Northwest Passage Scenic Byway
Northwest Passage Scenic Byway is an All-American Road in Idaho. Within Idaho it covers roughly 200 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Northwest Passage Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
At 202 miles, the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway is Idaho's longest byway. It follows the route Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's Corps of Discovery took through north central Idaho in 1803 on their way toward the Pacific. The main stretch runs 175 miles northeast from Lewiston along US 12 to the Montana border, threading the winding Clearwater River Canyon past the pale blue camas blooms of the Camas Prairie each spring; a shorter spur on Idaho 13 connects Kooskia to Grangeville. Because much of the canyon remains as rugged and undeveloped as it was two centuries ago, the drive offers an unusually direct look at the landscape the expedition actually crossed. The route also carries deep Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) significance, passing numerous tribal historical sites, including the Heart of the Monster, a 53-acre site near Spalding that preserves an origin legend sacred to the Nez Perce people.
- 202 miles, Idaho's longest scenic byway
- Follows Lewis & Clark's 1803 route
- Clearwater River Canyon on US 12
- Camas Prairie wildflower blooms
- Heart of the Monster, Nez Perce origin site
- Lewiston to the Montana border
Designated for its historic qualities
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Places to stop along Northwest Passage Scenic Byway
Nez Perce National Historical Park
The park's main visitor center at Spalding, on the Clearwater River, with exhibits on Nimiipuu history and culture.
WebsiteHeart of the Monster
A rock mound near Kamiah tied to the Nimiipuu origin story, where Coyote defeated a monster and created the people.
WebsiteLochsa Historical Ranger Station
A preserved 1920s backcountry ranger station on the wild Lochsa River, staffed by volunteers in summer.
Lolo Pass
The pass on the Montana line where Lewis and Clark struggled across the Bitterroots in 1805, with a visitor center and trails.
Where to Stay along Northwest Passage Scenic Byway
5 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Northwest Passage Scenic Byway.
Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.
Photos of Northwest Passage Scenic Byway
What is an All-American Road?
All-American Roads are the top tier of America's National Scenic Byways. To earn the title a road has to be a destination in its own right — offering features so exceptional, across several intrinsic qualities (scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational), that they can't be found anywhere else.