Teton Area Auto Tours

• Fort Henry
• Lewis and Clark
• Lost Gold
• Teton
• Mesa Falls
• Oregon Trail - Bear Lake
• Pioneer
• Sacajawea
• Island Park

Recieve a free Idaho Scenic Byways Guide

The definition of "scenic" reaches beyond breathtaking vistas. All of Idaho's Byways are "scenic", representing the depth and breadth of scenery in Idaho:  natural and man-made panoramas; electrifying landscapes; ancient and modern history coming alive; native arts and culture; and scenes of friends, families and strangers sharing their stories.

From the South Fork Lodge, you have several choices for Scenic Byway exploration. Check out Hwy. 26, which takes you along the South Fork of the Snake River towards the Teton Scenic Byway and under the shadow of the towering Grand Teton Mountains.

North on Hwy. 20 is a good route to take through the heart of the region to Yellowstone National Park.

Idaho's byways are gateways to adventures where no two experiences are the same.

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Fort Henry Scenic Byway

See the first white settlement marked by the Fort Henry Monument, from which this byway gets its name. A new monument now replaces the old one at the original site. The old monument relocated in an adjoining field can be viewed from the original site. This route trails along BLM land, desert and mountain ranges; where herds of deer and elk, as well as Sharp Tail and Sage Grouse can be seen as you journey along the Red Road.

This byway crosses Camas Creek, connects to County Road A-2 in Clark County at the “Y.” Sand Hill Cranes are early spring visitors in the Camas Meadows. Luscious mountain streams are enticing for fisherman, hikers, bikers and campers. Beautiful fields of wildflowers include seasonal Camas which can be seen throughout the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and flat lands.

The heritage of Clark and Fremont counties is very unique and full of early history of mountain men, Indians, including Camas Meadows Battleground, Nez Perce Trails, miners, stagecoach lines and early day ranching.

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Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway

Two hundred years ago, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark stood high on a ridge-line that divides continental waters, and began the discovery of the Pacific Northwest. Stands of fir and oine trees, high-mountain meadows and rolling, jade-colored hills look much the same today as when the famous explorers journeyed to the crest of Lemhi Pass in 1805.

As you travel the Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway, you'll see where the expedition unfurled the flag of the United States for the first time west of the Rocky Mountains, as well as spectacular vistas of the Lemhi Pass, Salmon River, Rocky and Lost River mountain ranges, rolling sagebrush and alpine meadows, wildlife, and carpets of wildflowers.

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Lost Gold Scenic Byway

The Lost Gold Trails Loop ventures off the Fort Henry Historic Byway at the “Y” Junction onto County Road A-2. The loop then travels southwest along the desert-lava rolling hill terrain where cattle and wild game peacefully share spring and fall months grazing. Crossing the railroad, which originated the town of “Dry Creek,” now Dubois, and traveling west through town over I-15 overpass on Idaho 22, you connect with Old Highway 91. Turn north on Old Highway 91 and head to Spencer, passing near the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station. This early-day Gold Trail closely follows Beaver Creek towards the Montana gold mines. At Spencer the Gold Trail of yesterday becomes the Opal Trails of today and passes several high grade Opal Shops within the original Wood Livestock town site. Leaving Spencer, the trail heads east to Idmon. This early day Nez Perce Trail has spurs off of its main roadway to private opal mines, Caribou-Targhee Forest fishing and primitive camping areas, and an old cemetery, connecting again to the Fort Henry Historic Byway at the old Idmon town site.

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Teton Scenic Byway

Wander over Pine Creek Pass, through the lush rolling farmland of eastern Idaho, land of the famous potatoes, to the ranchland of the Teton Valley on this 69- mile byway. Along the way, the peaks of the Teton Range will peek out from beyond the foothills and draw you in for a closer look. Combine this drive with the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway for one of the most spectacular scenic routes in Idaho.

What the old fur trappers called Pierre’s Hole we call Teton valley - the less crowded, more comfortable side of the Teton Mountains.

Beginning at Swan Valley, this byway travels east on Idaho 31 through the beautiful Pine Creek pass to the town of Victor, and then north on Idaho 33, along the western side of the Teton Range. The mountains sharply contrast with the rolling agricultural fields to the north and west. In the towns of the Teton Valley, Victor, Driggs, and Tetonia, travelers can enjoy small town hospitality, internationally famous resorts and festival events held throughout the year. West of Tetonia, the byway turns north on Idaho 32, offering glimpses of the Tetons and the Falls River until it reaches Ashton, where the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway begins.

festivals including hot air balloon races, country-western concerts and bluegrass music festivals. Driggs also hosts SpudFest at the Spud Drive - In each summer - the only family drive-in film festival in the country - as a benefit for the new Idaho Film and Television Institute located here. In the winter, Teton Valley is transformed into a magical white paradise. Abundant snow makes for fantastic Alpine or Nordic skiing and snowmobiling. Some of the best powder snow on the planet can be found at Grand Targhee Resort, just outside of Driggs in Alta, Wyoming. Grand Targhee offers astounding views of the Tetons and a variety of winter and summer activities. If you use eastern Idaho as a base, you can explore both Yellowstone and Teton National Parks, plus enjoy the quiet and solitude of one of America’s most scenic mountains.

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Mesa Falls Scenic Byway

The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway begins where the Teton Scenic Byway reaches its northern end in Ashton, at the junction of U.S. 20 and Idaho 47. From there, the route travels through the town of Warm River toward its main attractions: the Upper and Lower Mesa Falls.

From this 29-milelong byway in the Targhee National Forest near Ashton, you can hear the thunder of both Lower and Upper Mesa Falls, two of the last undisturbed waterfalls of consequence in the West, on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River. Trails, boardwalks and viewing platforms enhance the experience at Upper Mesa Falls and plentiful parking and accessible restrooms are available as well.

The Mesa Falls are the only major falls in Idaho not used for irrigation or hydroelectric projects, and as such maintain a look and feel of nature undisturbed. At 110 feet and 85 feet, respectively, the Upper and Lower Mesa Falls offer equally spectacular views in a beautiful forest setting. Both falls can be viewed in full, with the area surrounding the upper waterfall enhanced with paths and viewing areas that make it easily accessible to all. Though only about an hour’s driving time, the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway is often a half-day’s journey, with travelers mesmerized by the spectacular display in the midst of a truly back-country setting. In addition, the historic Mesa Falls Lodge has been restored to its original splendor and is now open seasonally for visitor information.

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Oregon Trail - Bear Valley Scenic Byway

Bear Lake straddles the Idaho-Utah border and boasts sandy beaches, great water sports, fishing, boating, and the famous Bear Lake State Park. This byway follows Bear Lake north on U.S. 89 to Montpelier, then north on U.S. 30, where you leave the Cache National Forest and enter the Caribou National Forest.

The intersection of U.S. 89 and U.S. 30 at Montpelier is the site of the attractive National Oregon-California Trail Center dedicated to the history and scenic wonders of the 2,000-mile Oregon-California Trail, part of the largest voluntary migration ever. There, you can ride in computer-controlled covered wagons, journey nearby trails with experienced guides in period costume, and handle the tools and other artifacts used by the pioneers. There is also an expansive park and playground to stretch your legs, as well as a general store and gift shop to help you remember your visit.

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Pioneer Scenic Byway

On this route, travelers can retrace some steps of Idaho’s early pioneers and follow the historic path taken by early-day Yellowstone Park visitors. From Franklin, Idaho’s oldest settlement, this byway heads north to Soda Springs and on to the Wyoming border. This route offers the shortest distance and time between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone Park.

Along the way you can see the remnants of the first grist mill in Idaho, one of the original Yellowstone Highway markers, the 100+ year old Mormon Oneida Academy, the site of the massacre at Bear River, Devil’s Hand, the Niter Ice Cave, Last Chance Canal, cinder cones from extinct volcanoes, a section of the Oregon- California Trail, and many other historical points of interest, documenting early settlement in this portion of Idaho.

Soda Springs offers numerous opportunities for visitors. Among a variety of historic attractions, the town features the world’s only captive geyser, with a plume of almost 100 feet. In addition, the nearby Formation Springs Nature Conservancy Area contains a travertine-formed cave and excellent waterfowl and wildlife viewing.

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Sacajawea Scenic Byway

Sacajawea, an "Agaidika" Shoshone woman born around 1788, is known around the world as a trusted and valuable member of the famed Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery. A lesser-known fact, however, is her historical tie to Idaho's Lemhi Valley where she was born and raised until the age of twelve. Captured by the Arikira Indians and forced to live among them in the Mandan Villages of North Dakota, Sacajawea would not see her home again until becoming part of the Corps of Discovery in 1805. It was during this expedition that she would help Lewis and Clark find the Salmon River and revisit her people.

This passage through the high country of eastern Idaho offers a wealth of engaging stories, many of them considered historical legacies of Idaho and beyond. Found here are fossils of the extinct North American (or Pleistocene) lion, Native American rock art, the compelling stories of the Lemhi-Shoshone people, the Lewis and Clark expedition's passage through Sacajawea's homeland, the flight of the Nez Perce, the Reverend Samuel Parker, Fort Lemhi, the legacy of Chief Tendoy, stage routes and rail lines that served the mining boom of the late 1800's, and much more. Come discover for yourself what makes Sacajawea Historic Byway such a legacy.

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Island Park Scenic Byway

The same natural forces that made Yellowstone National Park so scenic also made Island Park similarly beautiful. This area is actually the world’s largest caldera, 23-miles in diameter, created from a volcano that collapsed in prehistoric times. Now covered in a dense forest of pine and wildflowers, it is a mecca for hiking and fishing in the summer and skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. The Henrys Fork of the Snake River, a world famous fly-fishing stream, is curtailed here to form the 7,000-acre Island Park reservoir, popular to both anglers and boaters. The Henrys Fork then winds through the meadows of one of Idaho’s premiere state parks, Harriman State Park, also known as the Railroad Ranch, deeded to the people of Idaho by former owners Roland and Averill Harriman of the Union Pacific Railroad. Guided tours of the ranch are available in the summer and yurts and the former ranch manager’s house are available for rent. You can hike, fish, cycle or ride the park’s trails on horseback or simply observe the wildlife that abounds in the park. Island Park is a rustic area with many ranches and guest lodges where you can fully capture the atmosphere of the region with boating, fishing and horseback riding in the summer or Nordic skiing or snowmobiling in the winter. All just a short drive from Yellowstone National Park. A most rewarding side trip in route to Island Park is the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. At Ashton, turn onto Hwy. 47 and slowly descend into an unexpected canyon. Lower Mesa Falls is 65’ high and can be viewed from an observation point high above the falls. Upper Mesa Falls is 112’ and has a network of viewing platforms, as well as a visitor center. On Hwy. 20, just before the Montana border, you will see signs for Henrys Lake and Henrys Lake State Park. Located just 15 miles west of Yellowstone National Park, this high mountain lake is the kind of place fishermen dream about. The state park is open in summer and fall for anglers to fish for cutthroat, brook and rainbowcutthroat hybrid trout. The park features 45 campsites, camping cabins and a modern fish cleaning station near the boat ramp. The Henrys Fork of the Snake River flows out of the lake and winds its way to and through Harriman State Park toward Ashton. This stretch of clear mountain water is acclaimed by flyfishing enthusiasts as the “best trout fishing stream in the U. S.” Angler services and outfitters are available in Island Park to give you a hand. Another source for the Henrys Fork comes from Big Springs, where 120 million gallons of water bubble up into the river each day. The Big Spring Nature Trail, six miles north of the Island Park Ranger Station, is a half-mile, handicap-accessible trail that provides great viewing of osprey, bald eagles, waterfowl and an occasional moose, deer or muskrat.

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