Welcome to
Hells Canyon Views!
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, under the
supervision of the U.S. Forest Service, was
authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1975. Hells
Canyon, which is the deepest river gorge in the
United States, has been chiseled out of the rocks
by the Snake River. The canyon starts about ninety
miles south of Lewiston, Idaho. Hells Canyon ends
close to the city of Oxbow, Oregon. There are over
200,000 acres in the Hells Canyon Wilderness. The
wilderness areas contain hundreds of miles of
remote hiking trails. Landscapes range from barren,
craggy rocks to towering mountain pinnacles. The
Snake River divides the canyon by two states. Idaho
is on one side of Hells Canyon with the Oregon
state line on the other. Hells Canyon is named
after the local Hells Canyon Creek. Most of the
acreage on the Idaho side is public land set aside
for wilderness use. Goats, Mountain sheep, elk,
bears, deer, and many species of birds make their
home here. The largest part of the Hells Canyon
wilderness is on the Oregon side. Most people make
use of the Idaho trailheads June to September.
Hunters use the Oregon side the most for spring and
fall hunting trips. There are three hydroelectric
dams built on the Snake River in Hells Canyon. The
three dams are the Hells Canyon Dam, the Brownlee
Dam, and the Oxbow Dam. There are no roads that
cross from one side of Hells Canyon to the other.
The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is part
of three forests. The forests managed by the Forest
Service are the Nez Perce, Payette, and the
Wallowa-Whitman. Jet boat excursions are a popular
recreational activity in Hells Canyon. People hike,
float the river, boat, fish, and horseback ride the
stunning canyon vistas and wilderness scenery.
