The Backcountry Discovery Routes organization has detailed plans for its next shorter expedition route through Hells Canyon along the Idaho-Oregon border. The 520-mile Hells Gate BDR-X loop is set to launch later this summer.
The route forms a loop around the deepest canyon in the United States along the Snake River. Riders will pass more than ten canyon viewpoints and lookout towers while experiencing over 5,000 feet of elevation change across varying altitudes and temperatures.
The moderate-level route includes a few optional harder sections and is designed to be completed over a long weekend. It marks the 26th route developed by the organization.
The new route will debut at the Tenere Trek rally next month at Tamarack Resort in Donnelly, Idaho. An in-person reveal is scheduled for the evening of Friday, August 7, with the GPS maps to follow via free download on the Backcountry Discovery Routes website and a live broadcast on the BDR YouTube channel.
The organization is also working to expand its program into Canada.