Hike-in Required
No
Open Year-round
No
ADA accessible
No
Guided tours
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

High above Hells Canyon in Idaho, the Heavens Gate Lookout is an extraordinary place to take in the surrounding landscape. It sits at the entrance to the Seven Devils Mountains, and at 8,429 feet, you can see entirely across the state of Idaho to Montana's Bitterroot Mountains. The lookout is staffed from June through the end of fire season, where a seasonal Forest Service employee welcomes visitors between watching for forest fires. Take the opportunity to say hello, sign the ledger kept in the lookout, and get oriented in the surrounding mountain peaks that are visible in four western states: Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana. From the Seven Devils down to the Snake River the canyon drops over 7,200 feet, making it the deepest canyon in North America. From the lookout you can't see the waters of the Snake River far below, but you can see much of the canyon.

A wildfire ripped through Heavens Gate and the surrounding area in 2008, leaving the charred remains of pine trees and open space that yields an incredible wildflower display on the surrounding hillsides after the snows melt. Colorful blooms of lupine, paintbrush, avalanche lily, and a wide array of other flora stretch across every available nook found in the rocky escarpment. Marmots, pika, and mountain bluebirds are seen and heard all around. Mountain goats, mule deer, and elk are common visitors to the area and found in the nearby Seven Devils Mountain.

The lookout should be the start to every visit to the Seven Devils. The mountains, just 2 miles from the lookout, loom large yet remain inviting. The Seven Devils Campground offers a nice place to sleep for a night, and the trail into the wilderness starts from the Windy Saddle just down the road. Reaching the lookout requires driving for 17 miles on a rough gravel road that gains 5,500 feet along the way. The road is well maintained but, due to its length, elevation gain, and remoteness, requires slow travel and efforts to avoid the numerous, deep potholes. The lookout and surrounding area is only accessible once the snow melts in late June and until it returns in October or November.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

Not Required

Open from

June 15 to October 31

Pros

Expansive views of Hells Canyon. Wildflowers. Active fire lookout.

Cons

Rough road to lookout.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Features

Wildflowers
Big vistas

Location

Nearby Adventures

Hells Canyon + Seven Devils Mountains, Idaho
Hells Canyon + Seven Devils Mountains, Idaho
Hells Canyon Dam to Pittsburg Landing

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

10/13/2017
Wow, what a beautiful scene! Thanks for sharing.
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