A memorable road trip to Banner Creek Summit

Banner Creek Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.153m (7,063ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Boise and Custer counties, in the center of the U.S. state of Idaho.

Banner Creek Summit

Tucked away in the Salmon River Mountains, in central Idaho, the road to the summit is totally paved. It’s called State Highway 21, the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. It’s a narrow, winding road with some steep grades and two lanes with some passing lanes. There is danger of rock falls and severe avalanches.

The road is 93.50km (58.1 miles) long, running west-east from Lowman (in Boise County) to Stanley (in Custer County). The road is usually not maintained during the winter months, due to light traffic and heavy snowfalls, so road closures can be frequent.