Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

There is a loop road in Hells Canyon that they said would take at least 5 hours.  When we started our tour in Joesph (from the north ), we found out that one of the loop roads was washed out.  That meant we had to back track through Joseph and come in from the south via Baker City.  So, our 5 hour tour ended up taking 2 days and probably an extra 100 to 150 miles. Was it worth it ?  Some what. It is administered by the U.S. Forest Service and most of their pamphlets left a lot to be desired as far as explaining what to do and the maps that outlined the Area. From looking at those maps and talking with some of the Forest Service employees, we decided that is was very difficult and time consuming to get to what Hells Canyon is famous for: the deepest river gorge in North America (in comparison, the deepest part of the Grand Canyon is around 6,000,'  in Hells Canyon, 7,993'). It is over 1,000 square miles and much of it can only be explored by foot.  We didn't have that much time.  The deepest gorge we saw was about a mile. 

On the road to the 'north' part.  There was a fire in this area about 15 years ago.  These are new lodge pole pines. 

Imnaha River.

Panorama at the Hells Canyon Lookout.

Oregon Grape.  It's the Oregon state tree.  The berries are quite tart, so I don't think they are just eaten.  They can be used in jelly, wine and dyes.

A close up of the 'grapes.'  They are about the size of a pea.

This was on the road to the 'south' portion, so we decided to check it out.

View from the visitors center of part of the Oregon Trail; you can just see it running through the middle of the photo.

There were excellent exhibits of what the pioneers looked like and the things they took along (and next 3 photos).



I'm sure the canvas didn't have any writing on it !!

Just down the road was aportion of the Oregon trail.

And, here it is.

The Snake River (and next photo).


The 3 photos below were taken from the Utah side of Hells Canyon.



Hells Canyon Dam.