Oregon Trail-Bear Lake Scenic Byway

State: Idaho
Length: 111.3 mi / 179.1 km
Time to Allow: Allow 2.5 hours

Take a closer look at one of the Nation's most historic pathways while traveling the byway. The Oregon Trail passed through this area and the pioneers who traveled it sometimes decided to stop here for good. It seems that the area could not have changed much since the first settlers arrived as drivers pass small communities and wheat fields that lead up to the foot of the mountains.

The southern end of the Oregon Trail-Bear Lake Scenic Byway winds its way along the turquoise-blue waters of Bear Lake the gem of Southeast Idaho. Bear Lake straddles the Idaho-Utah border and boasts sandy beaches, great water sports, fishing, boating, and the famous Bear Lake State Park. The Lake has been a popular recreation area for generations.

Along the drive, visitors will pass many historic towns, some nearly forgotten. Nevertheless, the buildings erected by the earliest settlers of this territory still stand as a monument to the culture of an expanding country. Architecture from a different age can be found in buildings throughout the byway. Often, travelers will find displays that retell the stories of sites and the people who made them signficant.

Stories

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  Oregon Trail - Bear Lake Scenic Byway Overview

  May 12, 2006

  Skirting the west side of Bear Lake to Freedom, Wyoming, the Oregon Trail – Bear Lake Scenic Byway promises a trip through early western history along turquoise-blue lakes and mountain scenery in southeastern Idaho. As it passes by historic towns, expansive wheat fields, and inviting national forests and recreation areas, the route beckons to both outdoor adventurers and enthusiasts of times past.