Gateway to Hells Canyon
This part of Idaho is known as the Gateway to Hells Canyon. Here we take a jet boat tour into Hells Canyon, ride the levee bike trail along two rivers, and step back in time with the Nez Perce tribe.
Hells Gate State Park
This wonderful park in Lewiston, Idaho contains a Lewis & Clark museum, three campground loops, and a variety of recreation opportunities right on the bank of the Snake River. In addition, the Lewiston Levee Parkway Trail travels the length of the park and beyond into the adjacent wildlife habitat. While here we see lots of deer and wild turkeys wandering the park. We also have a nightly visit from a skunk. Luckily, the only way we know about the skunk is because he trips our motion sensing cameras every night.
The only bad thing we discover about this park is the number of spiders. They’re everywhere and made their way into everything. We continue to find them (different types, sizes, and colors) in the camper and truck for days after leaving the park.
Snake River Adventures 1/2 Day Boat Tour
Our Day 1 adventure is within walking distance of our campground. So, we set off early and see the sun rising over the hills.
Boat Dock
Once we reach the boat dock and check-in, our boat quickly pulls up and is ready for us to board for our 1/2 day (6-hour) tour along the Snake River into Hells Canyon. With depths reaching nearly 8,000 feet, Hell’s Canyon is the deepest canyon in North America. It’s ~2,000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon; but is much more remote; so it’s no where near as known or visited.
In addition, the Snake River actually runs north in this location, so as we set out we’ll be traveling upriver (against the current) by heading south.
Views along the river
On our way we pass by the campground.
And then our captain begins to point out some of the geology, wildlife, and history to be found on the river.
As we proceed further south we pass a variety of smoke filled views that create some unlikely reflections, pass over water that ranges from a mirror like surface to class 3 rapids, and everything in between.
Cache Creek Ranch
Our first stop on this journey is at Cache Creek Ranch. We’re only here about 20 minutes to use the restroom, stretch our legs, and visit the exhibits in the ranger station. As we come up the path we see a few deer peeking at us from the trees and a flock of wild turkeys pecking at the ground under the orchard.
Once we’re back on board we continue south where we see more history, geology, wildlife, a few rafters, and some beaches where rafters and fisherman camp.
Salmon River
Further upriver we can see the mouth of the Salmon River.
As we continue up the Snake River, the smoke begins to clear a little so we can actually see some colors in the canyon walls.
Dug Bar Ranch
Our turn around point for the day is also a historic Nez Perce site. It’s where Chief Joesph’s band of Nez Perce forded the Snake River in 1877 to comply with the US governments demand they leave their homeland for a much smaller reservation. Many of the people and livestock were lost during this attempt, and it’s one of the many things that ultimately led to the battle at Big Hole we learned about earlier this summer.
1800’s Scammers
On the way back, we get a good look at the foundation for a stamp mill located near an abandoned town site.
As the story goes, the town was built around large veins of gold and copper that were found in the hills drawing hundreds of people to work the mines and the promised stamp mill. But, just as the boat carrying the stamp mill got close to it’s destination, the large cash investment to support it’s placement and the commencement of the mining operations also arrived. Very shortly thereafter, the boat carrying the mill mysteriously had an issue a few miles from town, causing the boat and mill to sink to the bottom of the river.
The town quickly dispersed after this, along with the funds sent by investors to establish the mining operation.
Needless to say…. to this day, no gold or copper has been found anywhere near here.
Views & Wildlife on the way back
On the way back we see several groups of big horn sheep, another bald eagle, and a group of fisherman reeling in a sturgeon.
We were able to take a video of the big horn sheep ewes and lambs playing on the sand as well as in the water. If you’re interested, you can watch that video by clicking here.
We also stop for a surprisingly good lunch at the company’s private spot on the river, where some of the group enjoy a swim before our final leg of the journey home.
All in all, we had a wonderful day. Our captain, Clayton, was fantastic! He kept us dry, smoothed out the bumps in the rapids, and provided a wealth of knowledge about the area. The only thing that could have made it better was a little less smoke and being able to get to the deepest part of the canyon.
Lewiston Levee Parkway Trail
Day 2, we decide to take the Lewiston Levee Parkway Trail north along the Snake River and then east along the Clearwater River. Unfortunately, it’s very smoky and even if the sky was clear it’s not a very pretty trail due to the amount of industry along the Clearwater River. However, it is good exercise, gives us a taste of the area, and we do see some interesting bridges, a few hawks, and a marmot. We also get to see one of the cruise ships docked at the turn in the river where the Snake and Clearwater Rivers meet.
Nez Perce National Historic Park
On our final day in the area, we head out to the Nez Perce National Historic park visitor center located in Lapwai, ID; which is just east of where we ended our trail ride yesterday. The park itself consists of 38 places spread across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington (the original lands of the Nez Perce) that are important to the history of these native people. One of which (Big Hole) we visited earlier this summer.
The visitor center consists of a small museum and theater where some of the remaining members of this once great tribe tell the story of how they got where they are today. A good portion of the film also focuses on the next generation and making sure their stories and traditions live on. Just down the hill from the visitor center there are also a few historical sites in this location. Sorry, we did not take any pictures here.
Next stop… The Long Valley Region of Idaho
