side view of a river lined with trees with mountains in the background — Payette River winding through the Montour Wildlife Management Area, near Sweet. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

view of a brick building on the side of a street — Downtown Emmett. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

front view of a dam — Black Canyon Dam, near Emmett. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

a vast green landscape with mountains in the background — Highway 52, near Sweet . Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

a calf running in a field with more cows grazing in the background — Cows along Highway 52. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

Pelicans flying across a blue sy — Pelicans flying over the Montour Wildlife Management Area, near Sweet. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

close up of a steak beside half a lemon and sliced tomatoes — Anderson Reserve, near Sweet. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

closeup of a steak, potatoes and broccoli — Anderson Reserve, near Sweet. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

a brown horse behind a fence with another brown horse in the background — Horses along Highway 52. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

An overhead view of a river running through a sprawling green landscape with mountains in the background. — Horseshoe Bend. Photo credit: Visit Idaho.

cows grazing in a field with trees and mountains in the background — Bluffs along Highway 52. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

a side view of a dam beside a mountain — Black Canyon Dam, near Emmett. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

close up of orange flowers in a field of grass — Poppies in the Montour Wildlife Management Area, near Sweet. Photo credit: Idaho Tourism.

Lower Payette River Heritage Byway

Winding through the charming towns of Payette, Emmett and Horseshoe Bend, the Lower Payette River Heritage Byway is 52 miles of rural views on Highway 52. While you’re exploring, take some time to soak up the hometown hospitality this area has to offer. As you meander along the Lower Payette River, stop off for local cuisine, ziplining, historical museums, picturesque parks and more.

Length

56.8 miles
91.4 km

Time

1 hour, 13 minutes

Region

Southwest Idaho

When to Visit

Year-round

31 Byways. 31 Ways to Be Inspired.

A variety of scenic, natural, historic, recreational, archeological and cultural experiences can be found on Idaho’s 31 scenic byways. View the video to get a taste of the adventures that await you, and start planning your next road trip.

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Road Trip Tips

Turn-by-Turn Directions: Begins on the banks of the Snake River and goes east on Highway 52 along the Payette River, passing through the communities of Payette, Emmett and Horseshoe Bend.

Full services in: Payette and Emmett

Partial Services in: Horseshoe Bend, restaurants in Sweet

Full services: When gas, food and lodging are available
Partial services: When gas and a few other facilities are available
Motorcycle Route: Yes

Nearby Adventures

From thrilling zipline tours to wildlife adventures, the Lower Payette River Heritage Byway offers plenty to explore on your southwest Idaho road trip.