Snake River — Hells Canyon
Wild & Scenic🌲 Nat. Recreation Area
Idaho / Oregon border, Adams / Wallowa Co. · 79 mi · Class III–IV
CFS
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Optimal: 8000–30000 CFS · USGS #13290450
Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification··Know this river?
79 mi
Length
Class III–IV
Difficulty
8000–30000 cfs
Optimal
24,000 cfs
Avg Flow
21,000 cfs
Hist. Median
#13290450
USGS Gauge
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area · National Wild & Scenic River · Deepest Gorge in North America

Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America — 7,993 feet from the Seven Devils peaks to the Snake River, deeper than the Grand Canyon. The 79-mile corridor along the Idaho-Oregon border has no road access for 68 miles. Class III–V whitewater, ancient Nez Perce pictographs, and North America's largest bighorn sheep population. Dam-controlled flows create year-round paddling.

Trip sections
Hells Canyon Dam to Cache Creek — Class V, 32 mi upper canyon, Granite Creek and Wild Sheep rapids
Cache Creek to Pittsburg Landing — Class III–IV, most popular float
Lower canyon to Lewiston — Class I–II, widening Snake River
Outfitters
Hells Canyon Adventures
Hells Canyon jet boat and raft trips, Oxbow OR
OARS Hells Canyon
Multi-day Snake River oar and paddle trips
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality

River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.