Idaho State Highway 13 Explained

State:ID
Type:SH
Route:13
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:SH-13 highlighted in red
Length Mi:26.390
Length Ref:[1]
Tourist:Northwest Passage Scenic Byway[2]
Direction A:South
Terminus A: in Grangeville
Direction B:North
Terminus B: in Kooskia
Previous Type:US
Previous Route:12
Next Type:SH
Next Route:14

State Highway 13 (SH-13) is a state highway located entirely within Idaho County in North Central Idaho. SH-13 is 26miles long and runs from U.S. Route 95 (US 95) in Grangeville to US-12 in Kooskia. In addition to those cities, SH-13 also serves the city of Stites and the community of Harpster. SH-13 has one special route, Business Loop 13 in Kooskia.

Route description

SH-13 begins at an intersection with US-95 in western Grangeville. It heads east through that city along Main Street. East of Grangeville, the highway heads generally northeast along the Harpster Grade Road, through the rolling farmland of Idaho County. 5miles east of Grangeville, the terrain becomes mountainous as SH-13 begins a descent towards the South Fork Clearwater River. At the bottom of the 1300feet descent is an intersection with SH-14 at the western banks of the river.

NaNmiles north of its intersection with SH-14, SH-13 crosses the South Fork Clearwater River and continues along the eastern banks. For the rest of its routing, SH-13 runs parallel to the river; a significant portion of which is within sight of the river. Since it lies at the bottom of the river valley, the road way is relatively flat, but it is surrounded by rugged, tree-lined hills. The highway passes through the communities of Harpster and Stites on its way towards Kooskia.

As it approaches Kooskia, the river valley widens allowing some space between the river and highway. It passes the city's municipal airport at the southern city limits. Now in the city, the road goes through its business district. The northern and southern halves of the city are separated by of SH-13. At Broadway, SH-13's only child route, State Highway 13 Business (SH-13 Bus.), turns off to the east. Shortly thereafter, the mainline SH-13 crosses the Middle Fork Clearwater River near the confluence of the south and middle forks. At the other side of the bridge, SH-13 ends at US 12.

Related route

State:ID
State Highway 13 Business
Location:Kooskia
Length Mi:0.824

SH-13 Business is an alternate connection between SH-13 and US-12 in Kooskia. It begins at an intersection with SH-13 in the northern half of the city and runs east along Broadway. It turns to the southeast before crossing the Middle Fork Clearwater River and ending at US-12. Travelers wishing to connect to eastbound US-12 from SH-13 can save over by using SH-13 Bus.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State Highway 13. Idaho Transportation Department. August 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120512105058/http://itd.idaho.gov/highways/milepointlog/mplog/StateHighway13.html. May 12, 2012. dead.
  2. Web site: Northwest Passage. Idaho's Scenic Byways. Idaho Transportation Department. December 7, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130625043123/http://www.idahobyways.gov/byways/northwest-passage.aspx. June 25, 2013.