About
Hells Canyon, Idaho — 1975 Wild and Scenic, 1927 Brownlee Dam, 7,900-ft Deep, Lewis Clark 1805. At 7,993 feet deep, Hells Canyon cuts the deepest gorge in North America along 79 miles of the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon. The upper 32 miles below Hells Canyon Dam deliver Class V water through Granite Creek and Wild Sheep rapids — technical drops that demand expert boaters at flows ranging 8,000 to 30,000 CFS (average 24,000). Below Cache Creek, the most popular section runs Class III–IV to Pittsburg Landing, where commercial outfitters like Hells Canyon Adventures and OARS launch multi-day trips. The lower canyon widens toward Lewiston with easier Class I–II water. Congress established Hells Canyon National Recreation Area in 1975, blocking the proposed High Mountain Sheep Dam that would have flooded much of the gorge. Wild & Scenic designation protects the free-flowing corridor through Adams County, Idaho and Wallowa County, Oregon. USGS gauge 13290450 tracks the massive flows that power these drops — spring snowmelt can push the Snake well above optimal range, while late summer often brings the technical minimum flows that expose every rock.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.