Hells Canyon National Recreation Area offers rugged canyons, spectacular mountains, and the Snake River’s rapids. In Oregon, forested draws and grassy benches descend from seven thousand feet above sea level to the Snake River at one thousand two hundred feet. Across the river in Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains, sheer cliffs rise to nine thousand three hundred ninety-three feet. A trip from rim to rim passes through many different life zones, from alpine tundra communities on the high peaks to cactus and sagebrush in the desert canyons.