Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon is a ten-mile-wide (16 km) canyon in the Western United States, along the border of eastern Oregon, western Idaho, and a small section of eastern Washington.
A canyon & gorge, 16 mi west of Riggins
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Riggins, 16 miles east. Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun and Sep
May, June and September are the mild months, with highs of 72–80°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Riggins. Green months are the mild ones.
Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon is a ten-mile-wide (16 km) canyon in the Western United States, along the border of eastern Oregon, western Idaho, and a small section of eastern Washington. It is part of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area which is also located in part of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. It is North America's deepest river gorge at 7,993 feet (2,436 m), running deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
The canyon was carved by the waters of the Snake River, which flows more than one mile (1.6 km) below the canyon's west rim on the Oregon side and 7,400 feet (2,260 m) below the peaks of Idaho's Seven Devils Mountains to the east. This area includes 214,000 acres (334 sq mi; 870 km2) of wilderness; most of the area is inaccessible by road.
- Type
- Canyon & gorge
- Wikipedia readers
- 51K a year
Where to stay near Hells Canyon
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Riggins (10) and Joseph (12).
Riggins
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
396 people · 24% vacation homes
16 mi east of Hells Canyon
Compare 3 towns
| Town | From Hells Canyon | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riggins 24% vacation homes | 16 mi east | 25 min | 10 1 hotel · 4 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground · 2 RV parks | 396 | $352K |
| Joseph | 29 mi west | 45 min | 12 3 hotels · 2 motels · 4 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 RV park | 1,188 | $335K |
| Wallowa Lake 65% vacation homes | 29 mi west | 45 min | 7 3 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 105 | $365K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Hells Canyon
Other well-known places within 66 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
117 mi Ancient siteHells Canyon National Recreation Area35 mi Ski areaBrundage Mountain99 runs · 1,776 ft vertical53 mi Ski areaTamarack Resort87 runs · 2,758 ft vertical224 mi Ski areaFerguson Ridge Ski Area17 runs · 653 ft vertical
66 mi MuseumNational Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive CenterPhoto credits
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area: X-Weinzar, CC BY-SA 2.5 · National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center: John-Luc Metz, Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Visiting Hells Canyon
What town is Hells Canyon near?
Riggins, ID, about 16 miles east.
When is the best time to visit Hells Canyon?
May, June and September, with highs of 72–80°.
What is the closest airport to Hells Canyon?
McCall Municipal (MYL), about 42 miles away. The nearest big hub is Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI), about 127 miles.
Where should I stay near Hells Canyon?
Riggins (16 mi, 10 places to stay), Joseph (29 mi, 12 places to stay) and Wallowa Lake (29 mi, 7 places to stay).
Tips from people in Riggins
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Riggins’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.