River Trail

The River Trail loops through the natural riparian corridor within Hells Gate State Park, hugging the bank of the Snake River and passing through cottonwood groves and native shrub habitat just downstream from the confluence with the Clearwater River. This short loop provides intimate river access and some of the best white sturgeon viewing opportunities available anywhere in Idaho, as these prehistoric fish often hold in deep river eddies visible from park overlooks and bank access points.

White sturgeon in the Snake River can live more than a century and grow to enormous sizes, and interpretive signs along the trail explain their biology and the conservation efforts protecting this ancient species. The confluence zone where the cold clear Clearwater meets the warmer green Snake is visible from trail high points and represents a meeting of distinct river ecosystems. Osprey, mergansers, and kingfishers work the current year-round, while migratory shorebirds gather in autumn along exposed gravel bars. The cottonwood gallery forest shelters songbirds during spring migration, and the trail offers a peaceful natural respite within easy reach of the Lewiston urban area. The mild low-elevation climate keeps this trail accessible and enjoyable during most winter weather.