The Pacific Northwest is known for its dreamy coastline, rugged mountains, lush green forests, and rolling hills. But do you know it also happens to be home, at least in part, to the deepest gorge in North America? We’re not talking about the Columbia River Gorge. While it’s certainly breathtaking, the deepest gorge in the country is Hells Canyon.
Hells Canyon stretches along 75 miles of the Snake River to the Oregon border, touching parts of Washington and Idaho.
Baker County Tourism / Flickr The canyon is 10 miles wide and 8,000 feet deep, making it the deepest in North America (including the Grand Canyon).
The part of the canyon that Washington can claim is small—you’ll find it near the city of Clarkston, close to the Idaho border.
Chuck B / TripAdvisor The rest is located along the border of Eastern Oregon.
Geologists believe the canyon was carved by the Snake River during the last ice age, which would certainly make sense.
David Stanley / Flickr There’s also compelling evidence that Nez Perce people, who have called this area for thousands of years, used the gorge.
The Snake River flows over a mile below the canyon’s west rim on the Oregon side and about 7,400 feet below the peaks of Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains range to the east.
Doug Kerr / Flickr Most of the area is extremely rugged and is not accessible by road.
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is largely accessible by boat, and it’s truly a beautiful place to go boating.
Baker County Tourism / Flickr On any given summer day, you’ll probably see people rafting, fishing, and lounging on the sandy shoreline. There are also numerous tour boats in the area, many of which depart from the Lewis and Clark Valley in Washington and Idaho.
Hells Canyon is a remarkably underrated destination for most Washingtonians.
Doug Kerr / Flickr Driving to Clarkston is quite a trek for most of us, even those who call Eastern Washington home. But if you ever make the drive, you’ll be glad you did.
Did you know Hells Canyon was so deep?
Baker County Tourism / Flickr
The canyon is 10 miles wide and 8,000 feet deep, making it the deepest in North America (including the Grand Canyon).
Chuck B / TripAdvisor
The rest is located along the border of Eastern Oregon.
David Stanley / Flickr
There’s also compelling evidence that Nez Perce people, who have called this area for thousands of years, used the gorge.
Doug Kerr / Flickr
Most of the area is extremely rugged and is not accessible by road.
On any given summer day, you’ll probably see people rafting, fishing, and lounging on the sandy shoreline. There are also numerous tour boats in the area, many of which depart from the Lewis and Clark Valley in Washington and Idaho.
Driving to Clarkston is quite a trek for most of us, even those who call Eastern Washington home. But if you ever make the drive, you’ll be glad you did.
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Address: Hells Canyon, Washington 99116, USA
