Idaho Scenic Drives

Idaho scenic drives, rugged and untamed, feature incredible views of rivers and mountains. The links at the bottom of this page will take you to articles about three such scenic drives -- Northwest Passage, Payette River, and Pend Oreille -- that contain photos, highlights, and detailed maps.

Explore Lewis and Clark's routes, chase a whitewater river, or follow a meandering drive through undeveloped land. Idaho's natural beauty shines in the spring, and summer attracts winter visitors who arrive at the state's resorts to ski.

Plan a route through the state by taking one or more of the following Idaho scenic drives:

Northwest Passage Scenic Byway

Sacagawea showed Lewis and Clark how to cross the Rocky Mountains through this passage. Now, visitors fish in trout-stocked rivers or hike through the woods.

Payette River Scenic Byway

The whitewater of the Payette River is sought after by world-class whitewater rafters, while those in search of a less-addling vacation check into the nearby resorts.

Pend Oreille Scenic Byway

Follow the shoreline of Idaho's largest inland lake to the Montana border, where opportunities for water enthusiasts and skiers abound.