Having the distinction as the 100th national forest scenic byway, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway climbs through some of Idaho's most rugged and majestic mountains. The byway, leading sightseers through the heart of the Idaho Rockies, follows Route 75 from Stanley to Shoshone. The resort towns of Sun Valley, Hailey and Ketchum attract visitors to the American Alps for winter sports ... but skiing is not only the big draw. Summer visitors will find the area laced with hundreds of alpine lakes, countless rivers and streams, and sweeping farmlands.
   Although it may take about three hours to travel the byway's 115 miles, there are far too many intriguing sites to hurry by. Mammoth Cave and Shoshone Ice Caves reveal that this area was once a hotbed of lava. These long lava tubes attract their share of the curious. You'll also find the historic 1909 Pole Creek Ranger Station, first in the Sawtooth National Forest. The centerpiece of the Sawtooth Recreation Area, Redfish Lake, is the area's largest alpine lakes in the state. Noted for its clarity, photographers often catch reflections of Mount Heyburn and Grand Mogul mountains in the crystal clear lake waters. For majestic views of the Sawtooth Range and Sawtooth Valley, look no further than Bethine and Frank Church Overlook (Galena Overlook), near the Galena Summit. Here, views of the signature jagged peaks give full appreciation of the Sawtooth Mountain name.

     Byway Map