The Long Way
Custer County
A person fishing in a river surrounded by autumn foliage.
Plate I. Big Wood River, Sawtooth Scenic Byway. From visitidaho.org
A person walks across a metal bridge over a river surrounded by autumn trees.
Plate II. Big Wood River, Sawtooth Scenic Byway. From visitidaho.org
A bridge crosses a river surrounded by trees and mountains at sunset.
Plate III. Big Wood River along Sawtooth Scenic Byway. From visitidaho.org
A hiker stands on a rocky overlook looking out over a wide valley with a winding river and distant mountains.
Plate IV. Panoramic view along Sawtooth Scenic Byway. From visitidaho.org
An aerial view of a town nestled beneath mountains with autumn trees.
Plate V. Ketchum along the Sawtooth Scenic Byway. From visitidaho.org
Two people and a dog walk across a wooden footbridge holding fishing rods.
Plate VI. Anglers walking across a bridge, Sawtooth Scenic Byway. From visitidaho.org
An aerial view of a blue lake surrounded by dense forests and rugged mountains.
Plate VII. Redfish Lake along Sawtooth Scenic Byway. From visitidaho.org

Sawtooth Scenic Byway

Stanley, Custer County, Idaho. Scenic byway; Year-round.

Details

Map. Stanley, Custer County, Idaho. Larger map
Where
Stanley, Custer County, ID. No street address stated. Directions
Getting there
Take Highway 75 from the high desert to the Sawtooth Mountains at Stanley.
Access
Full services in Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum, Sun Valley and Stanley; partial services in Shoshone; motorcycle route.

Climb 115 miles up Highway 75 through central Idaho's high desert to the Sawtooth Mountains at Stanley, passing Sun Valley, Galena Summit and Redfish Lake.

Notable Events

  1. 1914Idaho's new State Highway Commission included the Twin Falls-to-Hailey Sawtooth Park Highway as the sixth route in its new State Highway System. discoversawtooth.org
  2. 1916The designation was extended to Challis, and the route now called Highway 75 became an official highway. discoversawtooth.org
  3. 1930CCC work paved Highway 75 from Twin Falls to Galena Summit and graveled the highway to Challis. discoversawtooth.org
  4. 1955Pavement entered the Sawtooth Valley. discoversawtooth.org
  5. 1977Sawtooth was one of Idaho's initial six designated scenic byways. apps.itd.idaho.gov
  6. 1991After the Federal Highway Administration developed the National Scenic Byways program, the Forest Service, BLM, and Idaho grouped their historic and scenic routes under one program, with ITD as lead agency. apps.itd.idaho.gov

Sources

  1. visitidaho.org/things-to-do/road-trips/sawtooth-scenic-byway
  2. visitidaho.org/things-to-do/scenic-byways
  3. visitidaho.org/things-to-do/museums-exhibits/sawtooth-scenic-byway
  4. apps.itd.idaho.gov/apps/mediamanagermvc/transporter/2008/051608_Trans/051608_ScenicTopTen.html
  5. visitidaho.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Idaho_Highway_Map.pdf
  6. apps.itd.idaho.gov/Apps/MediaManagerMVC/Transporter/2020/071720_Trans/071720_ScenicByways.html
  7. fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/recreation/opportunities/scenic-drives
  8. nsbfoundation.com/sb/sawtooth-scenic-byway
  9. discoversawtooth.org/the-roads-to-the-sawtooths-man-before-machine-2