In season, see Canyonlands at Night, a show of dancing shadows moving to music on the Colorado River near Moab. For a list of concessionaires, contact the park. A backcountry permit and fee are required for overnight trips. This awe-inspiring canyon, formed by normal stream erosion going on for 6 million years, looks much the same as it did when members of the Lewis and Clark expedition penetrated the area in 1806. Today, more than 75 percent of the 650,000 acres of Hells Canyon NRA that straddle the Snake River in Oregon and Idaho are roadless.
Adventurous visitors can arrange for a float or jetboat ride on the wild and scenic Snake River.
Hikers have more than 1,000 miles of trails that vary from jagged cliffs with steep, rocky sections to gentle trails that lead from desert to alpine environments. While on foot, it's possible to view numerous prehistoric sites of the American Indian culture and historic ruins of the American West. Visitors will witness a rare combination of diverse ecosystems, where a river with cactus on its banks sits only six miles from alpine lakes. Autos follow the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway on a combination of county, state, private and national forest roads. Allow more than one day for sightseeing and wildlife viewing on this 314-mile trip.