Wildlife Canyon Drive

My husband and I will be traveling to ID for 12 days of sightseeing, fishing, and relaxing. It will be our first time in ID. We arrive in Boise on June 19, and plan a few nights in Stanley, Salmon, Island Park, with a final night in Hailey before heading home.

Our first stop will be Stanley--can anyone tell me if it would be worth it to drive the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway as opposed to simply hi-tailing it straight to Stanley?

Thanks a bunch!

Wildlife Canyon Drive

Not sure of the name of the route but we took 84 to 21 to get to Stanley, through the forest it was beautiful. Well worth it. Have a great trip!

Wildlife Canyon Drive

Thanks for the info--yours is the route that we originally had planned, so I%26#39;m glad to hear that it%26#39;s nice. I love a country drive! The Wildlife Canyon route would take us a little north of Boise and the 21, then east through the canyon and back to the 21. It seems like it%26#39;s about the same amount of time, but not quite as direct to Stanley.

I think the canyon road might be a little narrower and slower, but I%26#39;m not sure--you can read about it online on the byways.org web site. I was hoping that someone who has been on both routes could tell me if it%26#39;s worth it. I guess the word ';wildlife'; is attractive to me, although I have no doubt we%26#39;ll see some animals during the course of our trip.

Thanks again!

We were only doing a quick visit and encountered a snowstorm enroute so its hard to judge the wildlife we did hear elk bugeling at Redfish Lake but the snow was coming real hard at that point. We went in early Nov. There is much to see along the way I can%26#39;t imagine the view on a clear day. We went to Sun Valley and Bruneau Sand Dunes which was really neat as well. Have fun.

Another option we have not done this yet but plan to this summer is to explore the Hells Canyon area looks real pretty as well. Just some suggestions I figured you needed more to confuse you at this point in your planning. Have Fun..

HI

It is a must drive take your time.

it is always worth it to drive the scenic byways.

you can go up 55 to Banks then cut across to 21 you drive along the payette river you can stop and watch the river rafters and

kayaker%26#39;s you pick up 21 at Lowman then up and over the pass to Stanley.

you also can catch 21 right east of Boise you drive up past Lucky Peak RS then through Idaho City only 1 hr from Boise it is a fun little western town good food and good people then up and over more%26#39;s creek summitt and back down to Lowman.

for me this is one of my favorite sunday drives

the roads are paved and in good shape for mountain roads

from Lowman to Stanley only about 1 1/2 hr.

when you are driving into Stanley on 21 stop at Stanley lake it is back about 4 or 5 miles off the road I think about 5 or 10 miles before Stanley. to me it is what a mountain lake should look like.

I have great memorys of camping there and waking up in the morning to see the mountains reflecting off of the lake.

When you leave Hailey then you hi tail it back to Boise only a 3 to 4 hr drive.

i have friends in town for 2 more days, and will write more later. Was in Stanley yesterday and they aren%26#39;t going to open the Stanly Lake for a while...they are harvestiing the ';beetle infested'; pines...enjoy

Thanks Idaho folks for your help on this! Looking forward to hearing more from Charley 48.

By the way, we have bark beetles in our local forests too (yes there are forests near the LA area!) Not a good thing...

Personal opinion for someone living in Boise- going up 55 to Banks and taking the Wildlife Canyon road may actually be quicker than going 21 over Mores Creek Summit. That depends on how much you stop along the way, obviously.

That stretch of 21 doesn%26#39;t merit going faster than 35. It%26#39;s quite the winding road, and stressful to drive. Are there even any good vistas along that route?

HI

I would have to agree with pounder.

I call mores creek summit on 21 ';get sick highway';

because when my son was young i was driving the road fast in my old VW camper van and he got sick on my brother who was visiting.

but it is not that bad unless you are a flat lander LOL

If on west side of Boise maybe take 55 but it is has much more traffic than 21 especially on weekends.

I go up 21 for mountain biking lots of great trails. and Idaho city is a fun western town.

Thanks so much for the great advice! I%26#39;ll be there in just a few weeks--can%26#39;t wait!!

either way you go, it will be nice. be sure to stop in stanley at the bakery and be hungry. it used to be frustrating to try and EAT in stanley. sorry, but i like good food, so take my own!! go in the ';market'; there, it is funny. not much grew out of the dirt. I love stanley, tho, and always love being in that area. when we took the friends from jersey there, it was cold, and the only place open was the local fishing store. the wonderful lady said that she stays open for the steel head fishermen and has done so for years. the heater had broken and it was colder inside than out...those stanleyites are a hardy bunch and i love them. enjoy

oh, i have written a post on the 100 acre woods b and b. if you plan on staying around there, it is really worth it. lovely place

i grew up (well, haven%26#39;t really done that yet!!) in Laguna Beach in the 60%26#39;s...i do remember the trees and the springs everywhere. Can%26#39;t believe i have a memory after surviving the 60%26#39;s in laguna. ha