Big Dry Gulch

Hells Canyon is a 10-mile (16 km) wide canyon located along the border of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and western Idaho in the United States.... more

by Robert Bales

Title

Big Dry Gulch

Artist

Robert Bales

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

Hells Canyon is a 10-mile (16 km) wide canyon located along the border of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and western Idaho in the United States. It is North America's deepest river gorge at 7,993 feet (2,436 m) and part of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
The canyon was carved by the waters of the Snake River, which flows more than 1 mile (1.6 km) below the canyon's west rim on the Oregon side and 7,400 feet (2,300 m) below the peaks of Idaho's Seven Devils Mountains range to the east. Most of the area is inaccessible by road.
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area located on the borders of the U.S. states of Oregon and Idaho. The recreation area, which is managed by the United States Forest Service as part of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, was established by U.S. Congress in 1975 to protect the historic and archaeological values of the Hells Canyon area and the area of the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington border.
Roughly 215,000 acres (900 km2) of the recreation area are designated the Hells Canyon Wilderness. There are nearly 900 miles (1,400 km) of hiking trails in the recreation area. The largest portion of the area lies in eastern Wallowa County, Oregon. Smaller portions lie in southwestern Idaho County, Idaho, northwestern Adams County, Idaho, and northeastern Baker County, Oregon.
Big Bar is a n undeveloped dispersed camping area with a boat ramp is in the Hells Canyon National Scenic Area at the elevation of 1850 feet. Area is suitable for tent or RV camping. Fishing is great in the Hells Canyon Reservoir. Other popular activities here are boating, bird watching, and climbing. Hiking trails head north and south. You can hike or drive to Kinney Point for a great view, or to the hiking trailhead for Sheep Rock National Natural Landmark.
Big Bar was used as a winter site for the for the Native Americans back in the late 1880's. At that time two explores Archibald Ritchie and John Eckies settled at Big Bar and planted over 500 fruit and nuts trees along with vegetables, hay and grains.
The fresh produce was a welcome site for the miners who were working on both sides of the winter and many people came from several miles to get the produce. and this continued until both of them died by 1912. Today you well still find many for the fruit trees at this site

Uploaded

May 27th, 2013