Northwest Passage Scenic Byway
State: Idaho
Length: 90 miles / 144.0 km
Time to Allow: Allow 3 hours to fully enjoy the scenery, and three days to fully enjoy the recreation.
The Northwest Passage Scenic Byways sits where Idaho borders with Washington and Oregon and spreads east for 202 miles. Over two hundred years ago, Lewis and Clark journeyed through this area, exploring rivers, canyons, mountains, and more, and this byway pays tribute to their expedition by exploring scenery barely changed since their trip. Also, the byway focuses on the Nez Perce bordering the reservation, national forest, and the Clearwater River with one small fork in the road down to Grangeville.
Start your trip in Lewiston near the border with a visit to Hells Canyon National Recreation Area for impressive water and mountain landscape for a picnic and a swim. Next, visit the Nez Perce Museum and the Lewis and Clark Discovery Center. Visit the Salmon River Canyons, too, for a rafting adventure on white-sand beaches. You can also find a variety of boat tours to explore the water more closely.
Next in Nez Perce is home to the Bear Paw Battlefield, where the Native American tribe fought the US Army in 1877 along with a few other battlefields. Try out the Canoe Camp for a short interpretive trail where Lewis and Clark built canoes. The reservation offers a visitors center, too, along with a few other activities, museums, and facilities. Learn about the trip and the rich culture in the area and enjoy a trip to the Clearwater River Casino and Lodge. You can also go golfing at the Red Wolf Golf Club or try out the Zims Hot Springs to soak in natural mineral water.
After leaving the reservation, head to Orofino and stay at the Clearwater Crossing RV Park. It’s biker and pet friendly with tons of amenities, including showers, a fish cleaning station, and much more. Stop at the Caliber cafe for a gorgeous and delicious. For a meal, visit the Ponderosa Restaurant and Brass Rail Lounge for favorite foods. The real reason to stop in town is the impressive valley river views covered in trees.
Another important sight is the Heart of the Monster, a 53-acre site in Spalding, Idaho. It’s a historic site that’s part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park with a thrilling story traditional to the tribe. Find out the full story before heading south to Grangeville to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area. Take a horseback riding tour or go river rafting or tubing. Stop at the Columbian Mammoth Exhibit for a unique set of fossils too.
Head east again to Kooskia and then Lowell by the Selway River and continue toward the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station. Next, follow the Lochsa River to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, where four national forests meet. End the trip at Lolo Pass near a set of hot springs and the national forest. Several peaks fill the distant landscape. Visit the Visitors Center and rest area for highlights of the area. Finally, enjoy a sunset in a lush alpine meadow with evergreen-covered hills. Take a week to enjoy this trip properly.
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.