Hugging the borders of northeastern Oregon and western Idaho, Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area is both an edge and a corner of Oregon, and is accordingly remote and scenic. How far is it from Eagle Crest? Well, it depends on what part of the over 600,000 acres you wish to visit. Even the USFS calls it “immense,” and suggests that you contact a Forest Service office for help in planning a visit.
Is Hell’s Canyon NRA, which is a rather lengthy drive from Eagle Crest, worth the trip? Well, not unless you want to visit one of America's most magnificent natural treasures; not unless you want to see the deepest river gorge in North America, vast reaches of seldom-trod wilderness, artifacts from prehistoric tribes in their original setting and much more. Carved over the ages by the lower Snake River, Hell's Canyon, as the name seems to imply, is a white water rafting and boating paradise. Horseback and hiking trails abound, the canyon walls are covered with petroglyphs, and the nearby mountains are spectacular.
Under the management of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, a wealth of information about Hell's Canyon NRA is available by searching www.fs.fed.us/hellscanyon. Be sure to check the interactive map, which provides information about camping facilities, along with some appropriate safety advice. While it’s a bit of a challenge, it’s well worth a visit to this land once populated only by the Nez Perce and visited by Shoshone-Bannock, Northern Paiute, and Cayuse Indians. |
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