a bear standing upright leaning against a rock, eating leaves from a tree — Bear along the Snake River in Hells Canyon. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

a man hiking in a canyon surrounded by trees and shrubs — Hiking Hells Canyon near Sheep Creek Ranch. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

an eagle perched in a tree — Bald Eagle along the Snake River in Hells Canyon. Photo credit Idaho Tourism.

a man steering a jet boat on a river within a canyon — Snake River, Hells Canyon, between Kirkwood Ranch and Hells Canyon Dam. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

two people on a boat with a fishing rod on a river within a canyon — Snake River, Hells Canyon, between Kirkwood Ranch and Hells Canyon Dam. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

a bighorn sheep standing on rocks beside a river — Bighorn sheep along the Snake River in Hells Canyon. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

two people wearing life jackets sitting in a jet boat on a river within a canyon — Snake River, Hells Canyon, between Kirkwood Ranch and Hells Canyon Dam. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

two people sitting on the edge of a dock with mountains in the background — Big Bar Dispersed Camping Area along the Snake River. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

closeup of a jet boat on a river within a canyon — Snake River, Hells Canyon, between Kirkwood Ranch and Hells Canyon Dam. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

overhead view of jagged rock formations and a waterfall — Hells Canyon. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

Two people hiking in a deep canyon with a winding river running through it. — Hiking Hells Canyon, near Sheep Creek Ranch. Photo credit: Visit Idaho.

two people sitting on a rock looking out over a river running through a canyon — Hells Canyon near Cambridge. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

four people standing in a river holding up a Sturgeon fish — Catch and release sturgeon fishing in Hells Canyon. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

an overhead view of a river running through a canyon with mountains in the background — Oxbow Bridge, Snake River, Hells Canyon. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

Hells Canyon Scenic Byway

Get ready for an unforgettable journey on the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. This route winds its way along the east side of Hells Canyon—North America’s deepest river gorge—providing travelers with stunning views and ample opportunity to spot wildlife. Make the most of your trip with a guided float trip, whitewater rafting adventure or jet boat tour.

Length

62.4 miles
100 km

Time

1 hour,
43 minutes

Region

Southwest Idaho

When to Visit

Year-round

31 Byways. 31 Ways to Be Inspired.

A variety of scenic, natural, historic, recreational, archeological and cultural experiences can be found on Idaho’s 31 scenic byways. View the video to get a taste of the adventures that await you, and start planning your next road trip.

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Road Trip Tips

Turn-by-Turn Directions: Head west from Cambridge on Highway 71 to the Oxbow Bridge near Copperfield, Oregon, then north along the Idaho side of the Snake River to Hells Canyon Dam. A small portion of this route also stretches from the Brownlee Dam to Oxbow, Oregon.

Full services in: Cambridge

Motorcycle Route: Yes

Full services: When gas, food and lodging are available