Hells Canyon

Hells Canyon

Hells Canyon is a 10-mile (16 km) wide canyon located along the border of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and western Idaho in the United States.

It is North America's deepest river gorge at 7,993 feet (2,436 m).

The canyon was carved by the waters of the Snake River, which flows more than 1 mile (1.6 km) below the canyon's west rim on the Oregon side and 7,400 feet (2,300 m) below the peaks of Idaho's Seven Devils Mountains range to the east.

Most of the area is inaccessible by road.

Location

Hells Canyon, Idaho
USA

Getting There

Hells Canyon is a remote area on the borders of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and there is no direct public transportation available to the area. The best way to get to Hells Canyon is to drive or take a guided tour.

The most common point of entry to Hells Canyon is from the Idaho side, near the town of Riggins. From Boise, you can take the US-55 N for approximately 100 miles to reach the town of New Meadows. Then, take the US-95 N for about 20 miles, turn right onto the ID-71 N, and continue for approximately 12 miles to Riggins. From Riggins, you can take a guided tour or rent a vehicle to explore Hells Canyon.

If you are coming from the Oregon side, you can take the I-84 E to the town of Baker City and then follow the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, which leads to Hells Canyon.

Keep in mind that Hells Canyon is a remote wilderness area with rugged terrain, and visitors should take appropriate safety precautions, including carrying sufficient water, food, and emergency supplies.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Idaho that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.