Rivers We Float

The Snake River through Hells Canyon (Class III and IV)

Trip length:3 to 6 days

Season:May through October

Pre-Trip Meeting Place:Chandlers Inn B&B in Joseph, Oregon

Ages:Fun for ages 7 and up

Closest Airport:Lewiston,ID or Boise, ID

Hells Canyon's West side outfitter. Why drive all of the way to Idaho to float Hells Canyon when you can access the Canyon from The West Side?

As the Snake River turns north on its run to the Columbia River, it enters majestic Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America. With a depth of over 7,900 feet, the canyon frames the mountainous border of Oregon and Idaho. This "wild and scenic" designated section of river is the heart of the massive Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

A float down the river combines the awesome thrill of class III and IV rapids with incredible scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. The complex geology of the Seven Devils Mountain Range creates a wonderland of towering basalt cliffs and granite promontories. Nez Perce Indian legend claims Coyote dug Hells Canyon with a big stick to protect their ancestors in Oregon's Blue mountains from the Seven Devils across the gorge in what is now Idaho. Hidden amongst the forests and open grassy slopes, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, mountain goats, elk, and black bear roam this wild country. The vast elevation changes in the canyon provide excellent habitat for all types of flora and fauna, from bald eagles nesting in ponderosa pines to otters sunbathing on the river banks.

Hells Canyon offers not only world class whitewater with Granite, Wild Sheep, and Waterspout rapids, but also a world class trout, bass, and sturgeon fishery. Many opportunities exist between the big rapids to cast a line in one of the myriad of pools and riffles. Anglers of all ages will be thrilled at the abundance of rainbows, monster smallmouth bass, and the prehistoric white sturgeon. Your guides at Hells Canyon Whitewater know just where to put you to catch the fish of your dreams! If bird hunting is your pleasure, we offer trips catered to hunting Chukar Partridges, an abundant bird species who thrive in the Hells Canyon habitat.

During a Hells Canyon float trip, we will also explore the rich cultural history of the river corridor. Native American pit houses, rock shelters, and pictograph sites reveal an important part of the canyon's legacy. Turn-of-the-century pioneers have also left numerous cabins and homestead sites to visit.

Our Hells Canyon trips run 3 to 6 days in length and while we include a little bit of everything on our trips including gourmet meals and deluxe camping accommodations, we can also create a custom trip based around the needs of your family, friends, and/or fishing/hunting buddies.