How was Hells Canyon discovered?

Three members of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition approached the Hells Canyon area in 1806 but turned back before they could see how deep the gorge was. In 1811, another group of white settlers encountered the canyon while trying to find a shortcut to the Columbia River.



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From the top of the Seven Devils Mountains to the deepest part of the Snake River, Hells Canyon is nearly 8,000 feet deep. That's almost 2,000 feet deeper than the famous Grand Canyon in Arizona.

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The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Tibet, a region of southwestern China, was formed over millions of years by the Yarlung Zangbo River. This canyon is the deepest in the world—at some points extending more than 5,300 meters (17,490 feet) from top to bottom.

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The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Tibet, a region of southwestern China, was formed over millions of years by the Yarlung Zangbo River. This canyon is the deepest in the world—at some points extending more than 5,300 meters (17,490 feet) from top to bottom.

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A geological fact that surprises many is that Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America. It's even deeper than the Grand Canyon! The Grand Canyon is about 6,000 feet deep while the eastern rim of Hells Canyon is about 8,000 feet deep.

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On average, the Snake River is 16 feet and 4 inches deep. Only three roads point to the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington border; there are no highways that span the 10-mile-wide Hells Canyon.

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The canyon has a total length of 125 miles (201 km), along 40 miles (64 km) of which it is more than 1 mile (1.6 km) deep. It reaches a maximum depth of 7,900 feet (2,400 metres), making it the deepest gorge on the North American continent.

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1. Hells Canyon. The deepest canyon in the United States isn't the Grand Canyon, instead, it's Hells Canyon, a 10-mile-long canyon with a maximum depth of 7,993 feet. This large canyon sits in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.

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The entire route is on a paved highway. Plan ahead – you'll find stretches of more than eighty miles without gas and with few services. A segment of the Byway between Joseph and Halfway closes with snow in winter, but allows access to winter recreation areas, offering a whole other kind of Northeast Oregon adventure.

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The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway stretches for 22 miles and it gives you a stunning view of the canyon's rugged landscape. The feeling you'll get as you drive along the canyon's jagged walls is simply indescribable. Check out Idaho's most dramatic scenic drive and add this to your bucket list ASAP.

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Kings Canyon National Park features terrain similar to Yosemite Valley and is home to the deepest canyon in the United States with a depth of more than a mile and a half! Though technically two distinct parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are administered as one park (and only one entrance fee is required.)

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Advisory: The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is usually closed by snow from late October through late May or early June and is not passable with motor vehicles.

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WILD RIVER RESERVATIONS – from Hells Canyon Dam to Upper Pittsburg Landing – are required for the issuance of a trip permit, seven days a week during the primary season. There are three private permit launches each day.

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At 277 miles (446 km) long and up to 18 miles (29 km) wide, Arizona's Grand Canyon is the largest canyon in the US.

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The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon in America and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia. It is up to 1,000 metres deep and five kilometres wide...

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There are no dinosaur bones in the Grand Canyon.

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