Southeastern Idaho Road Trip Route
Visit Idaho shared a Southeastern Idaho itinerary featuring stunning roads that gained 4 likes, 168 views, and 1 repost on social media. The route promises breathtaking landscapes with fewer crowds than typical tourist destinations.
- The route often includes the Oregon Trail-Bear Lake Scenic Byway, a 110-mile stretch that follows the path of pioneers and offers views of the turquoise waters of Bear Lake, known as the "Caribbean of the Rockies." - A notable stop is Soda Springs, home to the world's only captive geyser, which was accidentally discovered in 1937 by a drilling crew searching for hot water for a swimming pool. The geyser is now controlled by a timer and erupts every hour on the hour, reaching heights of over 70 feet. - In Blackfoot, the Idaho Potato Museum is housed in a former Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot built in 1913. The museum features unique exhibits such as the world's largest potato crisp, which is 23 inches long, and a potato signed by former Vice President Dan Quayle after his infamous "potatoe" spelling incident. - Another scenic route in the area is the Pioneer Historic Byway, which begins in Franklin, Idaho's first city, and passes by Chesterfield, a Mormon "ghost town" with 27 original structures. - Near Bear Lake, travelers can visit Minnetonka Cave, a nine-room limestone cave that serves as a winter roost for at least seven species of bats. In 2022, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome was detected in the cave for the first time in Idaho. - The town of Lava Hot Springs is famous for its natural, sulfur-free mineral hot pools, with temperatures ranging from 102 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. - The town of Preston, a potential stop on the itinerary, gained fame as the filming location for the 2004 movie "Napoleon Dynamite."
