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Quick Facts
Key facts you need to know:
Fun Facts About Historic Salmon Idaho
- The region was the birthplace of Sacajawea, the only woman on the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
- The northern end of the Salmon River-Sawtooth Scenic Byways begins on the Montana border at the Lost Trail Pass (elevation 6,995 feet). Lewis and Clark came this way in 1805, and the spectacular view from this vantage point has changed little since that famous exploration of the West two centuries ago.
- The route follows the Salmon River – also called the River of No Return – through the Salmon-Challis National Forest through the city of Salmon Idaho.
- The river and its forks serve as important natural pathways into Idaho’s rugged back country. The deer, elk, and moose that often graze along the hills and meadows provide a glimpse of the wild country beyond.
- The town of Challis and the Land of the Yankee Fork Historic Area are just two points of interest, the latter being among Idaho’s most famous mining areas.
- As you head southwest along Idaho 75 toward Stanley, you’ll begin to see glimpses of the majestic Sawtooth Mountains ahead before beholding their full splendor as you drop into town.
Travel Through History Along The Salmon River-Sawtooth Scenic Byways
Reach extraordinary new heights of travel. Use the Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies to plan a trip on the Salmon River-Sawtooth Scenic Byways.
Salmon River‐Sawtooth Scenic Byways
Known as the whitewater capital of the world, the Salmon River-Sawtooth Scenic Byways are full of river rafting, fishing, and all kinds of top notch recreation!
Celebrating The Beauty Of The Salmon River And Sawtooth Mountains
Birthplace of Sacajawea, whitewater capital of the world, stopping point on the Lewis & Clark expedition. The Salmon River-Sawtooth Scenic Byways are among the most celebrated stretches of road in the Northern Rockies. The Sawtooth Scenic Byway has the distinction of being the 100th National Forest Scenic Byway. Beginning in Shoshone, the byway rolls north through fertile agricultural land to the resort towns of Hailey, Ketchum, and Sun Valley. It then terminates in the Stanley Idaho Rocky Mountains, where the Sawtooth meets the Salmon River Scenic Byways. So no matter which way you drive in or out, you’re in for a treat.
Offering Great Views Of The Idaho Sawtooth Mountains
Reach extraordinary new heights of travel. Use the Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies to plan a trip on the Salmon River-Sawtooth Scenic Byways
Add to your scenic driving experience along the Salmon River-Sawtooth Scenic Byways with side trip visits to recreation sites, areas of interest and wilderness area managed by Idaho’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Most of the side trips identified in the 'Key Landmarks & Attractions ' section will take you to nearby outstanding BLM public land venues offering a variety of cultural/historic informative sites, or outdoor recreation opportunities such as bird or wildlife watching, fishing, hiking or river rafting on day-use or developed/primitive overnight camping sites.
The Top 10 Scenic Drives partners with Idaho BLM by asking all byway travelers to travel only on established roads and trails, leave no trace, and pack out what you pack in.
The Salmon Field Office of the Idaho Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offers a diverse array of recreational opportunities for byway travelers wishing to explore more off the main road. Giving you reason to linger and enjoy fabulous outdoor recreation, the nearby Salmon River, “River of No Return,” provides world-class river rafting, camping, hiking, sight-seeing, and wildlife viewing. Endless hiking, fishing, hunting and exploring activities exist throughout the Salmon River Range, Bitterroot Range, and Lemhi Range.
The Salmon River meanders through the second-deepest gorge on the continent and is well-known as Idaho’s best steelhead fishing area, along with rainbow and cutthroat trout. Rafters can enjoy scenic floating and fishing along the calmer stretches of the River, near the town of Salmon, or tackle challenging whitewater (Class I-IV) on the stretch of river west of North Fork, Idaho.
The unspoiled 1.6 million-acre Bitterroot Range and Continental Divide serve as Idaho's eastern border, visited by the Corps of Discovery’s Lewis and Clark in 1805. The Bitterroot Range is home to a variety of wildlife including mule deer, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, wolves, mountain goats, mountain lions and black bears. It also offers spectacular trails for mountain biking and hiking, and the ultimate terrain for rock climbing, hunting, and fishing excursions.
BLM manages nearly 12 million acres of public lands in Idaho, nearly one-fourth of the state's total land area. Four BLM district offices, 12 field offices, and the Idaho State Office administer the public lands in Idaho with a mission of sustaining the health, diversity and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
