Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway
Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway is a State Scenic Byway in Idaho. Within Idaho it covers roughly 35 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway covers 33 miles of paved road between Banks and Lowman, following the South Fork of the Payette River through a canyon of sheer rock walls streaked with black lava. Reachable as a loop from Boise via Highway 55 to Banks and Highway 21 from Lowman, the drive is best known for its wildlife: elk herds numbering close to a hundred are a regular sight, alongside mule deer, whitetail deer, wild turkeys, eagles, osprey, and occasionally cougars, bears, and wolves. The river itself carries the drive, dropping through waterfalls and rapids that draw whitewater rafters in addition to anglers and hikers. At its endpoints, the byway connects directly to two other Idaho scenic drives, the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway and the Payette River Scenic Byway, making it easy to combine into a longer central-Idaho road trip. The route stays open year-round, though conditions can shift quickly in the mountains from late fall through early spring.
- 33 miles, Banks to Lowman
- Follows the South Fork Payette River
- Elk herds of nearly 100 animals
- Whitewater rafting & trout fishing
- Connects to Ponderosa Pine & Payette River byways
- Open year-round (caution in winter)
Plan a drive on Wildlife Canyon 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 Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway
6 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway.
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