Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Recreation

HELL CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

PO Box 832

Riggins, Idaho 83549

(208) 628-3916

Last Updated:  April 01, 2009

DEVELOPED CAMPING FACILITIES - IDAHO SIDE

Sites were last maintained in the end of September. Early snows and wet road conditions may close the sites to vehicle access, see road condition below

Note: Please pack your own garbage out and clean up fire ring when leaving self-service and no service campgrounds and picnic areas. Dump sites at Riggins, New Meadows, and Grangeville, Idaho. Please check with local Forest Service offices for updated road conditions.

ROADS - IDAHO SIDE

** Snows and wet muddy roads may close access to the trailheads, see road condition above**

Downfalls can make some trails impassable to pack and saddle stock. Please carry a small saddle axe or handsaw to help clear the trail in downfall area.

Watch for Rattlesnakes, Ticks and Poison Ivy in the lower elevations. Call Riggins office for more information. 208-628-3916.

TRAILHEADS - IDAHO SIDE

Poe Cabin Fire

The Poe Cabin Fire northeast of Pittsburg Landing burned approximately 58,000 acres in the summer of 2007. It has impacted several road systems within the Nez Perce National Forest and Hells Canyon NRA.

Heaven's Gate Complex Fires

Several fires including the Green Acres, Horse Heaven, and McCrea Creek Fires in the Seven Devils Area, and the Black Butte Fire along the Salmon River in the Nez Perce National Forest burned in 2006. Please check with the Riggins HCNRA office at 208-628-3916 for current trail and road conditions in the area.

Trail Cautions for Heaven's Gate Complex and Granite Fire Areas

Portions of the Seven Devils area were burned in the Granite Fire Complex in 2005 and then in the Heaven's Gate Complex fire.  Take proper precautions as you travel through the area.

• Trails may be slippery with ash and needles.
• Ground may be weak and unstable over burned-out stump holes.
• Partially burned or dead trees may fall especially in windy conditions.
• Loose rocks, logs, and other debris may roll-down slopes onto the trail.
• Flash flooding and mud flows may occur in areas without vegetation.

Maintenance

If trails above are not listed as MAINTAINED, trail users may expect:

• Downed trees and or obstacles
• Washouts, slides, and other winter damage
• Rocks, limbs, and other rough tread conditions

Recreation Pass

• Where posted, a Recreation Pass or Golden Pass is required to park at many trailheads on the Forest
• The passes are available for sale at local Ranger District offices and some local stores, or any Forest Service office in Oregon and Washington
• Recreation pass Self-service pay stations are also available at most fee trailheads

CABIN RENTALS

Cabin rentals are not available in the Hells Canyon NRA. Information about cabin rentals in other parts of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest can be found on the “Activity Finder” portion of our website:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w/recreation/recreation-list.shtml#cabin

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w/recreation/recrep/lagrande_cabin_rental_dates.htm

SEASONAL SAFETY MESSAGE

Watch for Rattlesnakes, Ticks and Poison Ivy in lower elevations.
Downfall is extremely bad in all areas, which makes travel difficult and impassable to stock. Please use caution. Downfalls can make some trails impassable to pack and saddle stock. Please carry a small saddle axe or handsaw to help clear the trail if downfall is encountered.

Kirkwood Museum Hours

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

Please inquire at the Riggins office -208-628-3916- for information on conditions in the Seven Devils area.

Weather

Be prepared for any kind of weather as winter or spring storms can pop up at any time.

General road conditions

All roads in the Idaho section of the HCNRA are hard packed gravel roads.

Hunting seasons

Turkey and bear

Fire danger

There are no fire restrictions at this time, except for the Snake River corridor.

SNAKE RIVER CORRIDOR: Fire pans are required year-round. Any wood used must be packed in and ashes packed out. Open wood fires, including use of fire pans, are prohibited annually from July 1 to September 15. Permissible equipment for cooking and heating during the closure includes the use of charcoal briquettes in a firepan or a portable, metal-based barbeque with a grill. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves are also approved, including space heating devices.