Hell's Canyon and Kleinschmidt Grade

Hell's Canyon is the deepest gorge in North America with the Snake River flowing south to north at the bottom.  This is a wonderful and very easy way to access this wilderness.  With the exception of the Kleinschmidt Grade mentioned in this description, the roads are suitable for any vehicle.

Hell's Canyon makes for a refreshing break from wintertime in the early spring.  Due to the low elevations, the area gets little snow in the winter.  However, in the summer, it can be very, very hot.

Hell's Canyon is reached via Cambridge, Idaho.   While travelling north on US 95, turn left in the middle of town; there will be signs, and simply drive to the end of the road.

There are three dams along the Snake River that you will bypass.  The first is Brownlee Dam.  You cross over into Oregon just north of this dam.  By the way, Brownlee Reservoir is highly known for being a great fishery for small mouth bass.  

The second dam you will pass is Oxbow Dam.  It is actually hard to see due to the oxbow in the river.  You cross back into Idaho at the town of Copperfield.

As you proceed north, you will eventually arrive at Hell's Canyon Dam.  The road crosses over the dam back into Oregon and then ends at a boat ramp.  

Hell's Canyon does not really become a vertical walled canyon until you approach this last dam.   Note that there are often mountain goats at Hell's Canyon Dam.

Idaho Power maintains four amazing campgrounds along the river.

• Woodhead Park is the southernmost and largest, and very nice.

• Just downstream of Brownlee Dam on the Idaho side is McCormick Park.  (This was our standard early spring camping location with our Boy Scout Troop.)

• At the town of Copperfield, Oregon is Copperhead Park.

• About 1/2 way between Oxbow Dam and Hell's Canyon Dam is Hell's Canyon Park.  That is the location shown below.

Directly across the road from Hell's Canyon Park is the bottom of the Kleinschmidt Grade.  This is a very narrow, steep, rocky climb out of the canyon with extreme dropoffs.  I drove down this once with my truck and it was four-wheel drive, low-range all of the way down.  I have since riden over it on dirt bikes and my ATV, which are much more suitable for this road.

Kleinscmidt Grade comes out on top at the town of Cuprum, Idaho.  From there, you can reach Council, Idaho if you so wish.