Highway 55 from Boise to McCall ID
Will be passing through ID on way to Oregon and trying to avoid some freeway, looking at #55 north out of Boise to McCall where I would take #95 to Lewiston. I have already gotten some reports on #95 ...
Forum Discussion
Drive it all the time, as we live in Meridian and have a place in Cascade. There is a steep climb and then descent as you leave Boise and head over Horseshoe Bend hill. Once you go out of Horseshoe Bend north, it is 2 lane with lots of twist and turns into Banks. From Banks to Round Valley, about 35 miles, it is a very twisting canyon road with few guard rails between you and the river. The last 5 miles from Smiths Ferry to Round Valley is narrow, NO guard rails and some very quick turns. The drivers between 4pm and 8pm Friday or 1pm and 6pm Sunday can be very dangerous and many times drunk. Those of us that have a choice will not drive the road in those hours.
From Round Valley to McCall it is a nice road with a 65mph speed limit, except through towns. DO NOT speed in any of the towns, or you will be supporting Valley County. Speeding is 2 or more above the speed limit and if an officer is there, it is rigidly enforced.
From McCall to the intersection of 95 in New Meadows, the road descends rapidly over 3000' and again has some hairy curves some with a 25mph speed limit. It is doable but you must be on your toes. The state law says that if there are 3 or more vehicles behind you, you MUST use the designated turn outs to allow "every" vehicle to pass, not just a couple then you pull back into line. We have an ISP female trooper, Victoria, Vic to the locals, that can be a true Rottweiler and will enforce the impeding law. Her patrol area is Banks to New Meadows, so you have been warned.
Good luck and have a safe trip.
From Round Valley to McCall it is a nice road with a 65mph speed limit, except through towns. DO NOT speed in any of the towns, or you will be supporting Valley County. Speeding is 2 or more above the speed limit and if an officer is there, it is rigidly enforced.
From McCall to the intersection of 95 in New Meadows, the road descends rapidly over 3000' and again has some hairy curves some with a 25mph speed limit. It is doable but you must be on your toes. The state law says that if there are 3 or more vehicles behind you, you MUST use the designated turn outs to allow "every" vehicle to pass, not just a couple then you pull back into line. We have an ISP female trooper, Victoria, Vic to the locals, that can be a true Rottweiler and will enforce the impeding law. Her patrol area is Banks to New Meadows, so you have been warned.
Good luck and have a safe trip.
