Hells Gate State Park, State park near Snake and Clearwater rivers in Idaho, US.
Hells Gate State Park covers 960 acres on the southern edge of Lewiston, Idaho, where the Snake River enters Hells Canyon, the deepest canyon in North America. The park sits at 733 feet above sea level, the lowest elevation of any Idaho state park, and offers trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, plus camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, swimming and jet boat trips into the canyon.
Hells Gate State Park was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to mitigate the construction of the Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation began leasing the site in 1973. The park covers 960 acres at the downstream entrance to Hells Canyon and sits at 733 feet, the lowest elevation of any Idaho state park.
The park's name comes from the narrow gateway where the Snake River enters Hells Canyon just downstream of Lewiston. Visitors can watch jet boats leave the park's launch to run the canyon, and the surrounding water is fished for bass and sturgeon. The 960-acre site also holds trails shared by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.
The park is open year-round with trails and boat ramps suited to different skill levels. Visitors should bring layered clothing since the canyon can be windy and temperatures vary with the seasons.
At 733 feet (223 m) above sea level, Hells Gate is the lowest-elevation state park in Idaho. It sits where the Snake River leaves Hells Canyon, the deepest canyon in North America, carved by the Snake itself.
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