If you’re planning a motorcycle trip to Idaho, you’ll want to add Hells Canyon to your itinerary. This canyon, located along the Idaho-Oregon border, offers stunning views of a sweeping river gorge and beautiful surrounding mountain scenery. And you can enjoy this majestic destination on your motorcycle.
Read on to learn more about taking a Hells Canyon Idaho motorcycle ride.
What Is Hells Canyon?
Hells Canyon is a ten-mile-wide canyon that follows the border of eastern Oregon and western Idaho. This canyon is part of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, which also includes the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
This vast canyon developed over time due to the waters of the Snake River pressing against and shaping the canyon walls. Notably, it is the deepest gorge in the United States, reaching a depth of 7,993 feet. This canyon runs even deeper than the Grand Canyon.
While much of Hells Canyon is inaccessible by road, certain roadways around this scenic area offer beautiful views of the canyon and surrounding mountains and forestry. Taking a Hells Canyon Idaho motorcycle ride can allow you to combine your love of motorcycling with an excursion to see one of the most beautiful western landscapes.
Riding the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a stunning roadway offering breathtaking views of the canyon. If you’re looking to take a Hells Canyon motorcycle ride, we recommend this route.
The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a designated All-American Road and one of the most beautiful drives in the west. This completely paved byway is a loop that spans 218 miles around the Wallowa Mountains, offering scenic views of the canyon and other natural attractions.
While you can complete the loop in as few as five hours, you may want to dedicate at least two days to the trip. The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway includes numerous viewpoints with incredible scenery and picturesque landscapes, and you should give yourself plenty of time to enjoy them.
A portion of the route even runs along the Hells Canyon Overlook at an elevation of 5,100 feet.
You can also extend the byway with side trips to other scenic destinations in the area. The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway website details these side trips that make the total loop close to 400 miles.
The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway travels through eleven cities, each offering unique attractions, loading options, restaurants, and atmospheres. However, some stretches of the byway are more remote than others. At times, you will need to travel over 80 miles in between gas stations.
As a result, you should be sure to plan for your Hells Canyon Idaho motorcycle ride accordingly. Be sure to fuel up whenever you can, pack food and drinks in your storage compartment, and perform a maintenance check before setting out.
Other Attractions Near Hells Canyon
If you’re looking to make the most of your visit to Hells Canyon, you may want to participate in some activities and attractions around this scenic area. Here are a few activities near Hells
Canyon that you can add to your itinerary:
- Ride a tramway to the top of the mountain
- Fish in the surrounding rivers
- Hike through the canyon or the forest areas
- Camp in the natural landscape
- Ride horses along dirt trails
Combining any of these activities with your Hells Canyon Idaho motorcycle ride can allow you to complete your trip and experience all the Canyon has to offer.
Before you set out on your trip, be sure to review Idaho’s motorcycle laws and prepare your bike for the journey. If you experience an accident while riding, contact our Law Tigers team at 1-888-863-7216 to schedule a free consultation.