Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway
Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway is a State Scenic Byway in Idaho. Within Idaho it covers roughly 140 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway covers 140 miles of some of Idaho's most varied terrain. It runs south from Challis on US 93 through the Lost River Valley to Arco, then southwest on US 93/26 past Carey to Highway 75. The drive earns its name honestly: it passes beneath Mount Borah, Idaho's tallest peak at over 12,600 feet, then crosses sagebrush high desert before reaching the black lava fields of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, formed by eight volcanic eruptions between 15,000 and 2,000 years ago. Arco, along the route, made history in 1955 as the first city in the world lit by atomic energy, using power from a nearby experimental reactor. The Lost River Valley itself bears the scars of a 6.9-magnitude 1983 earthquake that raised the surrounding mountains six inches while dropping the valley floor six feet, a rare visible reminder of the region's ongoing geologic activity.
- 140 miles, Challis to Highway 75 via Arco
- Mount Borah, Idaho's tallest peak
- Craters of the Moon National Monument
- Arco, first city lit by atomic energy (1955)
- 1983 Lost River earthquake site
- Lost River Valley high desert
Plan a drive on Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway →
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 Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway
3 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Peaks to Craters 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.