Northwest Passage Scenic Byway
Visitor Services

Tours of the Dworshak Dam (near Orofino) are available year-round, as are lake cruises and boat rentals. The waters provide great fishing for kokanee, salmon, and rainbow trout.

Full services are available in Orofino, Kamiah, and Kooskia with partial services found in Spalding, Mytrle, Lenore, Syringa, Lowell, and Powell.

Roughly 87 miles of this byway are located within national forests. Some travelers may feel uneasy traveling 1.5 hours in remote and rugged terrain without seeing a village, settlement, or possibly another vehicle. Emergency call boxes are stationed along the route for public safety.

The 65-mile stretch between Lowell and Powell has no fuel or food. Roadside toilets are available at several locations. Lochsa Lodge at Powell, milepost 162, has lodging, limited groceries, restaurant, telephone, and fuel.

Service	Description	Service	Description
	Fees Expect to pay fees at the various campsites and attractions along the byway.		Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities Beautiful nature and cycling trails can be found all along the byway. You can experience backpacking, horseback riding, hiking, and river rafting in this uncrowded land. Pedestrians,...
	Camping There are places to camp along this byway.		Food There are places to buy food along this byway.
	Gasoline Gasoline is available.		Information A variety of tools assist travelers, including face-to-face instruction at visitor centers, signs, maps, and brochures. Four key wayfinding tools include: + Byway logo signs along the route +...
	Lodging There is overnight lodging along this byway.		Retail There are places to shop along this byway.

NOTE: The America's Byways® website is federally funded and cannot promote commercial businesses. This data may not be complete or up to date. The National Scenic Byways Program is not responsible for the quality of your travel experience. See the right column on the Byway Overview page for local contact information.

Special Considerations

Two-wheel drive vehicles are accommodated along the entire route of US Highway 12 and Idaho Highway 13. The entire route is paved with at least two lanes and occasional paved passing lanes.

All of the visitor centers are accessible to people with disabilities. Most of the campgrounds and RV parks have accessible facilities and camping areas. Most of the wayside interpretive areas are also accessible and many can be enjoyed without leaving the vehicle.

Restrictions

During winter months drivers may experience some snow-covered roads near Lolo Pass at the Montana border.

Seasons

Best Time to Drive

Visitors traveling the byway from Memorial Day to Labor Day will have greatest access to visitor services and interpretive/educational opportunities.

High Season

Because destinations along the byway provide great opportunities for escape and recreation, summer holiday weekends can be more crowded.

Winter

Inclement weather slows traveling time during the winter; however, the roads are regularly maintained and plowed throughout the winter, and the highway is passable.

Road Conditions

To find up to date information about the road conditions along Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, please visit the FHWA listing of web sites for more information.

Idaho