Top mountain passes
Mountain PassLolo Pass
Mountain PassRed Rock Pass
Mountain PassLemhi Pass
Mountain PassGalena Summit
Mountain PassReas Pass
Mountain PassRed Rock Pass
Mountain PassTarghee Pass
Mountain PassNez Perce Pass
Mountain PassLookout Pass
Mountain PassLost Trail Pass
Mountain PassWhite Bird Hill Summit
Mountain PassWillow Creek Summit
Mountain Passes by county
All mountain passes (16)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lolo Pass | Clearwater County | 1,592 m | Stevensville | 2 |
| Red Rock Pass | Bannock County | 1,465 m | Malad City | 2 |
| Lemhi Pass | Lemhi County | — | Salmon | 1 |
| Galena Summit | Blaine County | — | Sun Valley | 1 |
| Reas Pass | Fremont County | 2,116 m | West Yellowstone | 1 |
| Red Rock Pass | Fremont County | 2,180 m | West Yellowstone | 1 |
| Targhee Pass | Fremont County | 2,158 m | West Yellowstone | 1 |
| Nez Perce Pass | Idaho County | 1,999 m | Anaconda | 1 |
| Lookout Pass | Shoshone County | 1,431 m | Osburn | 1 |
| Lost Trail Pass | Lemhi County | 2,140 m | Salmon | 1 |
| White Bird Hill Summit | Idaho County | — | Grangeville | 2 |
| Willow Creek Summit | Custer County | — | Challis | 1 |
| Mores Creek Summit | Boise County | — | Hidden Spring | 2 |
| Fourth of July Summit | Kootenai County | — | Coeur d'Alene | 3 |
| Spring Valley Summit | Gem County | — | Hidden Spring | 4 |
| Banner Creek Summit | Boise County | — | Boise | 1 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph mountain passes
Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.
- Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
- Look for the road itself as a leading line — switchbacks from above make strong compositions.
- Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
- Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
- Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.
Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.