Lost Gold Trails Loop
Lost Gold Trails Loop is a State Scenic Byway in Idaho. Within Idaho it covers roughly 50 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Lost Gold Trails Loop with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
Lost Gold Trails Loop is a 47.8-mile scenic loop through eastern Idaho's high desert, connecting the towns of Dubois, Spencer, and Idmon. The route follows Old Highway 91 north from a junction east of Dubois to Spencer, then cuts east on Spencer-Idmon Road back toward the Fort Henry Historic Byway, tracing the Beaver Creek Valley that 19th-century prospectors used as a main corridor to Montana's gold mines. When the gold played out, the area became known for opals instead, and rockhounds still dig for them near Spencer today. The loop crosses desert-lava rolling hills where cattle graze alongside pronghorn, deer, and elk, with the occasional bear or bobcat completing the wildlife list. It's best driven between mid-April and November, since the high, exposed terrain sees hard winters. As a short loop that ties directly into the neighboring Fort Henry Historic Byway, it makes an easy add-on for anyone driving that eastern Idaho scenic byway network.
- 47.8-mile loop
- Dubois, Spencer, Idmon
- Beaver Creek Valley gold rush route
- opal digging near Spencer
- connects to Fort Henry Historic Byway
- pronghorn, deer, elk
Plan a drive on Lost Gold Trails Loop →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Lost Gold Trails Loop
1 campground or RV park sits within about 5 miles of Lost Gold Trails Loop.
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