Driving the wild road to Vanity Summit in Idaho

Vanity Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.381m (7,811ft) above sea level, located in Custer County, in the U.S. state of Idaho.

Vanity Summit

Where is Vanity Summit?

The pass is located in the central part of Idaho, within the Salmon-Challis National Forest. A minor rough road west of the pass (44.489281, -115.110024) climbs up to 2.582m (8,471ft) above sea level. 4x4 vehicle required.

Is the road to Vanity Summit unpaved?

The road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called Forest Service Road 8. It’s rough and narrow but passable in truck. The road starts getting a little rough as it starts climbing towards the summit.

How long is the road to Vanity Summit?

Starting from the paved ID-21, the road to the lake is 13.51km (8.4 miles) long.

Is the road to Vanity Summit open year-round?

Set high in the Salmon River Mountains, the road is not plowed in winters.
Pic: Kent Anness

 

 

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.