Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Look into the deepest river gorge in North America, then raft, jet boat or hike along the Snake River.

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

About Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

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

Printable maps

North Central Idaho, ID map

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.

Sports & Outdoors
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
Sightseeing
Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site
Check prices
A day-use Oregon heritage site in the Wallowa Lake basin, sacred to several Native American tribes, with short foot trails and mountain views.
29 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
Sports & Outdoors
Wallowa Lake State Park
Check prices
Oregon state park on the south shore of a glacial lake, at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains, offering camping, lake swimming, fishing and boating.
29 mi awayMore like this
Sports & Outdoors
Ponderosa State Park
Check prices
A state park on a peninsula in Payette Lake near McCall, offering lakeside camping, cabins, trails, and water recreation.
41 mi awayMore like this
Tours
Local Gem
Artisan's Tour in the Mountains
No admission fee
A free self-guided studio tour where travelers meet working artisans across four Idaho mountain towns.
Transit: reachable by public transit
41 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours