Hells Canyon is a vertical landscape whose dark cliffs and sleek grassy foothills tumble headlong for thousands of feet to the swiftly moving river at its heart. Covering 652,000 acres, including 214,000 acres of designated and exceedingly rugged wilderness, the recreation area sprawls across both sides of the canyon and the adjacent high rim country. Elevations range from under 1,000ft at river level to 6,982ft at Hat Point on the Oregon side, and to 9,393ft in the Seven Devils Mountains on the Idaho side. Combined with the neighboring lands of three national forests, the national recreation area makes up the core of a huge natural area with very few roads or other developments. Even foot travel is limited by the difficult geography. At the bottom of the gorge, the Snake, a designated Wild and Scenic River, tumbles over frothing rapids.People have lived in the canyon area for at least 8,000 years, from prehistoric hunters to ranch families residing along the river today. In 1975 the national recreation area was established and is today administered by the Forest Service. Many people would now like to see the canyon become a national park, citing its readily observable international significance: scenery on a grand scale, diverse wildlife, a varied and largely unspoiled landscape. Often compared with Arizona's Grand Canyon, Hells Canyon is similarly huge but has significant differences. While the Grand Canyon's walls are stepped and made of brightly colored sedimentary rock, those of Hells Canyon are sloped, and carved through dark volcanics. The Grand Canyon rims are flat, those of Hells Canyon mountainous and broken. Though not as long as the Grand, Hells Canyon is deeper, yet it seems more like a steep mountain valley than a huge canyon. But both are vast and intimidatingly rugged. Gazing into the blue-shadowed depths of Hells, it is hard to imagine traveling without the help of roads and trails. In fact, it's not wise to deviate from main routes without careful preparation and awareness of such hazards as rattlesnakes, poison ivy, loose rock, withering summer heat and ferociously cold winters.