On this route, travelers can retrace some steps of Idaho’s early pioneers and follow the historic path taken by early-day Yellowstone Park visitors. From Franklin, Idaho’s oldest settlement, this byway heads north to Soda Springs and on to the Wyoming border. This route offers the shortest distance and time between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone Park.
Along the way you can see the remnants of the first grist mill in Idaho, one of the original Yellowstone Highway markers, the 100+ year old Mormon Oneida Academy, the site of the massacre at Bear River, Devil’s Hand, the Niter Ice Cave, Last Chance Canal, cinder cones from extinct volcanoes, a section of the Oregon- California Trail, and many other historical points of interest, documenting early settlement in this portion of Idaho.
Soda Springs offers numerous opportunities for visitors. Among a variety of historic attractions, the town features the world’s only captive geyser, with a plume of almost 100 feet. In addition, the nearby Formation Springs Nature Conservancy Area contains a travertine-formed cave and excellent waterfowl and wildlife viewing.