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Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Riggins, ID

Photo: X-Weinzar, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

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Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Heavens Gate Overlook, Forest Road 517, 19 miles west of Riggins · Riggins, ID

Why you should go…

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area covers 652,488 acres along the Oregon and Idaho border, where the Snake River runs through the deepest river gorge in North America. You can run whitewater or powerboat the Snake with a permit, camp, or hike and ride horses into remote wilderness. From Riggins, a steep, winding gravel road climbs 19 miles to Heavens Gate Overlook, the highest viewpoint on the Idaho side at 8,429 feet. Plan on half a day for that drive.

  • #river gorge
  • #whitewater rafting
  • #scenic overlook
  • #hiking
  • #snake river

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    S & S River Outfitters

    $50+

    A Salmon River outfitter in Riggins, Idaho running jet boat tours, guided fishing trips and wilderness lodge stays.

    16 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Killgore Adventures

    $50+

    Jet boat tours, whitewater rafting and guided fishing charters on the Salmon and Snake Rivers out of Hells Canyon.

    26 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Local Gem

    Artisan's Tour in the Mountains

    Free

    A free self-guided studio tour where travelers meet working artisans across four Idaho mountain towns.

    41 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours