2013-12 Payette River Scenic Byway, Idaho
Hello All,
By the beginning of May spring has sprung in our neck of the woods here in Idaho. Flowers are in bloom and wild birds and animals are out and about. Without a doubt it is a lovely time of year.
These are California quail that we snapped a few photos of. There are a lot of them in town and around the Boise area. They sure have pretty markings.
By the beginning of May spring has sprung in our neck of the woods here in Idaho. Flowers are in bloom and wild birds and animals are out and about. Without a doubt it is a lovely time of year.
These are California quail that we snapped a few photos of. There are a lot of them in town and around the Boise area. They sure have pretty markings.
Here is another bird with
unique markings. It is a Northern Flicker and he was busy digging in the dirt
for food. He must have been finding something as he dug in the same area for
about fifteen minutes. We loved it as it gave us some good photo opportunities.
Since the weather was so nice
we decided to drive the Payette River Scenic Byway towards McCall, ID. We could
leisurely take our time as it is only a 112-mile drive.
Depending where you are along the river it can vary from a smooth slow flowing wide body of water to a wild torrent of whitewater crashing over boulders. Caution must be exercised by motorists along the curvy road as the beauty of it all can be distracting. There are pull-offs and parks along the way where you can stop and take it all in safely.
Idahoans love the outdoors and the Payette River offers a multitude of activities from fishing, swimming, sunbathing, camping, tubing, rafting, and whitewater kayaking. And, it is all within a couple of hours of Boise.
During the spring through fall seasons Idaho Northern & Pacific Railroad operates a scenic train that follows the Payette River. It is a trip we plan to make some day. It would be a fun trip to make with friends as you could visit while taking in the scenery.
Depending where you are along the river it can vary from a smooth slow flowing wide body of water to a wild torrent of whitewater crashing over boulders. Caution must be exercised by motorists along the curvy road as the beauty of it all can be distracting. There are pull-offs and parks along the way where you can stop and take it all in safely.
Idahoans love the outdoors and the Payette River offers a multitude of activities from fishing, swimming, sunbathing, camping, tubing, rafting, and whitewater kayaking. And, it is all within a couple of hours of Boise.
During the spring through fall seasons Idaho Northern & Pacific Railroad operates a scenic train that follows the Payette River. It is a trip we plan to make some day. It would be a fun trip to make with friends as you could visit while taking in the scenery.
Rafting is popular on the
river. Here is a group of seven ladies enjoying the outdoors.
As you climb higher up into the mountains the
forest becomes more dense and the faster the river current starts to flow.
Here’s a young couple that
found them a sand island to sunbath on.
Then you get to where the
kayakers hangout! We were happy to see that they were well prepared with their
outfits and helmets. The guy in the following photo had a “GoPro” camera
mounted on his helmet. Bet he got some interesting video and photos.
Here are a few shots of one of his buddies
passing by.
As you can see, there were lots
of holes in that fast moving current that tried to swallow them up!
It was fun watching them make
their way downstream.
Headwaters of the Payette
River flow into and out of Payette Lake. The mountain resort town of McCall,
ID, sits on the shore of the lake. We snapped a few photos of a couple taking a
canoe ride on the lake. What a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.
Arrowleaf balsamroot was in full
bloom. It is quite common in the western states and is a member of the
sunflower family. It seems to grow best in fairly open space but can do well in
open ponderosa pine forests. It is a striking wildflower.
And to our surprise we came across Trilliums
that varied from an almost pinkish white to a lavender color. The flower
usually has but three petals. It was a lovely find.
It was a wonderful day’s ride
that we thoroughly enjoyed. It is a scenic byway that we would recommend if you
are ever in this part of the country.
Our next adventure will take us to the Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden in Spokane, WA. Hope you tag along on the ride.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Our next adventure will take us to the Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden in Spokane, WA. Hope you tag along on the ride.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns