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Hell's Gate National Park
Best time to visit
Arrive right at the 6 a.m. gate opening to catch cooler air and the most active wildlife before the midday heat. Dry months, roughly June through September, keep the trails and gorge floor passable and skies clear.
Budget tips
Non-resident entry runs roughly $30 to $40 per adult, residents pay far less, and one ticket covers the whole day. Renting a bike on site costs just a few dollars and beats paying for a vehicle, while walking the gorge adds nothing extra.
Recommended for
Cyclists and outdoor adventurers, Wildlife and birding fans, Photography enthusiasts, Budget travelers
Plan your visit
Half day (3-4 hours)
About
Quick facts: Steaming geothermal vents and the Ol Njorowa Gorge carve through this 68-square-kilometer landscape of savanna and red cliffs. Since no big predators roam here, visitors can hike and bike right past grazing zebras and giraffes, and the craggy skyline inspired Pride Rock in Disney's The Lion King.
Highlights: Walk into the narrow Ol Njorowa Gorge and you'll hear the ground hiss as boiling steam jets from rocky fissures, an otherworldly soundtrack powered by the geothermal field just beyond the park. At Fischer's Tower, the 25-meter volcanic column, watch climbers scale the basalt while antelope graze quietly at its base.
Insider tips
- Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and long pants in the gorge, where loose rock and hot, steamy ground make sandals a bad idea.
- Start at 6 a.m. to have the cycling loop nearly to yourself before tour groups roll in around nine.
- Photograph Fischer's Tower and the red cliff walls in the late afternoon, when the low sun turns the rock golden.
- Carry at least two liters of water per person and pack your own snacks, since food stalls in the park are scarce.
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