Scenic Drives

If wildlife and scenic viewing are your passion, the Four Rivers Field Office offers a variety of byways that may pique your interest. Whether you are in search of an exciting new adventure or hoping for a peaceful, scenic drive, this area offers something for everyone. Click on each byway title to get information from the Idaho Transportation Department.  

Hells Canyon Scenic Byway: This scenic 22-mile road meanders along the east side of the huge rift that separates Idaho from neighboring Oregon. If you aren’t boating this popular tourist destination, driving this byway is the next best way to experience the sheer walls of these scenic, towering canyons.

Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway: This 131-mile scenic byway begins in Boise and heads north towards the historic mining town of Idaho City, curving through breathtaking views of the unspoiled Sawtooth Wilderness and the Salmon-Challis National Forest. As you continue, passing through Banner Summit, one of Idaho’s highest summits peaking at 7,056 feet, you end up in gorgeous Stanley, Idaho with a spectacular view of the Sawtooth Mountains. 

Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway: If you are interested in checking out a destination known for sensational year-round wildlife viewing of elk, mule deer, eagles, ospreys, cougars, bears and wolves, be sure to check out this 33-mile byway. This route travels along the Banks-Lowman Road and may be accessed through either of the cities and ends up back in Boise. The byway winds through impressive canyons and easily connects to the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway and the Payette River Scenic Byway. For the outdoor enthusiast, plenty of recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, camping, and natural hot spring bathing abound along the way.

Payette River National Scenic Byway: Idaho’s famous whitewater is showcased along the 112-mile Payette River National Scenic Byway. As you meander along this byway within the Boise and Payette National Forest areas, you will hit a couple of Idaho’s most premier resort towns including Cascade and McCall.

Western Heritage Historic Byway: Step back into history while traveling this 30-mile route from Meridian, Idaho (Highway 69), passing through the National Conservation Area (NCA) Birds of Prey and ending at Swan Falls Dam. Plenty of photo opportunities are available in this area of solitude and beautiful vistas. Visitors who travel this route pass through the historic farming community of Kuna, which was once an Indian crossing and then a short-line railroad.

Scenic drive through the Birds of Prey NCA: The 56-mile Swan Falls loop begins at the Kuna Visitor Center (see Access Map), which is about 16 miles from Boise or Nampa, Idaho. and provides opportunities to view wildlife and scenic vistas, and to visit cultural sites in the NCA. Allow 3 to 4 hours to complete the route, depending on the length of stops.