Idaho road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Idaho
The best motorcycle roads in Idaho follow rivers: the Lochsa on US 12, the Payette on ID 55 and the Banks-Lowman Road, and the Salmon below the Sawtooths, with ID 21 and ID 75 meeting in Stanley. Add the Panhandle lakes and the lava fields of the Snake River Plain and you have 14 classics, with why each is worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 14
- Regions
- 5
- Hub of the best roads
- Stanley
- Check before you go
- Idaho 511
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Idaho
Idaho's roads are long, curvy and quiet, and most of the best ones follow a river through national forest. The middle of the state is the center of it: Boise to Stanley on ID 21, Ketchum to Stanley on ID 75, and the Salmon River north from there. The north has US 12 and the lakes, and the south and east trade curves for lava fields, waterfalls and big views of the Tetons.
The price for all that quiet is a short mountain season and a lot of miles between gas stations. Galena and Banner summits can be snowy in June and again by October, and ID 21 has winter avalanche closures. Check Idaho 511 before mountain rides. The Idaho motorcycle rides hub has the overview, and the best time to ride in Idaho breaks the year down by region.
North Idaho
The Panhandle and the Clearwater country
- 1. Lake Coeur d'Alene Scenic Byway (ID 97)Why: Leave I-90 at Wolf Lodge Bay and follow the lake's eastern shoreline south to the little town of Harrison, curve after curve, with coves and docks below. An easy half day from Coeur d'Alene or Spokane. Watch for: Boat trailers and lake traffic on summer weekends, deer and blind corners. Best season: May to October.
- 2. Pend Oreille Scenic Byway (ID 200)Why: ID 200 traces the north shore of Lake Pend Oreille from Sandpoint past Hope and Clark Fork, with the Cabinet Mountains rising across the water. Watch for: Deer and the odd moose, freight trains running right beside the highway, and summer visitors pulling in and out of the lake towns. Best season: June to September.
- 3. Old Spiral Highway (Lewiston Hill)Why: The old route up Lewiston Hill, a stack of curves climbing about 2,000 feet above the Snake and Clearwater rivers. The modern US 95 grade carries the traffic, so the old road is usually quiet. Watch for: Gravel in the corners, no shoulder and wind at the top. Best season: April to October.
- 4. US 12 along the Lochsa (Northwest Passage Scenic Byway)Why: From Kooskia east along the Lochsa River to Lolo Pass, a sign promises 99 miles of curves, and the road keeps the promise. River on one side, forest on the other, almost no towns. Watch for: Long stretches with no fuel or cell signal, log trucks, deer and rafting traffic. Best season: June to September.
- 5. ID 14 to Elk CityWhy: Follows the South Fork of the Clearwater River from near Grangeville east to the old mining town of Elk City, through a narrow, curvy canyon. The pavement ends at Elk City, so you ride it twice. Watch for: Rock on the road, log trucks, no services and very little cell signal. Best season: June to September.
Central Idaho
Boise to Stanley: the heart of Idaho riding
- 6. Payette River Scenic Byway (ID 55)Why: North from the Boise area through Horseshoe Bend and up the North Fork of the Payette to Cascade and McCall, with whitewater beside the road for miles. Watch for: Boise's weekend exodus, rafts and campers on trailers, long no-passing stretches in the canyon, and rafters crossing near put-ins. Best season: May to October.
- 7. Banks-Lowman RoadWhy: About 33 miles from Banks on ID 55 up the South Fork of the Payette to Lowman on ID 21, through a canyon with hot springs and river views. Paired with ID 55 and ID 21, it makes the best loop out of Boise. Watch for: Rockfall, gravel in the corners, deer and slow traffic. Best season: May to October.
- 8. Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway (ID 21)Why: Boise to Idaho City, Lowman and over Banner Summit to Stanley, through pine forest and river canyon, with the Sawtooths rising ahead at the end. Watch for: Avalanche closures on the Lowman to Stanley stretch in winter, rockfall below old burn scars, deer, and a cold summit. Best season: June to September.
- 9. Sawtooth Scenic Byway (ID 75)Why: From Ketchum and Sun Valley up the Wood River and over Galena Summit, near 8,700 feet, where the Sawtooth Valley opens below the overlook on the way to Stanley. Watch for: Cold at the summit, early and late season snow, cyclists and deer. Best season: June to September.
- 10. Salmon River Scenic Byway (ID 75 and US 93)Why: From Stanley down the Salmon River through Clayton and Challis, then north on US 93 to the town of Salmon and on toward Lost Trail Pass. Canyon walls, river and very few people. Watch for: Rockfall, bighorn sheep and deer near the road, and summer rafting traffic. Best season: May to October.
East and south Idaho
Lava fields, waterfalls and the Snake River
- 11. Craters of the Moon and the Lost River Range (US 20, US 26, US 93)Why: US 20 and US 26 cross the dark, broken lava of Craters of the Moon southwest of Arco, then US 93 heads north past Mackay below Borah Peak, the state's highest mountain. Watch for: Crosswinds, summer heat on the lava, and long gaps between fuel. Best season: May to June, September to October.
- 12. Mesa Falls and Teton Scenic Byways (ID 47, ID 33, ID 31)Why: ID 47 loops past Upper and Lower Mesa Falls near Ashton. Then drop into Teton Valley, where Driggs and Victor sit under the back side of the Tetons, and climb over Pine Creek Pass toward Swan Valley. Watch for: Farm equipment, wildlife, and snow on the Mesa Falls road outside summer. Best season: June to September.
- 13. Thousand Springs Scenic Byway (US 30)Why: Follows the Snake River from Twin Falls through Buhl and Hagerman, where springs pour straight out of the canyon walls. Start with Shoshone Falls and the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls. Watch for: Farm traffic, wind and summer heat. Best season: April to June, September to October.
- 14. White Bird Hill (US 95)Why: Idaho's main north-south highway climbs a long grade between White Bird and Grangeville, with huge views over the Salmon River country. The old winding grade, part of the Nez Perce story, still sits beside the modern road for a slower look. Watch for: Trucks on the grade, wind, and gravel on the old road. Best season: April to October.
Summary
Idaho motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Coeur d'Alene (ID 97) | Panhandle | May to Oct |
| Pend Oreille (ID 200) | Panhandle | Jun to Sep |
| Old Spiral Highway | Lewiston | Apr to Oct |
| US 12 along the Lochsa | North-central | Jun to Sep |
| ID 14 to Elk City | North-central | Jun to Sep |
| Payette River (ID 55) | Southwest | May to Oct |
| Banks-Lowman Road | Southwest | May to Oct |
| Ponderosa Pine (ID 21) | Central mountains | Jun to Sep |
| Sawtooth (ID 75) | Central mountains | Jun to Sep |
| Salmon River (ID 75, US 93) | Central mountains | May to Oct |
| Craters of the Moon and US 93 | East | Spring and fall |
| Mesa Falls and Teton byways | East | Jun to Sep |
| Thousand Springs (US 30) | South | Spring and fall |
| White Bird Hill (US 95) | North-central | Apr to Oct |
Rider-added roads
Idaho roads riders have added in Rippin'
Idaho is early days for Rippin', which began in Southern California, so most of these roads are still waiting for a rider to add them. The live list right after this section shows the Idaho roads on the map today.
To add one, ride it with Rippin' recording, open Segments and tap Create a Segment: set a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on our team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it. After that, every rider who rides through it is timed automatically and lands on its board. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, so the board is about who owns the road, not a race. Read about segments and leaderboards.
Loops claim turf too. A loop from Boise up ID 55, across the Banks-Lowman Road and home through Idaho City on ID 21 draws a closed shape, and everything inside becomes your turf on the live map. Almost all of Idaho is unclaimed. See how Turf Wars works.
Live from the app
Idaho on Rippin' right now.
2 upcoming events and 7 rider-added roads in Idaho on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Idaho?
Ask most riders and they'll say US 12 up the Lochsa. ID 21 and ID 75 into Stanley, the Banks-Lowman Road and the Salmon River Scenic Byway are just as good, and much of it sees very little traffic.
What are the best motorcycle rides near Boise?
The Payette River Scenic Byway (ID 55), the Banks-Lowman Road, and ID 21 through Idaho City. Ride all three as a loop, or keep going to Stanley for an overnight.
Is ID 21 to Stanley open in winter?
The section between Lowman and Stanley can close for avalanche danger in winter. Check Idaho 511 before you go, especially from November to April.
How long is the winding road on US 12?
A sign near Kooskia promises 99 miles of curves, and it's right. That stretch runs up the Lochsa toward Lolo Pass. Fuel up before you start.
Which Idaho roads are good for newer riders?
The Thousand Springs byway, the Teton Scenic Byway and Craters of the Moon are open and forgiving. Save the Old Spiral Highway, ID 14 and the Banks-Lowman Road for when you're comfortable with tight corners.
Can I add an Idaho road to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put an Idaho classic on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride one of these canyons with it recording, and add the road. Your name stays on it.
Free on iPhone and Android. How Rippin' works
