Hells Canyon (Hells Canyon Dam To Pittsburg Landing)


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.

Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Snake River are between a bare minimum of 6,500cfs and a high of 82,000cfs. River conditions sourced from USGS 13290450, the Snake River At Hells Canyon Dam Id-Or State Line Remember only watercraft are permitted at Hells Canyon (Hells Canyon Dam to Pittsburg Landing).

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Whitewater Rapids

Obstacles on the river run
Cliff Mountain Rapid
Class II
Brush Creek Rapid
Class II
Rocky Point Rapid
Class II to II+
Wild Sheep Rapid
Class IV
Granite Rapid
Class IV
Three Creek Rapid
Class II+
Doughty Rapid
Class II
Saddle Creek Rapid
Class II to II+
Upper Bernard Creek Rapid
Class II+ to III-
Lower Bernard Creek Rapid
Class III to IV
Waterspout Rapid
Class III to IV
Rapid
Class II
Bills Creek Rapid
Class II+ to III-
Upper Sluice Creek Rapid
Class II
Sluice Creek Rapid
Class II
Rush Creek Rapid
Class III to IV
Pony Creek Rapid
Class II to II+
Eagle Nest Rapid
Class II
Willow Creek Rapid
Class II
Alum Bed Rapid
Class II
High Bar Rapid
Class II
Little Bar Rapid
Class II
Hominy Creek Rapid
Class II
Slaughter Gulch Rapid
Class II
Yankee Bar Rapid
Class II
Upper Kirby Rapid
Class II
Middle Kirby Rapid
Class II to III
Lower Kirby Rapid
Class II
Unnamed Rapid
Class II
China Rapid
Class II
Durham Rapid
Class II
Upper Pittsburg Rapid
Class II
Middle Pittsburg Rapid
Class II
Hells Canyon (Hells Canyon Dam to Pittsburg Landing)
Class II- to IV-
R - Rapid
Class I
R - Saddle Creek Rapid
Class I to IV+
R - Lower Bernard Creek Rapid
Class I to IV+
R - Waterspout Rapid
Class I to IV+
R - Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Bills Creek Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Upper Sluice Creek Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Sluice Creek Rapid
Class I to IV
R - Rush Creek Rapid
Class I to IV+
R - Pony Creek Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Eagle Nest Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Willow Creek Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Alum Bed Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - High Bar Rapid
Class I to IV+
R - Little Bar Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Hominy Creek Rapid
Class I to IV
R - Slaughter Gulch Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Yankee Bar Rapid
Class I to IV
R - Upper Kirby Rapid
Class I to V-
R - Middle Kirby Rapid
Class I to V
R - Lower Kirby Rapid
Class I to IV+
R - Unnamed Rapid
Class I to IV
R - China Rapid
Class I to IV
R - Durham Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Upper Pittsburg Rapid
Class I to IV-
R - Middle Pittsburg Rapid
Class I to IV
C - Lower Quartz Creek Rapid
Class I to IV
Historical Place - Temperance Creek Ranch
Class I to V-
Historical Place - Kirkwood Ranch
Class I to IV-

Area Hydrology

Gauge Streamflow Stage
Imnaha River At Imnaha
USGS 13292000 		150 cfs ft
Weiser River Nr Cambridge Id
USGS 13258500 		106 cfs 2.8 ft
Snake River At Hells Canyon Dam Id-Or State Line
USGS 13290450 		8,480 cfs 63.3 ft
Snake River Bl Mcduff Rapids At China Gardens
USGS 13317660 		12,800 cfs 5.1 ft
Salmon River At White Bird Id
USGS 13317000 		4,010 cfs 12.5 ft
Nf Payette River At Mccall Id
USGS 13239000 		91 cfs 2.3 ft
Little Salmon River At Riggins Id
USGS 13316500 		231 cfs 2.7 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
Mt. Howard
SNOTEL 653 		1" -1"
Bear Saddle
SNOTEL 324 		3" -1"
Brundage Reservoir
SNOTEL 370 		10" -1"
Squaw Flat
SNOTEL 782 		5" 0"
West Branch
SNOTEL 855 		4" -1"
Aneroid Lake #2
SNOTEL 302 		2" -1"
Bear Basin
SNOTEL 319 		2" 0"
Schneider Meadows
SNOTEL 736 		9" 1"