The Lewis and Clark backcountry byway and adventure trail. When Chad said we
were going for a 36-mile, three hour nature drive I wasn't too enthusiastic
about it. But by the time we finished this loop I was already planning on how
to come back and do it again. The first thing you have to do though is get here.
The portal to the byway is 20 miles south of Salmon off of Idaho Highway 28
in a town called Tendoy. Which is this store, creatively named the Tendoy store.
At this cool little mom-and-pop shop, stop and pick up any snacks you
might need and definitely grab a map. So we're in Tendoy right now about 20 miles
south of Salmon where Sacagawea was born. And we're right at the entrance to the
Lewis and Clark Scenic Backcountry Byway Adventure Trail. Wow that was a mouthful.
Yeah. I say we do this, it says it should take us three hours. I don't know about three
hours? I don't think it will take us three hours. Yeah not the way you drive. One thing that makes
this drive cool is the drive itself. With a 4,000 foot gain and loss in elevation
expect some steep grades at times approaching 20%. Definitely leave your
trailer in Tendoy if you have one and take things slow. It is a one-way road
however, so at least you won't have to worry about competing with oncoming traffic
The byway is normally free of snow from
early June through October but at peak elevations of 8,600 feet you might want
to call the public land center in Salmon if you're coming early in the season or
later in the season. Here's their number I'll leave it in the description below
as well. Needless to say this is a beautiful drive. The mountains, forests,
and grassy fields look much the same today as when the Lewis and Clark
expedition passed through this place in 1805. There are stunning wildflowers and
wildlife to see like this guy that decided to bask in the middle of the
road. Or this group of lollygaggers just moseying on through.
Well, we're greeted by the local wildlife. Excuse us.
Pardon me. Coming through. Oh yeah it works. Everything we read suggested we
leave ourselves three hours to do this drive. But after completing it we thought
we should have left ourselves the entire day because there's so much to do around here.
All marked on that map you picked up in Tendoy.
Sharkey Hot Springs is named for pioneer miner and rancher Frank Sharkey.
This BLM recreation site features two large outdoor soaking pools, changing
rooms, and a fire pit.
That is toasty. That's an interesting hair do you got there Chad. It's
my hot springs hair. Oh. I don't like to get my hair wet.
So this is the first place where the US flag was flown in Idaho. Yeah the first
one west of the Rockies. Lewis and Clark flew it right after meeting the
Shoshone in 1805. It's a very fitting, epic view. It is. These little hikes are
nice you don't always have to be in the car.
I know, opens up up here in Lemhi Pass and this trail for me today is to
my liking a nice stroll. You know if you want to get ambitious the Continental
Divide is over there. Yeah I don't think I'm quite in shape for the Continental
Divide, but maybe if I start training now, this is good training right here.
The thing that's blown me away about this backcountry byway is the
accessibility. I mean right off the highway you're on this beautiful
well-maintained one-lane dirt road that kind of winds through the forest.
You come up to this absolutely stunning view from Lenhi Pass and you really could do it in almost any car.
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