The Hells Canyon is unlike the Grand Canyon in respects to it′s accessibility because, at least in Oregon, there is only one hard surfaces road that leads to a location which provides an expansive vista of the canyon. ¹ Methinks, it is this difference that keep the millions of visitors from coming to Hells Canyon to look down from it′s overlooks.

However, in other ways, Hells Canyon is much like the Grand Canyon. In fact, it is deeper than the Grand Canyon by almost 2000 feet. (Grand Canyon: 6093 feet) Hells Canyon reaches a maximum depth of 7,900 feet, making it the deepest gorge on the North American continent.

Hells Canyon is ten miles wide and has a total length of 125 miles, with 40 of its miles having a depth of one mile or deeper. In comparison, the Grand Canyon is four to eighteen miles across and is 277 miles in length

My travels bring me to this overlook on the western rim to look down in amazement of the grandeur that is Hells Canyon and to be able to capture the visit on photos, wherein I will share.

A few of the locations where you can drive to the river itself are at Hells Canyon Dam, Pittsburg Landing or Dug Bar, but much of the over 652,000 acres are designated as wilderness and much of this wilderness area remain nearly the same as what the Nez Perce, Shoshone-Bannock, Paiute, and Cayuse indigenous people found when they passed though this wilderness.

After driving through both Enterprise and Joseph, Oregon, I drive along Lake Wallowa to the state park hoping to camp here but find the campground completely full. So, I ask the ranger if I may use the bath house and she tell me Yes, no problem. I drive to the bath house, grab my shower bag and go in to get under the hot water again.

Leaving Joseph, Oregon, I drive east on Imnaha highway, SR 350, turn right on NF 39, a primary hard surface road through the national forest, which is also known as the Wallowa Mountain highway and follow this road as it winds, twists and turns all through the forest. I am amazed at how many roads there are throughout the forest but find that the Wallowa Mountain highway is easy to follow because it is the only hard surfaced road here. After a long time, I cross the Imnaha river, where there are several NF campgrounds and begin climbing back up from the river valley when I come upon a sign stating, Hells Canyon Overlook, 5 miles.

One thing that I notice about this view point is that the Snake river is not visible, being so deep below the rim of Hells Canyon. I venture north of the paved walk ways to see if there is a location where I can see the river but do not have success.

This last photo is from a pull out along the road to the overlook.