Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon is the border between Idaho and Oregon. It used to just be the Snake River going through there but they built three dams along it for power generation: Brownlee in 1959, Oxbow in 1961, and Hells Canyon in 1967. They were considering building one HUGE dam at the end where Hells Canyon Dam is at, but decided against it.
I try to ride to Hells Canyon once a year, but it's been two years since my previous trip. Once you drop down into the canyon there are some truly wonderful twisty roads - at least on the Idaho side. We had a bit of light rain heading down to the water, then it dried up and gave us some fantastic riding.
Hells Canyon along Oxbow Reservoir
This is the only turnout with a view in the 70 miles from Cambridge, ID to the end of the road.
On Hells Canyon Dam looking toward the end of the road down there where it gets too steep to have a road.
This is Hells Canyon Dam, opened in 1967.
After the three dams the Snake River turns back into a regular river. They do raft trips and jet boat cruises from here.
Looking back up the road from the visitor center parking lot at the end of the road.