Hells Canyon and Nicholas Ridge

Not to be confused with its namesake chasm, home to the Snake River, Hells Canyon is a comparatively tame canyon feeding Hayden Creek. The old trail, hugging the creek, is mossy and green and reminded us of Coal Creek on Graham Mountain, while the new, upper trail offers vast views across the canyon and as far as the Selkirks. Nicholas Ridge extends the hike further, with sweeping views of the Coeur d’Alene Mountains.

Location Coeur d’Alene Mountains
Rating 3.1 out of 5
Difficulty Moderate (some uphill hiking; one creek fording)
Distance 10.8 miles
Duration 3:49 hours moving time (hiking)
Elevation Gain 1,889 feet
High Point 4,380 feet (Nicholas Ridge)
Low Point 2,653 feet (Trailhead)
Trail Type Out-and-back
Trailbed Packed dirt
Trail# 234, 69
Water Hells Creek and its tributaries (but those tributaries likely are dry by August)
Status Unprotected
Administration Coeur d’Alene National Forest
Conditions Good. Some rutting in the Hells Canyon trail and a few fallen logs along Nicholas Ridge. The lower Hells Canyon trail is not maintained
Permits None required
Camping None, but there are opportunities for car-camping near the trailhead or any of the forest roads.
Maps USGS Hayden Lake
Trailhead Going north on US-95, turn right onto W Lancaster Road just north of Hayden. Continue on Lancaster for  just shy of 4 miles and the road will turn into Hayden Lake Road. Continue on E Hayden Lake Road for another 3 miles, then continue straight onto Hayden Creek Road. Hayden Creek quickly turns into a gravel road. Follow it for 2.2 miles, then bear left onto Burnt Cabin Road, shortly followed by a right onto FS-437. Continue for 2.3 miles and the parking lot will be on the right (the last half mile is a single-lane gravel/dirt road). Beware that Hayden Creek Road is terribly pot-hole riddled!

Google Directions (47.824545, -116.605566)

Season May – November
Squirrel Density Plenty!
Features Mountaintop, Grove
Distance From
  • Coeur d’Alene 20.3 miles
  • Lewiston 133.9 miles
  • Sandpoint 47.0 miles
  • Seattle 327.4 miles
  • Spokane 49.5 miles
Resources
Nearby Hikes
Date May 12, 2018

Hayden CreekThe Hells Canyon trail immediately starts out with a creek crossing, which fortunately is the only one likely to cause wet feet. At this time of spring, Hayden Creek is about calf-deep, so taking off shoes is definitely recommended (unless your paws are all-weather/seasons proof). Since the crossing is so close to the trailhead, it’s easiest to walk barefoot to the creek and cross; on the way back you can just walk right through assuming you have dry shoes in your vehicle.

View west. Thats likely snow-covered Mount SpokaneOnce across, the trail quickly starts to climb. An older trail moves alongside the creek, but the fork to that trail is hard to find. As you climb higher through a thick canopy of fir you can spot the old trail far below near Hells Creek. About a mile in, you enter a burn area well on its way to recovery. There is thick undergrowth, but the lack of trees really opens up the vista towards Spades Mountain, a former lookout tower site. Instead of straight east, the trails turns northeast and steadily climbs as it contours along the mountain. About 2 miles in, you re-enter the woods and the incline is less steep. For the next 2 miles the trail hugs the mountain, although shifting towards the east, and frequently crosses moss-covered tributaries, many a mere trickle even in spring. Great views to the west can be had nearly 4 miles into the hike, at an elevation of around 4000 feet, shortly before emerging onto forest roads 437/406.

View east from Nicholas RidgeAt that intersection you can either turn around and go back as you came or take the abandoned lower Hells Canyon trail. If you’re cycling you could also head back on the forest road. To extend the hike a bit further, however, take trail #69 across the forest road, and ascend Badger Mountain for a bit. The trail then splits into #802 (ATVs only) and #69 (hikers and bikers). This trail is referred to as Nicholas Ridge trail, but mostly clings to the southern flank of Badger Mountain, not the ridgetop. It’s a nice trail, but not as well-maintained as #234. Shortly before reaching the power lines, which is where we turned around, it merges again with trail #802. At the power lines, a myriad of forest and logging roads converge, providing further options, and the clear-cutting opens the views to east and west. Trail #69 drops downhill from there to the Coeur d’Alene river.

Moss-covered creekbankWe turned around, though, and back on the Hells Canyon trail chose the lower trail, which is no longer maintained. As a result, you’ll have to frequently climb over deadwood, but won’t encounter any dirtbikes. The trail switchbacks and drops steeply from the forest road, then closely follows the creek. In fact, the creek is crossed and recrossed a number of times (those crossings were easily accomplished without taking shoes off). It is by far the prettier trail, moving through old-growth cedar patches and amid moss-covered riverbanks and thick stands of fern, but lacks in views. Towards the end of the trail a huge jumble of logs blocks the way and a faint game trail heads uphill to merge with the upper Hells Canyon trail.

Enjoy this hike? Let us know in the comments below!

Trailhead
Trailhead
Hayden Creek
Hayden Creek
Uphill on trail #234
Uphill on trail #234
Spring flowers abound
Spring flowers abound
View upriver towards Spades Mountain
View upriver towards Spades Mountain
View west towards the Selkirk Mountains
View west towards the Selkirk Mountains
View east of Spades Mountain, which is still snow-covered
View east of Spades Mountain, which is still snow-covered
Strawberry blossoms
Strawberry blossoms
Naughty cooling down in one of many small streams
Naughty cooling down in one of many small streams
Tributary to Hells Creek
Tributary to Hells Creek
Trillium
Trillium
The trail crosses a burnt area about 1 mile in. Great views along this stretch
The trail crosses a burnt area about 1 mile in. Great views along this stretch
A mossy tributary
A mossy tributary
Around the 2-mile mark the trail reenters the woods
Around the 2-mile mark the trail reenters the woods
View west. Thats likely snow-covered Mount Spokane
View west. That’s likely snow-covered Mount Spokane
Trail 234 ends at a forest road
Trail 234 ends at a forest road
Nicholas Ridge trail along the southern flank of Badger Mountain
Nicholas Ridge trail along the southern flank of Badger Mountain
Glacier Lily
Glacier Lily
Powerlines: turnaround point (but #69 continues downhill to the Coeur dAlene River)
Powerlines: turnaround point (but #69 continues downhill to the Coeur d’Alene River)
A few remaining patches of snow on Nicholas Ridge
A few remaining patches of snow on Nicholas Ridge
Beargrass getting ready to make stalks
Beargrass getting ready to make stalks
View east from Nicholas Ridge
View east from Nicholas Ridge
Youll encounter many downed logs on the lower Hells Canyon trail
You’ll encounter many downed logs on the lower Hells Canyon trail
Hells Creek starts out as a small trickle
Hells Creek starts out as a small trickle
A narrow chute in the trail
A narrow chute in the trail
The lower trail crisscrosses Hells Creek
The lower trail crisscrosses Hells Creek
A devil in the making (devils club)
A devil in the making (devil’s club)
A small waterfall in Hells Creek
A small waterfall in Hells Creek
Moss-covered creekbank
Moss-covered creekbank
Giant old-growth cedars near the creek
Giant old-growth cedars near the creek
The lower trail is pleasant in the stretches that are cleared
The lower trail is pleasant in the stretches that are cleared
Lots of mosses and ferns along the lower trail
Lots of mosses and ferns along the lower trail
The views along the lower trail are limited
The views along the lower trail are limited
Fungi sprouting
Fungi sprouting
Moss-covered logs
Moss-covered logs
The obligatory carcass
The obligatory carcass
Trailmap
Not so great

  • The upper Hells Canyon trail sees heavy motorcycle traffic. Expect some rutting.


Alternate Routes

  • Trail #234 alone is about 8-9 miles roundtrip (the lower trail is a bit shorter)


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