Seven Devils Overlooks

The Seven Devils — actually more than seven peaks, topping out above 9,000 feet — are the Seven Devils terrane, an island-arc complex of Permian-age rock collided onto North America; their sharp skyline above the Snake trench gave the range its diabolical name. Sheep and cattle grazed the ridges in the early 20th century, and fire lookouts on Windy Saddle and Heavens Gate watched the canyon country; the Forest Service road system now reaches the Windy Saddle and Heavens Gate overlooks, with the trailheads into the Seven Devils Wilderness beyond. The overlooks’ rim-to-river views of the deepest canyon in North America make them the region’s photography and motorcycle high points. The range’s skyline — actually more than seven peaks topping out above 9,000 feet — is Permian-age island-arc terrane collided onto North America, and the rim overlooks at Windy Saddle and Heavens Gate look from the peaks down the deepest canyon in North America; trailheads from the overlook roads lead into the Seven Devils Wilderness, and the drive itself is one of Idaho’s classic motorcycle rides.