The Snake

Hells Canyon — the deepest gorge in North America.

The river

Hells Canyon is deeper than the Grand, and the Snake through it is big, warm, and full of wave trains that never quite stop.

The beta

length   80 mi (canyon)
class    III–IV
season   May–Jul
gauge    check before you go

How to run it

Run the canyon in late spring on snowmelt. The rapids are friendly but pushy — long waves, not technical slots. Camp on the sandbars.