Idaho's most famous river is undoubtedly the Snake, which flows through much of the state, providing irrigation to farmers in the south and a border with Oregon on the west. Beginning in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, the Snake runs for just over 1,000 miles to its confluence with the Columbia in Oregon, and the majority of this distance is within Idaho.
The most thrilling and popular section of the Snake is Hell's Canyon, one of the most spectacular river gorges in North America. Dropping some 8,000 feet from the top of the Seven Devils Mountains to the river bed, the granite and basalt cliffs create striking scenery that is not easy to forget. The river plunges through huge rapids as it loses the last of its mountain elevation.
The Snake can also be enjoyed along its milder stretches through the Snake River Plain. Float trips and fishing in the flat sections near major Idaho cities is possible, and views of Wyoming's Grand Tetons can be enjoyed on float trips near the eastern border of Idaho.
