See gorgeous mountains, deserts, ghost towns, hot springs, Bighorn Sheep, deep river gorges, and learn about the historical takeover of Indian lands, trapping, and mining.
This is a gorgeous route, encompassing deserts, river valleys, and mountains. It also touches on historical themes like Indian conflicts, mining, exploration, trapping, and settlement. The5-hour, 196-mile cruise, accessible spring through fall, starts at Stanley, on the floor of the Stanley Basin, with spectacular scenes of Idaho’s largest peaks, the Sawtooth Ridge. The Stanley Museum, situated in a historic ranger station on Route 75, provides a comprehensive overview of the area’s past.
Following the Salmon River, as you drive on, the road leads into a forested gorge with granite outcroppings. At this point, the river drops 15 feet per mile, tumbling over turbulent rapids and a number of hot springs pools. The most famous, Sunbeam Hot Springs, lies 11 miles beyond Stanley. The ghost towns of Custer and Bonanza, established during the Gold Rush of the 1870s, are a 10-mile detour up Yankee Fork Road. The road continues the length of the river through more canyons. Beyond Clayton, the river turns northeast through a valley surrounded by high desert hills that were shaped by ancient volcanic activity. Nearing the junction with U.S. 93, you’ll pass under a towering cliff of rust-covered rock visited frequently by Bighorn Sheep. The Yankee Fork Visitor Center, at the junction, explains the mining methods, history, and geology of the area.
Heading north from Challis, a 1870s mining supply town, you’ll go by the Pahsimeroi River and orbit the northern flank of the Lemhi Range. Follow U.S. 93 to Salmon, a 1860s mining town, now known for river running, ranching, and logging. Here, you’ll pick up the 11-mile Lewis and Clark Drive, which locates the explorers’ route over Lemhi Pass. At North Fork, the river drops into the Salmon River Canyon, one of North America’s deepest ravines. The road then climbs to Lost Trail Pass at more than 7,000 feet. From the pass, the road goes down into the Bitterroot Valley and on into Darby, the end of the line.
Starting Point:
Stanley, ID
Distance of Drive:
196 miles
Must Eat:
The Shady Nook And Brandin’ Iron Saloon
Hwy. 93 North, Salmon, ID 83467
Phone: 208-756-4182
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation
Good Stop For: Great Salmon
Best Time of Year for Drive:
May to September
Points of Interest on Drive:
The ghost towns of Bonanza and Custer
Stanley Museum
Tagged with: ghost town • hot springs • Idaho • salmon
Filed under: Best Road Trips