8 Most Scenic Road Trips to Take in Idaho

Driving across the northwestern U.S. can be a lovely experience, particularly if one is taking the wheel in Idaho. The mountainous region of Idaho, with its valleys and roadways, is a great place to explore. There are plenty of open and rugged landscapes to drive through to experience the wonders of the state, and it has a lot to offer for a pleasant vehicular experience. Here are eight of the most scenic road trips one can consider while traveling through Idaho.

Pend Oreille Scenic Byway

The Pend Oreille Scenic Byway, stretching across nearly 35 road miles of State Highway 200, is a two-lane paved road that is windy and narrow but offers a unique experience, nonetheless. The scenic route offers views of Lake Pend Oreille, passes through the charming community of Sandpoint, goes all the way to Clark Fork, and ends at the Montana border. The byway is best experienced during the winter season, although year-round experiences prove just as wonderful. The route, adorned with dramatic fall and spring colors, takes about an hour and a half to complete and offers stunning views worth capturing. Along the way, tourists may encounter Schweitzer Mountain Resort and local camping grounds, all for distant viewing and in-person pleasure (assuming resting spots are an option).

Payette River Scenic Byway

Crossing from Boise to McCall, the Payette River Scenic Byway is pivotal for its views of Central Idaho and allows drivers to witness the full experience of hot springs as they drive by recreational tourist routes. Trail Creek Hot Springs, Burgdorf Hot Springs, and Payette Lake are just some of the most notable features one may find while cruising along the central parts of the state. The 83-mile byway takes around two hours to complete and provides nourishing sights for families in the car seeking to take in Lake Cascade, as well as luscious foothills and mountain vistas. Tourists can find quiet spots to park and take photos while traveling along this route. The highway mostly runs through southwestern elevations, offering stunning scenery and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the year-round forestry on the mountain slopes. The Payette River Scenic Byway is perfect for those interested in rafting, kayaking, camping, and fishing.

Salmon River Scenic Byway

The wild and scenic side of Idaho is noted within the Salmon River Scenic Byway, as visitors traveling through the 161-mile byway will find themselves marveling at ghost towns and historical sites for nearly three to four hours in one ride. Jaw-dropping locations, such as the famous Sawtooth National Forest and the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, are just some examples of how history and nature play a pivotal role in shaping tourism on such travel routes. With origins of the byway dating as far back as 1805, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark involuntarily traveled through fall weather to discover trade posts and horsemanship across what would be known today as the Salmon River Scenic Byway. Hiking and horseback sights will draw in drivers on the road while maintaining safety at the wheel, and natural, archaeological sites are plenty throughout the expedition, with large canyons guiding drivers as they ride through rocky scenery reminiscent of a long-forgotten era.

Thousand Springs Scenic Byway

A winding 67 miles of geology and natural beauty, the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway is a perfect example of a massive landscape route that offers a mixture of soothing waterfalls and natural wonder for an hour and a half. Starting after the I-84 exit in Idaho, the canyon byway drops vehicular travelers right into the Snake River Canyon, where melon-shaped boulders keep drivers preoccupied as they venture through aquifers like the Snake River Plain Aquifer, which sits 2,308 miles beneath volcanic rock formations. Thousand Springs cliffs are also apparent through this route, as drivers can take in the vast and expansive sights of facilities nearby that boast frequent campers and aquaculture. It is rather common for viewers to enjoy further hot springs resorts like Box Canyon State Park or spots in Hagerman, and stopping by the southern sides of Idaho is just one way to take in the air while relaxing in the pool after a long day of driving. Additionally, the byway is recognized for its devotion to trout hatcheries, so drivers passing through the highway can expect fresh seafood to be sold at various points during the ride.

Sacajawea Historic Byway

Measuring approximately 130 miles from Salmon to Idaho Falls, the Sacajawea Historic Byway not only pays homage to a famous Lemhi Shoshone contributor to the Lewis and Clark Expedition but also provides a lens of cultural identity in the Pacific Northwest. Visitors of the byway will find themselves experiencing a scenic 2.5-hour trip that encompasses a rocky and historic backdrop. With the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural, and Educational Center, as well as the Continental Divide Trail, drivers traveling this route may be motivated to learn about what made the byway stand out through many summer and fall seasons. Drivers looking for a quick stop can trek across the trails to visit the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and connect with locals who preach about the foundation of river valleys and other connecting byways, such as the Snake River Canyon scenic route. Lush green plant life and natural views from across the plains of the route will leave drivers wanting more as they travel the historic bi-lane.

Hells Canyon

Known for its scenic river gorges and trails along the western portion of Idaho, Hells Canyon is a byway that inches close to northeastern Oregon but still maintains an Idahoan presence. Driving through Hells Canyon means that travelers can find some of the country's deepest gorges, as well as a chance to observe stunning wildlife above Heaven's Gate Overlook. By car, most visitors will experience year-round beauty and remote wilderness without any mystery, with originality and creative photoshoots more likely to be the norm when traversing the byway. The Wallowa Mountains Visitor Center also provides tourists with a five-hour scenic tour of what to expect when driving through Hells Canyon's geological carving. Lasting an hour and 43 minutes by vehicle, the 22-mile length byway is quite the experience for drivers wanting something simple yet worthwhile in Idaho.

Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway

The Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway provides a long stretch of brown-colored roadways almost 100 miles from Boise to Jordan Valley in Oregon. While gravel is a major component of the road trip, desert-dwelling enthusiasts may enjoy this route to escape from the usual green landscapes or wet seasons. Dirt roads are coupled with high desert plains, as Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway establishes canyon views and hidden hot springs. Although many scenic routes in Idaho may provide easy hot spring accessibility, the Owyhee byway is distinct for its picturesque desert landscape seen through stone arches, lending to its credibility for sending drivers off into the unknown for a thrilling road adventure within juniper woodlands. Some detours, like Bruneau Dunes State Park or Silver City, a famous ghost town in northwestern Idaho with an old mining subculture, are further motivators to drive through this scenic desert route and absorb the Owyhee Mountains, all within the range of four to six hours.

City of Rocks Backcountry Byway

Weaving through the Albion Mountain range and rural landscapes containing granite, the City of Rocks Backcountry is a monumental 50-mile byway worth driving through for roughly an hour and a half. Along the route, visitors can see mountain spires, hiking spots, and rock climbers greeting passersby. Camping locations are also unique, providing more than meets the eye as viewers are welcomed by the City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park, both offering exquisite viewing locations of scenic recreation sites that allude to historic district foundations once laid out by Native Americans. Snowshoeing is yet another popular activity that one may see while traveling along the byway, proving that there is no end to subtle excursion endeavors.

Embark on a Scenic Journey Through Idaho

With countless ways to explore Idaho by vehicle, it is no surprise that tourists and travelers make every effort to explore the mountain ranges of the country. Road trips across Idaho include many elements of nature and history, providing an ample amount of exploration and sightseeing in one package as individuals travel across many of the famous byways for scenic pleasure. Of all of the routes taken through Idaho, none can ever be easily ignored, especially with this list in hand.