a day / 108 miles / 3 hours 35 minutes
The Payette River Scenic Byway meanders through foothills, mountain valleys, canyons, forests, and wide-open valleys with expansive vistas. Visit Lake Cascade, with its beauty and wildlife, and enjoy Payette Lake among the mountains and trees. Easy access to rafting, kayaking, camping, and fishing make this a trip for everyone.
Day 1
9:00 - 31.6 miles / an hour 3 minutes - 10:03
Numerous types of migratory birds and waterfowl can be seen in their natural nesting habitat in these wetlands. Ospreys return year after year to the same nests to raise their families. In this area, nests are visible on transmission towers.
11:33 - 6.1 miles / 12 minutes - 11:45
Rainbow Bridge/North Fork Payette River Bridge
One of the landmarks of the Payette River Scenic Byway, the
Rainbow Bridge, is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places for its engineering design. Built in 1933, the open-spandrel
concrete arches span 410 feet across the river.
Rainbow Bridge is the largest single-span arch structure in
Idaho. Built in 1933, it remains today as a major achievement
reflecting leading-edge bridge engineering at the time and shows a
conscious effort to maintain the picturesque natural setting.12:15 - 70.0 miles / 2 hours 19 minutes - 14:35