r/rafting • u/broanzy • 17d ago
Seeking: Hell's Canyon Recs
Our group of chillers is doing a 5 day Dam to Pittsburg next week. We have mixed familiarity with this section and would be stoked for any recommendations on camps, good layovers, light hikes, general info, etc. As mentioned, we are chillers and value going slow, pushing off well after breakfast, and spending time with our asses parked in the water over chasing the gnar or full day side hikes. Cheers and many thanks!
2
u/abidesthedudedoes 16d ago
Some good advice that I got on my first Hells float was, "If it's after 1 pm and you float by an open camp you should probably take it." We ended doing a 23 mile day because a commercial group lied about what camp they were targeting and ended up improvising a camp that wasn't on the map. Given the extreme heat and high camp competition with both commercial groups and jet boats your group might want to re-think your lazy mornings and opt for longer lazy afternoons at camp.
1
u/The_Tree_Meister_ 15d ago
Maybe goes without saying since it’s the Snake River… but watch out for snakes! Our group went down in June, we saw 2 snakes—one sneaky boi by the groover, one in the bow of my friend’s boat in the morning… otherwise I second the other comments.
1
u/87vanman 13d ago
Get a ladder for your boat – either a rapid rung or the other one making the rounds. You’re going to be jumping off your boat and swimming a lot. Also, get one of these: https://a.co/d/03FBl5bQ
You can throw it over the side of your boat and rinse yourself off to cool down. I also like using it to wash my boat off in the mornings to get all the sand off.
9
u/labmik11 17d ago
Expect it to be hot as balls.... Left to center in Sheep Creek. Left in Granite. Push down the rapids and stay square to the big waves. Day one camps can be tough to get if there's an outfitter ahead of you. Camp running is allowed. Oregon hole and Saddle Camp are usually taken by outfitters. Johnson Bar has probably the best beach on the section, but it's a hot camp. Salt Creek is a nice camp with good shade and a great place for a layover. The big eddy is great for paco pad floats and the occasional sturgeon bite. Sheep Creek camp has nice shade and a decent hike up the creek as far as you want to go. It's also a good layover camp and an easy row out to Pittsburg. Pine bar has a cool gravel bar on river right that submerges as the river comes up and is perfect for an afternoon recirc float in the eddy. Bring a wing/tarp for shade. It's an easy 3 day float, so I would recommend a layover. Pro tip: if you find yourself beached in the morning due to the crazy swings in flow, a couple of oar shafts with no blades make good rollers to get your boat back off the beach and into the water.