Heaven and hell, all in one drive

from Day Tripping 2, May 2023 Part 1

Tolo Lake: More than just a rest stop

Stunning views of Hells Canyon are available for those with the wherewithal to journey to Windy Saddle and Heavens Gate Lookout

By ERIC BARKER FOR DAYTRIPPING

The peaks of the Seven Devils Mountain Range give Hells Canyon its extraordinary depth.

The canyon — which snakes its way north and forms much of the border between Idaho and Oregon — counts He Devil, She Devil, The Ogre and other monstrous summits as its eastern rim. Because some of them reach more than 9,000 feet above sea level, the canyon is deemed to measure 8,000 feet from top to bottom, making it the deepest in North America.

Lumberyard is a multi-cuisine food hall established in 2018 from a 1950’s Quonset hut used as a lumberyard and building supply facility.

food hall offers unique, yet complimentary food and beverage establishments, full bar, gaming area, outdoor and enclosed patio seating, and a children’s corner.

As the first of its kind in our area, Lumberyard serves as a gathering space for adults, families and children alike.

We are highly focused on providing a casual, fun communal experience with careful preparations of the freshest and sustainably sourced ingredients.

You can view much, but not all, of that depth from the base of the mountains. Windy Saddle and Heavens Gate Lookout offer stunning views of the mountains and the wrinkled canyon below. You can’t see all the way to the Snake River but much of the viewshed includes the Seven Devils and Hells Canyon wilderness areas.

The pair of vantage points are

> Heavens Gate Lookout and Windy Saddle an adventurous drive from the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley but are well worth the time. The mountains are gorgeous and during much of the summer, their slopes are speckled with stunning wildflowers. Hiking and backpacking trails abound. Seven Devils Lake is a short walk from the nearby Seven Devils Campground. The Windy Saddle Trailhead provides longer routes to wilderness lakes at the base of the mountains. Expect a long day and sometimes a rough ride. According to Google Maps, it’s 134 miles and about three hours from Lewiston to Heavens Gate

GETTING THERE: Forest Service Road 517 joins U.S. Highway 95 just less than a mile south of Riggins. Turn right and follow the road for 17 miles.

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LEARN MORE: Information is available at the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area office at Riggins.

LINKS: bit.ly/41i2zAh

DIFFICULTY (1-5 SCALE): 5.

SEASON: Late June to early July through October. For road status call (208) 628-3916.

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Gate Lookout. Depending on how recently it’s been graded, the road from the Riggins area to the lookout can be rough. Go slow and it should be a doable journey for most rigs with decent suspension like small SUVs and pickup trucks. This is a high-elevation destination and can be snowed shut until late June or early July. 

Heavens Gate Lookout sits on a high spine between the Salmon and Snake river drainages at the base of the Seven Devils Mountain Range.

Roger Phillips photo

If you manage to make your way through this year’s list of destinations, maybe you can revisit some suggestions from our 2022 Daytripping section. Scan the QR code or go to bit.ly/3M2hjNM to learn about those.