Hi Maxwell,

Good question and you will find seasonal information and other planning tips and details at the end of this story; reading that requires a paid subscription to The Big Outside. But because this route crosses a pass, you can encounter snow well into April and possibly May. I encountered snow at that pass in mid-April when I took this hike. Mid-canyon trails were also very goopy with muck that made the trails treacherous. I’ve also hiked dry trails there in March and in late spring, so it’s variable. But the season definitely starts much earlier than in the Wallowa Mountains. Hells Canyon is a desert. Spring and fall are the best times to be there.

Any idea how early in the season this route would be feasible? I’ve been to Kirkwood in mid-April and it was amazing, but I’ve never hiked the Oregon side or anything along the rim. I was hoping to do this route or similar while I wait for the Wallowas to open up later this summer.

Hi Tom,

June is hot in the bottom of Hells but you could hike early those days. It’ll be warm up higher, too. Go as early in June as you can. Creeks should still be flowing well. Good luck.