You can also see what the gold rush was about in Idaho City or feel the hot springs in Lowman. The Sawtooth Wilderness includes backcountry as few will ever see it. This beautiful route along the Salmon River takes you through historical expeditions, wildlife viewing, hot springs and ghost towns. The Sawtooth Byway provides a wide variety of nature experiences. The Ice Caves in Shoshone are glaciers in a lava desert.
Sun Valley is known for skiing.
The Sawtooth Valley area offers spectacular views, fishing and hiking. Sawtooth NRA Detailed description of the Sawtooth Scenic Byway as it passes through the National Recreation Area. This route's scenery ranges from valley ranchlands to narrow river gorges to a high mountain pass. Starting the drive from Swan Valley on State Highway 31 you will drive through farmland and then enter a deep, narrow gorge which winds through a canyon emerging into a narrow, flat canyon bottom. The route begins to climb steeply around Tie Canyon until it reaches Pine Creek Pass at 6,800 feet.