Snake River National Recreation Trail
~3 days · 31.1 mi · hard · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Snake River National Recreation Trail is known for
This trail follows the Idaho side of the Snake River through Hells Canyon, the deepest river canyon in North America, for about 31 miles point-to-point below Hells Canyon Dam. Low-elevation canyon terrain that is very hot in midsummer; typically 2-4 days.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 3,842 ft to 5,351 ft over 31.1 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 11.9 mi · 38%
- Downhill 14.7 mi · 48%
- Flat 4.3 mi · 14%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Snake River National Recreation Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Snake River National Recreation Trail scores 24/100, a relative rating across the 1,243 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Snake River National Recreation Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the Snake River National Recreation Trail in about 3 days (2 nights out) over its 31.1 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Snake River National Recreation Trail?
The Snake River National Recreation Trail climbs roughly 6,955 ft total — about 224 ft per mile, topping out near 1,772 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.