Idaho State Highway 51
Encyclopedia
State Highway 51 is a 92 mile (148 km) road in southwestern
Idaho
from Mountain Home
south to the Nevada
border, where it continues as State Route 225
to Elko
. At its northern terminus in Mountain Home, SH-51 connects at the junction of U.S. Highway 20 and Interstate 84
. It is the major north–south road in Owyhee County
.
. The road crosses the Snake River
into Owyhee County
and passes the towns of Bruneau
, Grasmere, and Riddle
; about 11 miles (18 km) from the state border it enters the Duck Valley Indian Reservation
.
As the road crosses into Nevada
it becomes State Route 225
; the town of Owyhee
is about four miles (7 km) south of the state border, still within the reservation. After another 95 miles (153 km) through Elko County
, SR-225 connects with Interstate 80
in Elko
.
on the highway ranges from a low of 2461 feet (750 m) above sea level at the Snake River
crossing,
to a high of 5400 feet (1646 m) at the Nevada
border.
Southwestern Idaho
Southwestern Idaho is a geographical term for the area along the state of Idaho's borders with Oregon and Nevada. It includes the populous areas of the Boise metropolitan area, Treasure Valley and Magic Valley.-Counties:Ada |Adams |Boise |Canyon |...
Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
from Mountain Home
Mountain Home, Idaho
Mountain Home is the largest city and county seat of Elmore County, Idaho. The population was 14,206 at the 2010 census. Mountain Home is the principal city of the Mountain Home, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Elmore County....
south to the Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
border, where it continues as State Route 225
Nevada State Route 225
State Route 225, commonly known locally as Mountain City Highway, is a state highway in Elko County, Nevada, United States. It connects the city of Elko and Interstate 80 with southwestern Idaho, via Idaho State Highway 51 to Mountain Home and Interstate 84....
to Elko
Elko, Nevada
Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....
. At its northern terminus in Mountain Home, SH-51 connects at the junction of U.S. Highway 20 and Interstate 84
Interstate 84 in Idaho
In the U.S. state of Idaho, Interstate 84 heads southeast from the Oregon state line, it spurs to Interstate 184 in Boise. Eventually I-84 spurs Interstate 86 and mainline I-84 heads southeast towards Utah and I-86 is continues due east and heads to Pocatello, meeting with Interstate 15.-Future:...
. It is the major north–south road in Owyhee County
Owyhee County, Idaho
Owyhee County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Idaho. In area it is the second largest county in Idaho, behind Idaho County. As of the 2000 Census, Owyhee County had a population of 10,644...
.
Route description
SH-51's northern terminus is at the east edge of the city of Mountain Home in Elmore CountyElmore County, Idaho
Elmore County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 27,038, down 7.2% from 29,130 in 2000. The largest city and county seat is Mountain Home....
. The road crosses the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
into Owyhee County
Owyhee County, Idaho
Owyhee County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Idaho. In area it is the second largest county in Idaho, behind Idaho County. As of the 2000 Census, Owyhee County had a population of 10,644...
and passes the towns of Bruneau
Bruneau, Idaho
Bruneau is an unincorporated community in Owyhee County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. Located at , the community sits at an altitude of 2549 feet ....
, Grasmere, and Riddle
Riddle, Idaho
Riddle is an unincorporated community in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho, in Owyhee County. Located on State Highway 51, it is 13 miles north of the border with Nevada and 72 miles south of Mountain Home...
; about 11 miles (18 km) from the state border it enters the Duck Valley Indian Reservation
Duck Valley Indian Reservation
The Duck Valley Indian Reservation was established as a homeland for members of both the Shoshone and Paiute tribes of Native Americans. It lies directly on the state line between Idaho and Nevada in the western United States...
.
As the road crosses into Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
it becomes State Route 225
Nevada State Route 225
State Route 225, commonly known locally as Mountain City Highway, is a state highway in Elko County, Nevada, United States. It connects the city of Elko and Interstate 80 with southwestern Idaho, via Idaho State Highway 51 to Mountain Home and Interstate 84....
; the town of Owyhee
Owyhee, Nevada
Owyhee is a census-designated place in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 1,017 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area....
is about four miles (7 km) south of the state border, still within the reservation. After another 95 miles (153 km) through Elko County
Elko County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
, SR-225 connects with Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in Nevada
In the U.S. state of Nevada, Interstate 80 traverses the northern portion of the state. The freeway serves the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, and also goes through the towns of Fernley, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Wells and West Wendover on its way through the state.I-80 follows...
in Elko
Elko, Nevada
Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....
.
Major intersections
Elevation
ElevationElevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
on the highway ranges from a low of 2461 feet (750 m) above sea level at the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
crossing,
to a high of 5400 feet (1646 m) at the Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
border.
| Location | Milepost | Elevation | GNIS Feature ID | (GNIS search) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Home Mountain Home, Idaho Mountain Home is the largest city and county seat of Elmore County, Idaho. The population was 14,206 at the 2010 census. Mountain Home is the principal city of the Mountain Home, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Elmore County.... |
92 | 3146' - 959 m | 374044 | 43°07′23"N 115°41′32"W |
| C.J. Strike Reservoir C. J. Strike Dam C. J. Strike Dam is an earth-fill type hydroelectric dam on the Snake River, just below the Bruneau River confluence, in the U.S. state of Idaho. Its location is near Grand View, Idaho. Its impoundment extends up the Snake River and 12 miles up the Bruneau River.The dam's powerplant has a... (Snake River) |
76.98 | 2461' - 750 m | 398659 | 42°56′54"N 115°58′30"W |
| Bruneau Bruneau, Idaho Bruneau is an unincorporated community in Owyhee County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. Located at , the community sits at an altitude of 2549 feet .... |
71.49 | 2549' - 777 m | 396181 | 42°52′50"N 115°47′50"W |
| Grasmere | 32.50 | 5089' - 1551 m | 376052 | 42°22′36"N 116°52′57"W |
| Riddle | 13.49 | 5367' - 1636 m | 398043 | 42°11′13"N 116°06′37"W |
| Miller Creek Settlement | 6.0 | 5325' - 1623 m | 396897 | 42°04′54"N 116°07′41"W |
| Owyhee Owyhee, Nevada Owyhee is a census-designated place in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 1,017 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area.... , Nevada Nevada Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... |
(0) | 5400' - 1646 m | 842663 | 41°56′52"N 116°05′55"W |