Northern Rockies Road Trips

Idaho's Ponderosa Pine Scenic Route (SR 21) encompasses flatland, rocky vistas, mountain views and lush forested landscapes. Arid foothills near Boise give way to the high mountain woodlands of the Boise National Forest. The Boise River and small creeks accompany a good portion of the route, adding an extra layer of scenic value.

From Spencer, Idaho, to the Montana border, I-15 rolls through a stark landscape of mostly treeless hills as it gradually ascends to the Continental Divide at Monida Pass. Also called Veterans Memorial Highway, the road parallels a Union Pacific rail line that was once part of a route to the western entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Between the Gallatin and Madison Mountain Ranges, the silver waters of the Gallatin River thread a path through the forest, next to the byway. Skirting Yellowstone National Park, forests of thick lodgepole pine and Douglas fir contain trails that lead to the fascinating Petrified Forest.

The Clark Fork River Scenic Road (SR 135) follows the Clark Fork River in western Montana from St. Regis to the Flathead River. The byway carves a path through the forested foothills of the Cabinet Mountains in Lolo National Forest, which is richly diverse in plant and wildlife species.

US 14 cuts across northeastern Wyoming's Bighorn and Shoshone national forests to the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Scenery is breathtaking and varied, from the rugged, red-hued canyons near Bighorn to the flat farmland and distant mountain peaks around Cody. Your trip ends at scenic Yellowstone Lake, which sits 7,733 feet above sea level.

Ranches have long operated in western Wyoming, where the land - expansive valleys and grassy hillsides - is ideal for raising cattle. City slickers can even take advantage of working ranches that offer the experience of herding and rounding up cattle. For travelers who aren't going to saddle up, SR 352 offers a scenic taste of Wyoming ranchland country.

Seasonal route: The road is subject to closure in winter. Peer through stands of cottonwood and spruce on the Jenny Lake Scenic Road in Grand Teton National Park for a breathtaking sight: the glassy sapphire water of Jenny Lake reflecting the snow-dusted towering peaks of the Grand Tetons. Share the one-way road with hikers, bicyclists, moose, deer and black bears.

The picturesque farms and pastures along Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway blend seamlessly with clear lakes and lush forests providing beautiful views. This rural trek along CR 43 and SR 43 is a green oasis amid the open prairie that dominates most of North Dakota.