Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway Historic Auto Tour

The byway tour passes a variety of river scenery through forested landscapes. Fall and spring are awash in color! It is a journey through the heart of the Stanley Basin, winding along the South Fork of the Payette River.

Scroll down to download the tracks and enjoy this spectacular journey through the Boise National Forest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The length of the tour is 131 miles (about a 3 hour drive one way). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Boise, the byway follows State Highway 21 northeast to the historic mining town of Idaho City, where you can still recreationally pan for gold in a nearby stream bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tour continues over Mores Summit, follows the South Fork Payette River, then over Banner Summit and descends into the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and beautiful Stanley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download the Auto Tour through an MP3 download.  It carries the voice of a narrator talking about the early history of the forest, the natural features, wildfire events, wildlife and forest management. 

 

 

 

 

 

Three links to download MP3 Players:

Windows Media Player 12

Apple Quicktime 7

Apple iTunes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The narration is geared to mileposts along the highway.  If you enjoy learning about this historical and beautiful area, CD’s of the tour are also available at Ranger Stations, the Interagency Visitor Center in Boise, and at the Idaho Parks and Recreation office in Boise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This byway passes a variety of river scenery through forested landscapes. Fall and spring are awash in color! It is a journey through the heart of the Stanley Basin, winding along the South Fork of the Payette River.  At the cutoff road to Grandjean, the byway leaves the Payette River and squeezes between two of Idaho’s wilderness areas, the Sawtooth Wilderness on the right and the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness to the left. The road is a winding two lane state highway with a few steep grades. 

 

 

 

 

 

In winter, severe avalanche conditions exist in the Banner Summit area and road closures can be frequent. Check with the Idaho Department of Transportation web site for road conditions.

 

Boise To Stanley - 16 Tracks

Track 1 - Begin at the intersection of Federal Way and Highway 21.

Track 2 - Mile post 1 - Historic Oregon Trail.

Track 3 - Mile post 15 - Boise National Forest Lucky Peak Nursery.

Track 4 - Mile post 25 - Follow Mores Creek along the Idaho Batholith.

Track 5 - Mile post 34 - Mining near Idaho City /Arrive at Idaho City Ranger Station.

Track 6 - Leave Idaho City / Winter Sports.

Track 7 - Mile post 42 - Logging and Experimental Fores.t

Track 8 - Mile post 48 - Native Americans.

Track 9 - Mile post 62 - Winter Ski Areas.

Track 10 - Mile post 69 - Early Settlers and Trappers.

Track 11 - Mile post 73 - Pass Bank-Lowman Road Turnoff / Arrive Lowman Ranger Station.

Track 12 - Mile post 79 - Wildfire Events and Forest Management.

Track 13 - Mile post 82 - Wildlife in the Forest.

Track 14 - Mile post 93 - Pass Grandjean Turnoff.

Track 15 - Mile post 105 - Leaving Boise NF and entering Challis NF.

Track 16 - Mile post 123 - Arrive at Stanley / Turn right on Highway 75 / Travel 2-3 miles to Stanley Ranger District Office (at mile post 187).

Please mail or drop off CDs at locations listed on front cover of CD.

 

 

 

 

  

Stanley to Boise - 14 Tracks  

Track 1 - Begin at Stanley Ranger District Office.

Track 2 - Mile post 118 - Lodge Pole Forest / Mountain Pine Beetle.

Track 3 - Mile post 102 - Canyon Fire / Wildfire Effects.

Track 4 - Mile post 94 - Grandjean Area / Wildlife of the Forest.

Track 5 - Mile post 86 - Willis Gulch Fire / 1989 Lowman Fire.

Track 6 - Mile post 77 - Kirkham Hot Springs.

Track 7 - Mile post 66 - Forest Management.

Track 8 - Mile post 59 - Campgrounds / Trailheads / Native Americans.

Track 9 - Mile post 43 - Boise Basin / Experimental Forest / Idaho City.

Track 10 - Mile post 38 - Dredging / Minning.

Track 11 - Mile post 26 - Mores Creek / Idaho Batholith.

Track 12 - Mile post 20 - Lucky Peak Reservoir.

Track 13 - Mile post 17 - Boise NF - Lucky Peak Nursery.

Track 14 - Mile post 11 - Lucky Peak Dam / Historic Oregon Trail.

 

Please mail or drop off CDs at locations listed on the front cover of the CD.