Idaho Vacation: Scenic, Historic and Back Country Byways

Want to see beautiful scenery as you travel on your Idaho vacation?  Take just about any highway and you are never far from one of the 30 specially designated scenic, historic, or back country byways.  Some of the byways follow major highways and some are back country mostly gravel roads that take you to truly unique scenery and locations.

The byways range from a short 22 miles for the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway to 202 miles in length for the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway which parallels the route followed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition over 200 years ago.  Eighteen byways are designated as scenic byways, five as historic, five as back country, and one each as historic rivers passage and lost gold trails.  There are designated byways in every corner of the state. 

Seven of the byways also have the distinction of being named as "National" scenic byways or an "All America Road."  Two byways in the northern panhandle, are also part of the "International Selkirk Loop," a 280 mile long loop through Idaho, British Columbia, and Washington, encircling the Selkirk mountains.  A 64 page full color guide for this loop is available to download or delivery by mail at http://selkirkloop.org/.  The web site also gives an abundance of additional information to help plan trips along the loop.  It is a full blown trip and activity planning site.

Idaho has a glove box size booklet with detailed descriptions, maps, and attractions for each of the byways.  These booklets can be downloaded or ordered from http://www.idahobyways.gov/.  The 36 page booklet is very useful in trip planning as it provides estimated drive times. general roadway conditions, attractions, camping and services along the byway as well as contact information.  It also has links to other agencies with useful travel information.  In an earlier post, I highlighted and described a number of sources of "official" information sources for Idaho travel information. 

Information on America's National Scenic Byways is available at http://www.byways.org/, www.bywaysonline.org, and http://www.bywaysresourcecenter.org/.  Each of these sites has volumes of trip planning helps and have an abundance of information to make trips along these byways more enjoyable.  In addition to fantastic scenery, many byways also have historic features. 

A fun, educational, and great way to keep memories of these sites is by logging them to your personal travel logbooks or to post the sites visited on the web.  Several organizations make this possible including HMdb and Markeroni.  The Idaho Highway Historical Marker program is another great way to learn about the history of Idaho as you travel this great state. 

Whether you are just passing through Idaho (big mistake), or making Idaho a vacation destination, you are never far from a Scenic, Historic or Back Country Byway.  Slow down a bit and enjoy some of natures beauties, visit with helpful and sometimes colorful locals, and enjoy an Idaho vacation.  There is an abundance of great things to do and see in Idaho.