Northwest Passage Scenic Byway
US 12 up the Clearwater and Lochsa rivers from Lewiston to Lolo Pass, through Nez Perce homeland on the route of Lewis and Clark.
Also known as US 12 and Idaho 13
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length202 miles[1]Visit Idaho gives 175 miles for the US 12 section.
- Drive timeAbout six hours of driving, or three days to enjoy it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsUS 12 from Lewiston to the Montana line, plus Idaho 13 from Kooskia to Grangeville[2]
- Start and endLewiston to Lolo Pass at the Idaho-Montana line[2]
- Fees and passesCampsites and attractions along the byway may charge.[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfacePaved, winding two-lane roads with occasional passing lanes and slow-vehicle turnouts[3]
- Vehicle notesNo fuel between Kooskia and Lochsa Lodge at Powell Junction. In winter expect black ice in the canyons and snow at higher elevations.[3]
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Northwest Passage Scenic Byway follows US 12 from Lewiston up the Clearwater and Lochsa river canyons to Lolo Pass on the Montana line, with a branch on Idaho 13 from Kooskia to Grangeville. It traces the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition through the homeland of the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu).
Nez Perce National Historical Park has sites along the way, starting with its visitor center at Spalding near Lewiston. Canoe Camp is where the expedition carved canoes with Nez Perce help, and Heart of the Monster near Kamiah is the site of the Nimiipuu creation story.
Past Kooskia, there's no fuel until Lochsa Lodge at Powell Junction, so fill up first. In winter, watch for black ice in the canyons.
Stops along the way
-
Heart of the Monster
Site of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) creation story near Kamiah.
Official information · 46.21082, -116.00582 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Canoe Camp
Where the Lewis and Clark expedition made canoes on the Clearwater River with help from the Nez Perce.
Official information · 46.50086, -116.33136 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Spalding
Nez Perce National Historical Park visitor center and headquarters.
Official information · 46.44753, -116.82277 · about 0.3 mi from the route line
-
Lolo Pass
The Montana line, with a visitor center in a 1923 cabin.
Official information · 46.6352, -114.57985 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Grangeville Farmers Market, ID · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Orofino Farmers Market, ID · about 0.1 mi from the route
- Clarkston Farmers MarketClarkston, WA · about 3.0 mi from the route
- Weippe Farmers Market, ID · about 10.3 mi from the route
- Latah Farmers MarketId, ID · about 16.0 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Northwest Passage Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Northwest Passage Scenic Byway (Visit Idaho, Idaho Commerce) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Every Mile Marker Worth Stopping for on Northwest Passage (Visit Idaho) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Nez Perce National Historical Park (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).