U.S. Route 93 in Idaho
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 93 is a north–south U.S. Highway in the U.S. state
of Idaho
.
, Nevada
.
At a point west of Twin Falls
, US 93 turns and runs east–west for a few miles, concurrent with US 30
. This section is known locally as a part of Addison Avenue. The highway returns to its north–south orientation in Twin Falls at the intersection of Addison Avenue and Blue Lakes Boulevard.
North of Twin Falls, US 93 crosses the Snake River Canyon
via the Perrine Bridge
, 486 feet (148.1 m) above the water. Approximately 3 miles (5 km) north of Perrine Bridge the highway intersects with Interstate 84
at exit 173.
Further north in Shoshone
, US 93 connects with the southern terminus of State Highway 75
, formerly "US-93 Alternate." US 93 diverts in a northeasterly route towards Carey
, the Craters of the Moon
, and Arco
. Between Shoshone and Arco the highway runs concurrently with the east–west US 26
, and also with US 20
between Carey
and Arco.
From Arco, the highway turns northwest and climbs the Big Lost River
valley through Mackay
. This section provides views of the Lost River Range
to the northeast of the highway, including Borah Peak
, the highest point in the state at 12662 feet (3,859.4 m) above sea level. Mackay Dam and reservoir are on the southwest side of the highway. The highway crosses the Willow Creek Summit
at 7161 feet (2,182.7 m) (web-cam) and later descends into Grand View Canyon and heads into the city of Challis
.
US 93 creates the northern terminus of State Highway 75
just south of Challis and takes over as the northern leg of the Salmon River Scenic Byway. It descends with the Salmon River
as it winds north around the edge of the Lost River
and Lemhi mountain ranges into the city of Salmon
at 4004 feet (1,220.4 m).
Continuing north, the US 93 runs along portions of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The highway follows the descending northbound river until North Fork
at 3620 feet (1,103.4 m), where the Salmon River makes a left turn to flow west across the state to Riggins
. US 93 continues north, climbing the North Fork of the Salmon River into the Bitterroot Range
, passing through the Salmon-Challis National Forest
and Gibbonsville. The highway exits Idaho at Lost Trail Pass
(web-cam) at 7014 feet (2,137.9 m) and enters Montana
. West of the highway at the pass is the Lost Trail Powder Mountain
ski area, with terrain in both states.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
.
Route description
US 93 enters Idaho from a point immediately north of the border casino town of JackpotJackpot, Nevada
Jackpot is an unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The Zip Code Tabulation Area for its ZIP code, 89825, had a population of 1,189 as of the 2010 census. Located less than 1 mile from the Idaho border on U.S...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
At a point west of Twin Falls
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 censusTwin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's Magic Valley region...
, US 93 turns and runs east–west for a few miles, concurrent with US 30
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
. This section is known locally as a part of Addison Avenue. The highway returns to its north–south orientation in Twin Falls at the intersection of Addison Avenue and Blue Lakes Boulevard.
North of Twin Falls, US 93 crosses the Snake River Canyon
Snake River Canyon (Idaho)
Snake River Canyon is a large canyon formed by the Snake River in the Magic Valley region of southern Idaho. It is well known as the site of an unsuccessful 1974 attempt by Evel Knievel to jump it in the Skycycle X-2....
via the Perrine Bridge
Perrine Bridge
The I. B. Perrine Bridge at Twin Falls, Idaho, United States is a truss arch four-lane bridge carrying U.S. Highway 93 over the Snake River Canyon. Perrine Bridge is approximately long and above the Snake River...
, 486 feet (148.1 m) above the water. Approximately 3 miles (5 km) north of Perrine Bridge the highway intersects with Interstate 84
Interstate 84 in Idaho
In the U.S. state of Idaho, Interstate 84 heads southeast from the Oregon state line, it spurs to Interstate 184 in Boise. Eventually I-84 spurs Interstate 86 and mainline I-84 heads southeast towards Utah and I-86 is continues due east and heads to Pocatello, meeting with Interstate 15.-Future:...
at exit 173.
Further north in Shoshone
Shoshone, Idaho
Shoshone is the county seat and largest city of Lincoln County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census. In contrast to the Shoshone Native American tribe for which it is named, the city's name is correctly pronounced "Show-shown," with a silent 'e'.- History :Shoshone has...
, US 93 connects with the southern terminus of State Highway 75
Idaho State Highway 75
State Highway 75 is a two-lane highway that travels through the Sawtooth Range of central Idaho from Shoshone to Challis. The road is designated as one of Idaho's scenic byways and provides access to Sawtooth National Recreation Area...
, formerly "US-93 Alternate." US 93 diverts in a northeasterly route towards Carey
Carey, Idaho
Carey is a city in Blaine County, Idaho, United States. The population was 513 at the 2000 census. Carey is primarily an agricultural city and is the location of the Blaine County Fairgrounds. Nearby recreational destinations include the Craters of the Moon National Monument, Carey Lake, Silver...
, the Craters of the Moon
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a national monument and national preserve located in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho, U.S.A. It is along US 20 , between the small cities of Arco and Carey, at an average elevation of above sea level...
, and Arco
Arco, Idaho
Arco is a city in Butte County, Idaho, United States. The population was 995 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Butte County.Craters of the Moon National Monument is located along U.S. Route 20, southwest of the city. The Idaho National Laboratory is located east of Arco...
. Between Shoshone and Arco the highway runs concurrently with the east–west US 26
U.S. Route 26
U.S. Route 26 is an east–west United States highway. It started in Ogallala, Nebraska, and gradually grew to reach the West Coast in Oregon. When the U.S. highway system was first defined, it was limited to Nebraska and Wyoming; by the 1950s, it continued into Idaho and Oregon. The...
, and also with US 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
between Carey
Carey, Idaho
Carey is a city in Blaine County, Idaho, United States. The population was 513 at the 2000 census. Carey is primarily an agricultural city and is the location of the Blaine County Fairgrounds. Nearby recreational destinations include the Craters of the Moon National Monument, Carey Lake, Silver...
and Arco.
From Arco, the highway turns northwest and climbs the Big Lost River
Big Lost River
The Big Lost River is a major river in the U.S. state of Idaho, about long. It starts in the Rocky Mountains and flows in a generally southeast direction into the Snake River Plain. True to its name, the Big Lost River's surface flow does not reach any larger river, but vanishes into the Snake...
valley through Mackay
Mackay, Idaho
Mackay is a city in Custer County, Idaho, United States. The population was 566 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mackay is located at , at an elevation of 5,905 feet ....
. This section provides views of the Lost River Range
Lost River Range
The Lost River Range is a group of high mountains located in central Idaho, in the northwestern United States. It runs southeast for approximately 75 miles from the Salmon River near the community of Challis to the Snake River Valley near Arco...
to the northeast of the highway, including Borah Peak
Borah Peak
Borah Peak is the highest mountain in the U.S. state of Idaho. It is located in the central section of the Lost River Range, within the Challis National Forest in eastern Custer County. The peak is named for William Borah , a prominent U.S...
, the highest point in the state at 12662 feet (3,859.4 m) above sea level. Mackay Dam and reservoir are on the southwest side of the highway. The highway crosses the Willow Creek Summit
Willow Creek Summit
Willow Creek Summit is a mountain pass in central Idaho, at an elevation of above sea level on US 93. It is located below the Lost River Range, in northeastern Custer County, within the Challis National Forest....
at 7161 feet (2,182.7 m) (web-cam) and later descends into Grand View Canyon and heads into the city of Challis
Challis, Idaho
Challis is a city in Custer County, Idaho, United States. The population was 909 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Custer County.-History:...
.
US 93 creates the northern terminus of State Highway 75
Idaho State Highway 75
State Highway 75 is a two-lane highway that travels through the Sawtooth Range of central Idaho from Shoshone to Challis. The road is designated as one of Idaho's scenic byways and provides access to Sawtooth National Recreation Area...
just south of Challis and takes over as the northern leg of the Salmon River Scenic Byway. It descends with the Salmon River
Salmon River (Idaho)
The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is also known as The River of No Return. It flows for through central Idaho, draining and dropping more than between its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National...
as it winds north around the edge of the Lost River
Lost River Range
The Lost River Range is a group of high mountains located in central Idaho, in the northwestern United States. It runs southeast for approximately 75 miles from the Salmon River near the community of Challis to the Snake River Valley near Arco...
and Lemhi mountain ranges into the city of Salmon
Salmon, Idaho
Salmon is a city in Lemhi County, Idaho, United States. The population was 3,122 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Lemhi County...
at 4004 feet (1,220.4 m).
Continuing north, the US 93 runs along portions of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The highway follows the descending northbound river until North Fork
North Fork, Idaho
North Fork is an unincorporated community in Lemhi County, Idaho.Its name is derived from confluence of the south-flowing North Fork of the Salmon River with the north-flowing main Salmon River, which makes a near-right angle turn here to flow westward across the state to Riggins...
at 3620 feet (1,103.4 m), where the Salmon River makes a left turn to flow west across the state to Riggins
Riggins, Idaho
Riggins is a city in Idaho County, Idaho, United States. It is nestled deep in a canyon at the confluence of the Salmon River and the Little Salmon River in west central Idaho, approximately 150 highway miles north of Boise, and 120 highway miles south-southeast of Lewiston...
. US 93 continues north, climbing the North Fork of the Salmon River into the Bitterroot Range
Bitterroot Mountains
The Northern and Central Bitterroot Range, collectively the Bitterroot Mountains, is the largest portion of the Bitterroot Range, part of the Rocky Mountains, located in the panhandle of Idaho and westernmost Montana in the Western United States...
, passing through the Salmon-Challis National Forest
Salmon-Challis National Forest
Salmon-Challis National Forest is located in east central sections of the U.S. state of Idaho. At 4,235,940 acres it is one of the largest national forests in the lower 48 states and also has most of the land area of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, which is the largest wilderness...
and Gibbonsville. The highway exits Idaho at Lost Trail Pass
Lost Trail Pass
Lost Trail Pass is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of the United States, on the border of Idaho and Montana in the Bitterroot Mountains. The pass is at an elevation of 7014 feet above sea level and is traversed by U.S. Highway 93...
(web-cam) at 7014 feet (2,137.9 m) and enters Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. West of the highway at the pass is the Lost Trail Powder Mountain
Lost Trail Powder Mountain
Lost Trail Powder Mountain is an alpine ski area located along the Montana-Idaho border at the junction of US Highway 93 and Montana State Highway 43 at Lost Trail Pass, about one mile northwest of Chief Joseph Pass, which is on the Continental Divide....
ski area, with terrain in both states.