2017 Map of Heavens Gate

About this map

Heavens Gate stands as the literal and figurative high point of this Idaho landscape, overlooking a complex network of ridges and deep drainage gulches. The terrain is defined by the boundary between the Nez Perce National Forest and the Payette National Forest, with the Idaho and Adams County line cutting across the southern reaches near Bryan Mtn. This area is characterized by dramatic elevation changes, where high peaks like Cannon Ball Mtn and Mt Sampson drop off into the deep canyons of the Rapid River and its various forks. Notable passes and ridge crossings, including Game Warden Saddle and Wildhorse Saddle, indicate the established routes through this high country. Numerous springs such as Cora Spring and Chain Spring suggest the critical water sources that sustain the forest ecosystem and early traveler routes along the White Bird Ridge Road.