Payette River Scenic Byway

State: Idaho
Length: 112 miles / 179.2 km
Time to Allow: Allow 2 days to get the most out of all this Byway has to offer.

Take a trip through west-central Idaho, starting near Boise heading up close to the Oregon border toward the Payette National Forest. The byway takes a couple of hours to go 112 miles, or you can take a few days and catch nature at its finest. Expect to see foothills, mountain valleys, canyons, forests, and wildlife along a lake ready for swimming and sports. The tail spans four counties and offers access to thousands of miles of recreational trails.

With the capital city at the beginning of the trail, you can begin your journey in the heart of Idaho. Boise is home to beautiful parks, museums, RV parks, and tons of unique attractions. Even better, it offers scenic views of the Boise River Greenbelt. Make sure to visit the Boise Art Museum and the Capital City Public Market, then take the kids to the Discovery Center, zoo, or aquarium. Adults can enjoy the flora of the botanical garden or in the Hulls Gulch Reserve. Take a trolly through the town for a proper narrated tour before heading to Eagle.

The town of Eagle sits along the Boise River and offers the Bogus Basin Ski Area. It’s also close to the Arrowrock Reservoir. On the other side are the hidden springs and several canyons as well moving north. Visit the town on a Saturday for a farmers market and then head to the Banbury Golf Course with tricky terrain ready to work your skills. Winter sports lovers will enjoy Gateway park for tube hills.

Continue north to Horseshoe Bend for adventure, including rafting and kayaking. Try out a zip-line at a few different venues. Take a break at the Roystone Hot Springs, where you can stay at their hotel, RV park, or camp in a tent. Try a variety of activities like swimming or unwind in the hot tub with a movie. Check out Black Canyon Park for a unique dam and beautiful views. Try a steak at the Cowboys Chophouse for a special treat.

As you head to Smith’s Ferry, make sure to look out the windows for vast fields in the Boise National Forest. In the distance are the Paddock Vally reservoir and the Crane Creek Reservoir if you want to detour off the path. Cascade Idaho offers views of the lake. Check out Kelly’s Whitewater Park or take a horseback riding tour at the 4D Longhorn Guest Ranch. If you are taking the byway to enjoy river rafting, then you have another option here.

Before ending your trip, top in the logging town of McCall for tons of activities outdoors. From hiking, boating, camping, and more, the Payette National Park makes a great hot spot for adventure. The fun does not stop in the winter either, with tons of winter events like a Mardi Gras Parade, snow tubing, and snowshoeing at a couple of nearby ski resorts. End in New Meadows with a trip to the Zims Hot Springs before planning your next adventure.

More Idaho Byways

You can check out additional Byways in Idaho by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the Idaho Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.