Heavens Gate Lookout in Seven Devils-Hells Canyon Wilderness
We had spent the night on the Salmon River and decided to check out the 'Hells Canyon Wilderness Area' we were driving through. There was an office close by. After talking to the volunteer in the office we headed out to the Seven Devils Campground.
Driving 20 miles we gained over 6000' in elevation. Riggens was at 1800' and the Heavens Gate lookout Station is 8249', looking out on 4 states and two mountain ranges.
We hiked a bit, but being flat landers at high elevation, it was slow going. There had been a fire here in 1987. There are still many weathered tree trunks standing in the rocky soil. We stayed in the parking lot as the campground was down in a hole. We met several young men who were either getting ready to hunt elk with long guns in October scoping out where they were, or carrying crossbows which season is currently open.
Last night two of the men had stood until sunset with binoculars and scope looking for elk in the valley below. They hoped to have a plan in place for when the season opened October 1st. Others headed out early this morning with crossbows in hand. John commented on how far they would have to pack it out if they were successful.
All through the days cars arrive to check out the view and perhaps climb up to the fire watch station. The literature says the canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon. It is very rugged country between the Salmon River in Idaho and the Snake River in Oregon. You can see into Washington State and glimpse the Bitterroot Mountain range in Montana.
Driving 20 miles we gained over 6000' in elevation. Riggens was at 1800' and the Heavens Gate lookout Station is 8249', looking out on 4 states and two mountain ranges.
We hiked a bit, but being flat landers at high elevation, it was slow going. There had been a fire here in 1987. There are still many weathered tree trunks standing in the rocky soil. We stayed in the parking lot as the campground was down in a hole. We met several young men who were either getting ready to hunt elk with long guns in October scoping out where they were, or carrying crossbows which season is currently open.
Last night two of the men had stood until sunset with binoculars and scope looking for elk in the valley below. They hoped to have a plan in place for when the season opened October 1st. Others headed out early this morning with crossbows in hand. John commented on how far they would have to pack it out if they were successful.
All through the days cars arrive to check out the view and perhaps climb up to the fire watch station. The literature says the canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon. It is very rugged country between the Salmon River in Idaho and the Snake River in Oregon. You can see into Washington State and glimpse the Bitterroot Mountain range in Montana.
