Pioneer Historic Byway

Maples brilliant with orange leaves overlook the lake at Oneida Narrows.

The Hatch House in Franklin was built in 1872 by LDS bishop, Lorenzo Hatch.

A railing beside the highway seems to hold in the water that surrounds the mountain base.

The Oneida Stake Academy is restored in this artist's rendition of it as a visitor center in Benson Park in Preston, Idaho.

Moving the three-story stone Academy presented quite a challenge, but the movers were up to it.

The Academy was successfully moved to its new home at Benson Park in Preston, Idaho. This photo shows it in its unrestored, freshly moved state, as of 2003 or 2004.

Rough rocks stand out against dark green pines and gray-green sagebrush fields.

Train tracks run along a mountainside, dotted with juniper and sagebrush. A home sits atop the hill.

Red Rock Pass is today's remnant of the natural dam at the north end of ancient Lake Bonneville.

Franklin's old ZCMI store - the second oldest in the area.

Rail fence marks the boundary of the Emigrant Burial Site near Soda Springs, Idaho

Marker for the Old Yellowstone Highway (the last one still in its original location.) Pink, white and red flowers surround the boulder on which the marker is placed, in a nicely landscaped display. Summer.

The entrance to the Niter Ice Cave, as seen from above.

Visitors browse the pioneer relics displayed in Franklin's Relic Hall.

Volunteer takes a break in front of the historic Relic Hall in Franklin.

Viewed from the road on a sunny afternoon, the Last Chance Canal bridge spans a river that runs through a black lava flow in southeastern Idaho.

Built with yesterday's skill and perserverance, today's canal supplies water to much of southeastern Idaho's farmlands

Heading south into the Cub River Valley near Riverdale

A grassy depression shows one remnant of the Oregon-California trail near Soda Springs, Idaho

A cold-water geyser erupts one late afternoon in Soda Springs.

Visitor to Last Chance Canal takes the cliff path

A woman perched on the iron walkway across the canal peers into the tunnel carved into the lava flow.

The Cub River flows through ancient lava flows at Last Chance Canal.

The Oneida Stake Academy, the oldest Latter Day Saint (LDS or "Mormon") academy, was originally located on the grounds of current-day Preston High School. In 2003/2004 the Academy was relocated to its new home in Benson Park in Preston, after a successful effort by local citizens to save this important piece of local history from demolition. After restoration, it will open to the public as a visitor center for the Pioneer Historic Byway.

Built in 1904, Franklin's Village Hall resides among shade trees.

Well kept gardens and lawns surround the Fitzen House, which was built in late 1800's.

One of the Original Yellowstone Tour Stagecoaches resides in the museum in Franklin, ID.

Onlookers watch Soda Spring's cold-water geyser erupt late one afternoon

A sign tells of John Bidwell and the party he assembled to travel west.

Spinning wheel on display inside Franklin's old ZCMI store. (ZCMI stands for Zion Cooperative Merchantile Institution.)

The stream's bright green banks contrast with the dark mountains and blue sky.

A tiny blue lake lies nestled at the base of mountains covered with bright red and orange trees in autumn.

Streams of water on a field between Soda Springs and Sheep Rock irrigate this already green field with showers of water.

Water fowl float on an irrigation canal in a wide green field in southeastern Idaho.

Large pines overlook a mountain stream curving silently with the land.

A small creek cuts its way through the mountains as pines stand majestically off to one side.

Trees extending from the mountains make a nice temporary home for the cows who pasture in the fields.

Mountains lay in the distance while in the foreground a quaint old barn stands in the fields of hay.

A tiny bright red farm is nestled at the base of this tree covered mountain. Bright blue skies look down on the freshly cut bales of hay in the farmers fields.

Blue skies look down on a summertime wash of green grasses held in by a fence, and dark mountains sit in the distance.

Thick stands of trees cover the rolling hills that sit at the other end of a green field.

A mountain striped green with forest and brown with summer grass acts as a divider between green pastures and a clear sky.

An irrigation channel full of water runs along a post fence in a wide pasture bordered by a hazy mountain range.

The pines atop this mountain are reflected in the shimmering waters of the reservoir formed by Hells Canyon Dam.

The calm waters of Hells Canyon Reservoir are overlooked by cliffs and tall green trees.

The golden color of Sheep Rock contrasts with the deep blue sky overhead, the green trees covering its surface, and the soft gray-green sagebrush below.

Hells Canyon winds along the base of the mountain from this rocky vantage point above the river.

Mighty pines reach up as high as Sheep Rock itself. It seems as if the pines and the mountain compete to reach the sky.

Hells Canyon Reservoir carves its way through the landscape near Sheep Rock. Evergreens fill one riverbank; sloping gray rocks form the other.

A pasture fence frames the blue waters of the Hells Canyon Reservoir. Blue skies look down upon the scene.

The pines along the edge of this river stand majestically as the water flows through the land near Sheep Rock.

Deep green pines hang over the edges of the green waters. A white building of the dam's power plant stands at the reservoir's far end.

The sky reflects this water at Hells Canyon Dam. Tall evergreen trees fill the riverbank.

Hells Canyon Reservoir flows peacefully around the base of the rocks. Wildflowers are blooming in the foreground.

This dam for Hells Canyon Reservoir regulates the water. Mountains form one side of the river and the white power plant stands beside the dam.

The cutoff to the Oregon Trail can be seen amidst the mountains and pavement of the road. A fence frames the left side of the photo.

The summer sun beats down as a flock of cranes rise before emerald green mountains.

Flocks of birds travel together on a wintry day. Foggy, snow covered mountains stand majestically in the distance.

Rickety fences trace the border of a snow-covered pasture between tree-covered mountains and icy stream in winter by Soda Springs, Idaho.

Near Soda Springs snowcapped mountains proudly stand in the distance. A stream flows past a pasture fence in a wintry field.

An icy stream flows between banks of snow in the flat, mountain-edged valley of Soda Springs, Idaho.

Near Soda Springs, white clouds roll over snow-covered hills and dark forested mountains in winter.

Snow crested mountains overlook snow covered barns and fences near Soda Springs, Idaho.

Brilliant skies and dark mountains overlook a fenced, snow-covered field near Soda Springs, Idaho.

Brilliant fall colors and shimmering water in the mountains of Oneida Narrows are cast in shadows around the lake.

Flashy orange and red colors on the mountainside of Oneida Narrows look like fire, but are actually brilliant maple leaves

Gorgeous fall trees and mountains in the distance make a perfect frame for this light blue lake at Oneida Narrows.

At Oneida Narrows, a dirt road leads into the mountains which are exploding with fall colors.

A green valley leads into a beautiful blue lake which lies between autumn-colored mountains.

"We cry for the loss and sacrifice of those who did not survive and we honor the strength of those who lived" is the proud declaration on this interpretive sign at the site of the largest Indian massacre in the West. The aftermath of the massacre on the Shoshone is described.

This sign tells of the horror and chilling events of the massacre. Colored sketches depict teepees burning, soldiers firing, and soldiers on horseback riding into the camp.

This sign describes the bitter cold day of January 29th, 1863, when the largest Indian massacre in the West occurred. Sepia-toned, historic photos of an army man and a Shoshone man, as well as a map detailing the locations of the main parties in the massacre, are featured on this sign.

Nestled between hills covered with majestic fall colors at Oneida Narrows in Idaho is a small lake or reservoir. A truck drives along the dirt road that trails along the mountain.

This sign describes the journey of Col. Patrick Edward Conner and volunteers who came from California and participated in this culture clash. Sepia-toned photos of the army and a map are featured on this sign.

This sign tells of the conflict between the Shoshone people and the Mormon settlers who moved into the area. The settlers were first welcomed but conflicts soon arose as the Shoshone way of life was threatened. This sign includes sepia-toned, historic photos of both the Shoshone and the Mormon settlers.

Bia Ogoi or Big River provided a winter home for the Shoshone. The hot springs and a fertile valley were a physical and spiritual rejuvenation for the Shoshone families who lived here. This sign includes sepia toned, historic photos of Shoshone Indians.

The Shoshone people moved with the seasons and lived in extended families. The descendants of the band massacred at Bear River live in Northeastern Utah and Southeastern Idaho. This sign tells about this and shows sepia-toned, historic pictures of Shoshone Indians. A map is also included on the sign.

Water flows over rocks at the narrow floor of Black Canyon Gorge. Trees bright with green line the walls of this gorge carved by water in an ancient lava flow.

Trees surround Black Canyon Gorge as water flows through the chasm in spring or early summer. Mountains can be seen in the distance.

A small ranch is on the horizon beyond this view of the rugged black lava rock walls of Black Canyon Gorge. A tiny trickle of falls onto the pile of fallen rock at the edge of the gorge.

Near Grace, Idaho, water trickles down the rugged black lava cliffs of Black Canyon Gorge.

A small cinder cone, remnant of ancient volcanic activity, stands covered by wild grass in fields of alfalfa and wheat in Idaho. Deep blue mountains march across the horizon behind the cone.

Green trees and green grass adorn Grace City Park. A roofed shelter and a playground provide ample opportunities for lots of fun.

This white farm ranch is quaintly situated at the base of mountains exploding into autumn colors.

A rich harvest has filled the barn on this ranch with golden hay.

An open-sided western-style barn on a ranch is filled with bales of hay. Trees in the mountains nearby explode in fall color.

Irrigation makes a farmer's field bright green against the dry golden hills of the valley. Autumn leaves color the mountain range beneath the evergreen forest.

Solitary trees bright in red and orange fall color spill over the rolling autumn hills. This beautiful scenery will catch any traveler's eye.

A white horse fence marks the boundary between green fields at the base of a mountain covered with trees bright with red and orange fall color.

In Fall, colorful trees adorn the mountains between Grace and Preston, Idaho. A white ranch fence and lush green trees provide contrast with the dry brown hillsides.

White ranch fences and trees add a touch of home to the stunning fall colors on the mountains between Grace and Preston, Idaho.

A freshly-laid cinder-ash path curves past several interpretive signs at the Bear River Massacre overlook.

Niter Ice Cave, a lava tube near Grace, Idaho, can be seen in the shadows of the mountains and amidst the tall summer grasses.

Visitors to Niter Ice Cave will find the entrance amid an array of tall grasses. Mountains can be seen in the distance.

In the summer Niter Ice Cave is difficult to pick out among the tall summer grasses and sagebrush. Mountains can be seen in the distance of the entrance.

A metal plaque on the side of a rocky pillar commemorates this area as the site of the Bear River Massacre.

The long valley of the Bear River stretches east toward the mountains, as seen from the upper parking area of the Bear River Massacre National Historic Site.

A plaque describes the movements of the soldiers and the Indians during the January morning when the attack occurred. The valley behind the plaque is where it happened.

According to the nearby plaque at the Bear River Massacre National Historic Site, the bright green field below is "the Killing Ground" where the soldiers massacred the Shoshone men, women and children encamped there.

Cropped from a larger image is a closeup of the Pioneer Historic Byway roadsign, showing a handcart family.

A wooden sign serves as a landmark for the Oregon Trail Park and Marina. Mountains, and the spring sits in the distance beyond the sign.

Train tracks run parallel to the highway as a train approaches.

A small farm surrounded by fields of crops resides among rolling hills which eventually connect to the mountain range in the distance.

This photo is a panoramic view of the Chesterfield Townsite and the valley where it is located. There are 27 structures in this Townsite in various stages of restoration.

A young girl cheerfully poses next to a marker depicting one of the wagon ruts remaining from west-bound pioneers. This wagon rut is for the main Oregon-California Trail six miles west of Soda Springs and on the north side of US 30. This marker is approximately 200 yards east of the spot where the Hudspeth Cutoff heads west to California and the main route of the Oregon-California Trail heads northwest to Fort Hall. The white Carsonite markers were placed by the Oregon-California Trail Association.

The Last Chance Canal bores straight into a lava-flow cliffside.

A small farm sits near rolling hills covered with pines, and the fields around the farm contrast with the mountains in shades of light green and tan.

Green foliage and water from Soda Springs are visible in front of deep rolling mountains and mountain homes.

Irrigation pipes faithfully sprinkle water over a field in the foreground of a tree-spotted mountain.

Ducks make their home in the spring which is adjacent to Soda Springs Golf Course. Trees from the course cast shadows in the water.

The Pioneer Historic Byway rises up through green hills below a cloudy sky in the early spring.

Stormy skies glower to the east over a harvested field near Riverdale, Idaho

A sign telling of the Cedar View Supper Club and Golf Course sits near the edge of the green golf course.

This flume, Last Chance Canal, that carries the water from the Bear River into Gentile Valley turned the valley floor into productive farmland early in the last century. The water is drawn from the Bear River and is first directed into a tunnel cut through a lava rock bluff and then into the flume which straddles the Bear River.

A sign describes the Old Town of Soda Springs and its history. The town was established by Col. P.E. Conner.

Brilliant green fields surround this divided stream while two mountain peaks add dimension to the horizon.