Idaho Has A Grand Canyon And It's Too Beautiful For Words
But you already knew that, didn’t you? The stunning, little-known Hells Canyon–the deepest canyon in the country–slices the landscape along the border of Idaho and Oregon, but don’t you dare let Oregon nab our claim to fame! The deepest point of this canyon is in Idaho near He Devil, topping 7,993 feet in depth. At Hells Canyon, you can experience a true slice of Idaho wilderness, mixed in with a whole lot of Idaho history… and beauty so vast it’s hard to capture on camera!
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/3717518383_4578c51ccc_b.jpg?w=720)
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/13677874374_96cfc3356b_k.jpg?w=720)
Look how itty-bitty that boat looks!
Advertisement
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/13677639464_8b667cda69_k.jpg?w=720)
Advertisement
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Hells-Canyon-2.jpg?w=720)
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Hells-Canyon-4.jpg?w=720)
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/14714251220_75ba45ec57_k.jpg?w=720)
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Hells-Canyon-5.jpg?w=720)
Wilderness rules: camping must be at least 200 feet from the water, pack-in, pack-out, and basically treat the land like the treasure that it is.
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/13676780793_eadd697799_k.jpg?w=720)
Interestingly, there is no "official" geographic place called Hells Canyon. It's generally accepted that the canyon begins approximately 90 miles south of Lewiston, Idaho and extends 40 miles south to Oxbow, Oregon.
Advertisement
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/14105047528_dae2452907_k.jpg?w=720)
Of course, if you'd like a little more adventure, rafting on the rapids is always another option!
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/3718349078_71684919aa_b.jpg?w=720)
You'll find abandoned homesteads, carved names, and even a few artifacts here and there. The best way to see all the history in depth is to take an extended vacation with a guide service.
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/16865221_10158364707760217_435400502204831277_n.jpg?w=720)
Telephone wires? From the 1800s? In the middle of nowhere?
Yep! 19 miles of hand-strung phone lines along the Snake River of Hells Canyon enabled frontier women to communicate and form bonds, despite the long distance. Fascinating! But then again, Idaho's history is full of surprises, and Hells Canyon is no exception.
Yep! 19 miles of hand-strung phone lines along the Snake River of Hells Canyon enabled frontier women to communicate and form bonds, despite the long distance. Fascinating! But then again, Idaho's history is full of surprises, and Hells Canyon is no exception.
![Hells Canyon - America's Deepest Canyon (Idaho)](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2875291739_80f46e617c_b.jpg?w=720)
Of course, human occupation isn't quite that old. However, a Clovis point found near the south end of the canyon indicates the possibility of human settlement 15,000 years ago. Who knew?!
Ready to explore Hells Canyon with fresh eyes?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.