North America's deepest river gorge system.
Congress established the protected area in December 1975 to preserve archaeological sites containing Native American pictographs and petroglyphs along the Snake River.
The Hells Canyon Archaeological District encompasses 536 sites, including rock art locations where Native Americans left hundreds of pictorial records on boulders.
The recreation area maintains 900 miles of hiking trails, 17 campgrounds, and provides opportunities for rafting, fishing, and horseback riding activities.
The Snake River National Recreation Trail extends along the Idaho border, following a path constructed between the 1800s and 1930s.
Location: Oregon
Location: Idaho
Inception: 1975
Operator: United States Forest Service;Bureau of Land Management
Website: http://fs.fed.us/hellscanyon
GPS coordinates: 45.60000,-116.50000
Latest update: May 10, 2025 17:39
Idaho's remote locations offer access to diverse landscapes ranging from alpine lakes nestled in mountain ranges to volcanic formations and high desert terrain. The state contains geological features formed over thousands of years, including lava tubes that preserve ice year-round, sand dunes rising hundreds of feet, and one of North America's deepest river canyons. Historic mining towns preserve architecture from the silver boom era, while natural hot springs dot the landscape alongside waterfalls that cascade through forested valleys. These destinations span from the granite spires of City of Rocks National Reserve, where climbers tackle routes on 600-foot rock formations, to Priest Lake in the northern forests, stretching 19 miles through conifer-covered wilderness. Visitors can explore the black lava fields of Craters of the Moon, spanning over 1,100 square miles, or descend into caves where ice formations persist despite surface temperatures. The Snake River carves through Hell's Canyon at depths reaching 7,900 feet, creating opportunities for rafting and fishing. Whether hiking to Sawtooth Lake at 8,800 feet elevation, observing stars from an observatory at Bruneau Dunes State Park, or walking through the Victorian streets of Wallace, these locations provide experiences across Idaho's varied terrain.
Oregon features natural hot springs, waterfalls, and volcanic landscapes. The state contains geological formations, historic lighthouses, and coastal sections. The region presents desert areas, lakes, mountains, and canyons with various hiking trails.
Hells Canyon
27.6 km
Wallowa Mountains
74.3 km
Hells Canyon Wilderness
5.6 km
Sacajawea Peak
73.5 km
Hells Canyon Dam
42.7 km
Zumwalt Prairie
46.5 km
Wallowa Lake Tramway
65.1 km
Wallowa Lake State Park
66.7 km
Eagle Cap
79.3 km
Mount Howard
65.1 km
Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site
63.4 km
Billy Meadows Guard Station
49.3 km
Sheep Rock
47.4 km
Wallowa County Courthouse
63.7 km
OK Theatre
63.8 km
Kirkland Lookout Ground House
55.8 km
College Creek Ranger Station
29 km
William P. Warnock House
63.2 km
First Bank of Joseph
63.3 km
Enterprise Public Library
63.6 km
Flora School
66.3 km
Dr. J. W. Barnard Building and First National Bank of Joseph
63.2 km
Lick Creek Guard Station
64 km
Alvin M. and Betty Josephy Library of Western History and Culture
63.2 km
Cooper's Ferry
35.9 km
Enterprise I.O.O.F. Hall
63.6 km
Matterhorn Village
65.9 km
Hat Point Fire Lookout Tower
22 kmReviews
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