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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, dory, inflatable kayak, 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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