Snake River - Hells Canyon (Hells Canyon Dam to Pittsburg Landing)

Description

Hells Canyon is the perfect final triumphal ending to the mighty Snake river before ultimately draining into the Columbia river. The canyon is more than 8000 feet deep in places making this canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon. This is big water in this canyon with lots of class Ii to IV rapids. Combine excellent whitewater with great camping and scenery and you have a must do trip.

Statistics

Author	Tim W
Class	III to IV
Current Flow	8620.0 CFS 12-04-2024 17:30 View River Forecast
Recommended Flow	Minimum: 6500.0 Average: 40000.0 Maximum: 82000.0
Typical Season	Begins: January Ends: December
Recommended Use	Kayaking: Yes Rafting: Yes Canoeing: No SUP: No Packrafting: No Fishing: Yes
Primary Gauge	SNAKE RIVER AT HELLS CANYON DAM ID-OR STATE LINE
Length	31.5 Mile(s)
Gradient	12.0 FPM

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Hells Canyon Snake River

07-10-2016 - Hells Canyon Rapids

Photo By: Tim H

Type	Name	Description	Camping?	Water?	Boat Ramp?	Vehicle Access
Put-In	Hells Canyon Boat Ramp	The putin for this stretch is located just below the Hells Canyon Dam near the Hells Canyon Visitor Center. To get to the ramp travel east from Halfway, OR to Oxbow, OR on Highway 86. Once in Oxbow, cross the river onto the Idaho side and follow the river/road for 22 miles to the dam and then another mile or so to the visitor center below the dam to the visitor center and boat ramp.	No	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Take-Out	Kirkwood Ranch Boat Ramp		Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Take-Out	Pittsburg Landing	Road access, boat launch and float apron, visitor information and toilets. Communications available here; report fires and emergencies here or at Pittsburg Administrative Site.	Yes	Yes	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	R - Cliff Mountain Rapid		No	No	No	All Vehicles
Put-In	R - Brush Creek Rapid		No	No	No	All Vehicles
Put-In	R - Rocky Point Rapid		No	No	No	All Vehicles
Put-In	R - Wild Sheep Rapid		No	No	No	All Vehicles
Put-In	R - Granite Rapid		No	No	No	All Vehicles
Put-In	A - Put-In - Hells Canyon Boat Ramp		No	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	A - Take-Out - Kirkwood Ranch Boat Ramp		No	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Take-Out	A - Take-Out - Pittsburg Landing		No	No	Yes	All Vehicles
Put-In	Historical Place - Sheep Creek Cabin		No	No	No	All Vehicles
Put-In	Photo Op. - Suicide Point		No	No	No	All Vehicles

Rapid Name	Description	Scout	Class	Recommended Flow
Cliff Mountain Rapid	An easy class II just below the putin awaits boaters. Follow the main flow down just right of center. Beware of a decent size hole in the upper portion of the rapid - either pull left of it or hang on - seen quite a few unsuspecting people get tossed out right here (mostly from not paying attention). There are some big roller coaster waves at normal summer flows, make sure to get in the wave train.	read and run	II	Minimum: 7500.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Brush Creek Rapid	Rockier on the right. Follow the main waves down just left of center.	Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Rocky Point Rapid	Rocks and holes on the right. A few on the left. Main flow goes down just left of center.	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 7500.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Wild Sheep Rapid	This is the first class IV you will encounter. There are lots of large rocks that gurad the entrance to this rapid. Definitely scout your route. Look at entering just left and center and pulling left around some rocks. Then pull right again to avoid some holes down lower.	Scout on the left bank. There is a good trail above the rapid that starts near the Wild Sheep Camp.	IV	Minimum: 7500.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Granite Rapid	Granite rapid is another rapid that should be scouted and respected. At the right levels (between 20K to 40k), the ginormous glass tongue in the center of the river comes in and creates one of the biggest drops on any river in the western US. This glass tongue and wave curl is known as the green room. Many boaters choose to skirt the green room on either side. Below the main tongue, where the whitewater starts, generally contains some fierce lateral waves that have flipped many a boater.	There is a scout trail on river right above the rapid. Definitely a recommended scout.	IV	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Three Creek Rapid	Look at running on river left.	Read and run	II+	Minimum: 7500.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Doughty Rapid	A few riffles and rocks on river right.	read and run	II	Minimum: 7500.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Saddle Creek Rapid	Follow the flow just right of center	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Upper Bernard Creek Rapid		Read and run	II+ to III-	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Lower Bernard Creek Rapid	This rapid gets bigger at lower flows. Possibly creating a hole. At high water this feature gets washed out. There is a good drop with a big wave that starts this rapid.	Scout from Bernard Creek Camp	III to IV	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Waterspout Rapid	At higher flows this rapid washes out. At lower flows there is an unsuspecting hole at the lower section of the rapid caused by a large rock on the left side.	Scout on the left	III to IV	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Bills Creek Rapid	A fun wave train	Read and run	II+ to III-	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Upper Sluice Creek Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Sluice Creek Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Rush Creek Rapid	This rapid more challenging at higher water. A large rock in the center of the river creates holes at high water or an obstacle at lower water. There is also another large rock at the end of the rapid.	Scout from river left.	III to IV	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Pony Creek Rapid	A smaller rapid here. Run on river left with the main flow	Read and run	II to II+	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Eagle Nest Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Willow Creek Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Alum Bed Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
High Bar Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Little Bar Rapid	A series of swift water and waves	Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Hominy Creek Rapid		Rad and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Slaughter Gulch Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Yankee Bar Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Upper Kirby Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Middle Kirby Rapid	Large and run waves at most all levels.	Read and run	II to III	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Lower Kirby Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Unnamed Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
China Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Durham Rapid			II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Upper Pittsburg Rapid		Read and run	II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
Middle Pittsburg Rapid			II	Minimum: 8000.0 Maximum: 80000.0
			II- to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Rapid			I	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Saddle Creek Rapid			I to IV+	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Lower Bernard Creek Rapid			I to IV+	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Waterspout Rapid			I to IV+	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Bills Creek Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Upper Sluice Creek Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Sluice Creek Rapid			I to IV	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Rush Creek Rapid			I to IV+	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Pony Creek Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Eagle Nest Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Willow Creek Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Alum Bed Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - High Bar Rapid			I to IV+	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Little Bar Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Hominy Creek Rapid			I to IV	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Slaughter Gulch Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Yankee Bar Rapid			I to IV	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Upper Kirby Rapid			I to V-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Middle Kirby Rapid			I to V	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Lower Kirby Rapid			I to IV+	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Unnamed Rapid			I to IV	Minimum: Maximum:
R - China Rapid			I to IV	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Durham Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Upper Pittsburg Rapid			I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:
R - Middle Pittsburg Rapid			I to IV	Minimum: Maximum:
C - Lower Quartz Creek Rapid			I to IV	Minimum: Maximum:
Historical Place - Temperance Creek Ranch			I to V-	Minimum: Maximum:
Historical Place - Kirkwood Ranch	There is a museum here - worth the visit. There is camping on the bar downriver from the creek - three trails lead up the bank. There are picnic tables and the only flush toilet on the Dam to Pittsburg landing stretch is just north of the ranch. There is a hike up the creek to an old cabin if you want a hike. This is also a good place to fish for sturgeon - easiest from the Oregon side of the river.		I to IV-	Minimum: Maximum:

Fish Name	Description
Channel Catfish	This fish is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States, they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8 million anglers targeting them per year.
Rainbow Trout	The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America.

Name	Type
Barton Cabin	Historical Place
McGaffee Cabin	Historical Place
Sheep Creek Cabin	Historical Place
McGrady's Lodge	Historical Place
Airstrip	Landmark
Temperance Creek Ranch	Historical Place
Suicide Point	Photo Op.
Kirkwood Ranch	Historical Place
Kirby Creek Lodge	Historical Place
Historical Place - Barton Cabin	Arch
Historical Place - Kirby Creek Lodge	Arch
Copperfield campground	Landmark

Snake River - Hells Canyon (Hells Canyon Dam to Pittsburg Landing)

Idaho-US Oregon-US

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Description

Statistics

Permit Details

Access

Rapids

Camps

Fishing

Points of Interest

External Links and Resources

Community Run Notes

Accidents

Shuttle Companies and Info

Outfitters, Guides and Commercial Companies

Lodging and/or Camping Locations

Camp Name	Description	Fee?	Beach?
Stud Creek Camp	A medium sized beach camp on river left.	No	Yes
Lamont Springs Camp	First camp on river right.	No	No
Square Beach Camp	A nice sized beach a short ways up off the river on river right	No	Yes
Brush Creek Camp	An excellent beach on river right just below brush creek rapids.	No	Yes
Rocky Point Camp	A nice camp on river right that has trees and shade.	No	No
Warm Springs Camp	On river right. This camp is near a warm springs but it's not that hot.	No	No
Battle Creek Camp	on river left	No	No
Sand Dunes Camp	A nice sandy camp on river left	No	No
Wild Sheep Camp	On river left where the Wild Sheep Canyon drains into Hells	No	No
Birch Springs Camp	On river right	No	No
Rocky Bar Camp	On river right. A mid sized beach surrounded by lots of rocks.	No	Yes
Upper and Lower Granite Creek Camps	Just past the Granit Creek drainage are a couple of camps with some vegetation and shade. River right.	No	No
Cache Creek Camp	On river left.	No	No
Three Creek Camp	On river right	No	No
Oregon Hole Camp	A very nice camp with shade and a beach on river left	No	Yes
Upper Dry Gulch Camp	On river right	No	No
Lower Dry Gulch Camp	A small camp on river right	No	No
Hastings Camp	on river right	No	No
Saddle Creek Camp	On river left at the mouth of Saddle Creek Canyon	No	No
Bernard Creek Camp	A nice beach camp on river right	No	Yes
Rush Creek Camp	Rocky beach and landing but room for a mid sized to large group	No	No
Johnson Bar Landing Camp	An excellent beach on river right.	No	Yes
Sheep Creek Camp	Another nice camp on river right accommodating up to large parties	No	Yes
Steep Creek Camp	A smaller camp beach. Better access at low water.	No	Yes
Yreka Bar Camp	A large beach on river left.	No	Yes
Upper Sand Creek Camp	Large group sites on river left	No	Yes
Willow Creek Camp	A low water camp that is smaller in size	No	Yes
Pine Bar Camp	An excellent camp on river right	No	Yes
Upper Quartz Creek Camp	A large camp on river left	No	Yes
Lower Quartz Creek Rapid	Larger camp on river left. Not a lot of shade	No	Yes
Caribou Creek Camp	On river right	No	Yes
Dry Gulch Camp	Large beach on river left	No	Yes
Big Bar Camp	On river right. A rocky and large camp	No	No
Big Bar Airstrip Camp	This camp on river right lies just south of a public airstrip	No	No
Upper and Lower Hominy Bar Camps	A couple of good large camps on river left.	No	No
Salt Creek Camp	On river left	No	No
Two Corral Creek Camp	A large camp on river left.	No	Yes
Cracie Bar Camp	A nice large camp on river right	No	Yes
Half Moon Bar Camp	A nice camp on river right	No	Yes
Slaughter Gulch Camp	A large camp on river left	No	Yes
Kirkwood Bar Camps	4 sites. Access to the kirkwood ranch facilities.	No	No
Yankee Bar Camp	Smaller camp on river left	No	No
Russell Bar Camp	A large camp on river right.	No	No
Cat Gulch Camp	Smaller camp on river right	No	Yes
Corral Creek Camp	Larger camp. Decent shade. Some water up the creek about 200 yards	No	No
Fish Trap Bar Camp	A large sandy beach on river left.	No	Yes
Upper Pittsburg Camp Sites	These can be accessed from the river but they aren't the friendliest of camp accessible river camps. These camps can also be accessed via vehicles.	No	No
Wilson Eddy Camp	Large camp on river left	No	No
R - Upper Bernard Creek Rapid		No	No
C - Stud Creek Camp		No	Yes
C - Lamont Springs Camp		No	Yes
C - Square Beach Camp		No	Yes
C - Brush Creek Camp		No	Yes
C - Rocky Point Camp		No	Yes
C - Warm Springs Camp		No	No
C - Battle Creek Camp		No	Yes
C - Sand Dunes Camp		No	Yes
C - Birch Springs Camp		No	Yes
C - Wild Sheep Camp		No	No
C - Rocky Bar Camp		No	No
C - Upper and Lower Granite Creek Camps		No	No
C - Cache Creek Camp		Yes	No
C - Three Creek Camp		Yes	No
C - Oregon Hole Camp		No	Yes
C - Upper Dry Gulch Camp		Yes	No
C - Lower Dry Gulch Camp		No	Yes
C - Hastings Camp		No	No
C - Saddle Creek Camp		No	No
C - Bernard Creek Camp		Yes	No
C - Rush Creek Camp		No	Yes
C - Johnson Bar Landing Camp		No	No
C - Sheep Creek Camp		No	No
C - Steep Creek Camp		No	No
C - Yreka Bar Camp		No	No
C - Upper Sand Creek Camp		Yes	No
C - Willow Creek Camp		Yes	No
C - Pine Bar Camp		Yes	No
C - Upper Quartz Creek Camp		No	Yes
C - Caribou Creek Camp		No	No
C - Dry Gulch Camp		No	Yes
C - Big Bar Camp		No	No
C - Big Bar Airstrip Camp		Yes	No
C - Upper and Lower Hominy Bar Camps		No	No
C - Salt Creek Camp		No	Yes
C - Two Corral Creek Camp		No	Yes
C - Cracie Bar Camp		No	No
C - Half Moon Bar Camp		No	Yes
C - Slaughter Gulch Camp		No	No
C - Kirkwood Bar Camps		No	Yes
C - Yankee Bar Camp		No	Yes
C - Russell Bar Camp		No	No
C - Cat Gulch Camp		No	No
C - Corral Creek Camp		No	No
C - Fish Trap Bar Camp		No	Yes
C - Upper Pittsburg Camp Sites		No	No
C - Wilson Eddy Camp		No	No
Historical Place - McGaffee Cabin		No	No
Historical Place - McGrady's Lodge		Yes	No
Landmark - Airstrip		No	No