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Holiday River Expeditions
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800-624-6323
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801-266-2087
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For 35 years Holiday Expeditions has been providing trips to the most spectacular landscapes. The experienced outfitter for whitewater rafting in Utah, Colorado and Idaho; or Utah mountain biking.
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Hells Canyon Adventures |
800-422-3568 |
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Hughes River Expeditions |
800-262-1882 |
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Mackay Wilderness River Trips |
800-635-5336 |
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Northwest Voyageurs |
800-727-9977 |
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River Odysseys West (ROW) |
800-451-6034 |
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O.A.R.S. |
800-346-6277 |
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Hells Canyon Dam to
Pittsburg Landing or Heller Bar |
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Location |
Idaho and Nez Perce
counties, west of Grangeville, north-central Idaho; Wallowa
County, northeast Oregon, Asotin County, southeast Washington |
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Driving Time |
Boise—2.5 hours |
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Difficulty |
Class III-IV |
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Trip Length |
32 or 83 miles (51 or 133
km) |
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Trip Options |
Paddle raft, oar raft,
inflatable kayak, dory three to six days |
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Season |
May-October |
The Snake River's Hells
Canyon provides a multiday rafting experience that compares with
those of the renowned Grand Canyon and the Middle Fork and main
Salmon Rivers. The Snake River carves its course through North
America's deepest canyon, Hells Canyon, averaging nearly 6,600 feet.
The spectacular gorge creates a most impressive border between
Oregon's Wallowa and Idaho's Seven Devils mountains.
Most of
the Snake's largest rapids, including Wildsheep, Granite Falls,
Waterspout, and Rush Creek, come during the first 30 miles (48 km)
below the Hell's Canyon Dam. These rapids, while fairly difficult
during early year high-water levels, mellow during the summer. Many
families and senior citizens safely enjoy the Snake River raft trip
between July and September.
Hells Canyon is far more than a whitewater
adventure. The canyon is rich in historic homesteads and cabins,
ancient Indian ruins, and excellent petroglyphs and pictographs. It
has abundant wildlife, which includes Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep,
goats, mule deer, black bears, and numerous birds of prey.
In addition to the popular 83-mile (133-km)
scenic Snake River raft trip between Hells Canyon Dam and Heller
Bar, some 32 miles (51 km) above Lewiston, outfitters offer several
shorter trips. It is possible to raft Hells Canyon from the Dam to
Pittsburg Landing, or put-in at Pittsburg Landing and raft to Heller
Bar.
The Snake River in Hells Canyon is a
National Wild and Scenic River. It is 'Wild' from Hells Canyon Dam
to Pittsburg Landing, which is 32 miles (51 km), and 'Scenic' from
Pittsburg Landing to Heller Bar, which is 51 miles (82 km). The
entire river trip is also included in the Hells Canyon National
Recreation Area and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
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