DAY T R I P P I N G
22 IDAHO White Bird
Pittsburg Landing
95
Riggins
T H U R S D A Y, M A Y 1 9 , 2 0 2 2
RIGHT: A dog walks along the dock in front of several boats at Pittsburg Landing on the Snake River.
BELOW: A small metal sign reading “Wild Bill” is nailed to the rocks at Pittsburg Landing. August Frank/For Daytripping
One way to drive to Hells Canyon Exploring North America’s deepest gorge requires a boat, but the drive to Pittsburg Landing is one way to get a taste of the rugged canyon
> Pittsburg Landing LOCATION: From the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley or the Palouse, travel south on U.S. Highway 95 past White Bird and turn right on Old Highway 95 at mile marker 222 where there are signs for Pittsburg Landing and Hammer Creek Recreation Area. Follow the road for about 1 mile, turn left and cross the bridge over the Salmon River and then take an immediate left on Deer Creek Road and follow it for 17½ miles to arrive at the landing. WHAT YOU’LL DO: Take in the majesty of Hells Canyon, have a picnic and maybe go for a hike. DIFFICULTY: 3 out of 5. DON’T FORGET: Sun screen, water, snacks. It’s rattlesnake country so long pants and boots are not a bad idea if you plan to hike. NEARBY SITES OF INTEREST: Although Pittsburg Landing is on the river, it’s not a great swimming hole. If you visit in the middle of summer and have a hankering for a dip or just to sit on a sandy beach, consider stopping at Skookumchuck Recreation Site on the Salmon River at mile marker 219.
By ERIC BARKER FOR DAYTRIPPING
Hells Canyon tends to be a difficult place to reach for both sinners and the pure of heart. You can get there by jet boat or raft. But doing so requires a jet boat or raft, the proper permits and at least a little bit of skill maneuvering a craft through whitewater. There are no roads for motorized vehicles that run up and down the canyon and along the Snake River, so you can’t really take a scenic drive through its basalt walls and tawny hillsides. But there are a few backcountry byways that deliver visitors to sweet spots in the heart of the canyon. Deer Creek Road is just such a route, and the sweet spot at its end is Pittsburg Landing. It’s not exactly a short drive to reach this boat
August Frank/For Daytripping
> See CANYON, Page 23 Marty Gardner paddles across the Snake River with his dog Spur at Pittsburg Landing.
