Savannah River Scenic Highway

Posted on October 11, 2015 by siteadmin

Savannah River Scenic Highway is in western South Carolina. It begins near Augusta, Georgia at the South Carolina state line and travels north to Westminster. The byway is 110 miles long and follows SC 28, SC 81, SC 181, SC 187, and SC 24. All the roads are two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles. Savannah River Scenic Highway is open year-round.

Savannah River Scenic Highway is a pleasant drive through the uplands of western South Carolina. It travels alongside the Savannah River. Actually, three dams constructed on the river have created three beautiful lakes. Thurmond Lake is a 71,000-acre lake along the byway’s southern end. Near the middle is Richard B. Russell Lake, which has a surface area over 26,000 acres. On the northern end of the byway is Hartwell Lake, a beautiful 56,000-acre lake. Avid fishermen will want to spend some time on these lakes attempting to catch bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie.

The byway provides access to a large number of campgrounds. Five are managed by the State of South Carolina. Sadlers Creek State Park is on Hartwell Lake and has 37 RV and tent sites with water and electric hookups. Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area is on Russell Lake. It has 100 sites for tents and RVs; some sites have hookups. Hickory Knob, Baker Creek, and Hamilton Branch State Parks are on Thurmond Lake and have a total of more than 300 RV and tent sites. Nearly all of the campsites have water and electric hookups.

There are seven Corps of Engineers campgrounds along or near the byway. Coneross and Twin Lakes are on Hartwell Lake. Coneross Campground has a total of 104 sites; 67 with water and electric hookups. Twin Lakes has a total of 102 sites; 73 have hookups. There are five Corps-managed campgrounds on Thurmond Lake: Mount Carmel, Leroy’s Ferry, Hawe Creek, Modoc, and Petersburg. Mount Carmel Campground is remote and quiet. It has 21 sites with hookups and 22 without. Leroy’s Ferry offers ten primitive campsites. Hawe Creek Campground has 28 sites with water and electric hookups. Modoc has 31 sites with hookups and 17 without. Petersburg is the largest Corps campground on Thurmond Lake and is about six miles west of Clarks Hill. It has 93 RV and tent campsites; most have water and electric hookups.

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Sunspot

Posted on October 8, 2015 by siteadmin

Sunspot is in south-central New Mexico approximately 85 miles east of Las Cruces. It travels across Lincoln National Forest between Cloudcroft and the Sunspot Solar Observatory. The byway follows NM 6563, which is a two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles, for a total of 14 miles. New Mexico Highway 6563 is normally open all year.

The Sunspot scenic byway travels along the front rim of the Sacramento Mountains through a mixed forest of Douglas-fir, white fir, Southwestern white pine, ponderosa pine, and aspen. Mule deer, black bears, elk, and the occasional eagle and spotted owl can be seen from the byway. Turnouts along the route provide spectacular views of Tularosa Basin and the shifting sand dunes of nearby White Sands National Monument. On a clear day you can see the space port for the landing of the space shuttle. In fall, the aspen and maple-covered canyons and hillsides to the west of the byway display brilliant colors of yellow, orange, and red.

At the byway’s southern end is the Sunspot Solar Observatory. There are two research facilities open to the public, Vacuum Tower Telescope and the John W. Evans Solar Facility. Vacuum Tower Telescope is the largest of the telescopes located here. Over 200 feet of this telescope is buried beneath the surface of Sacramento Peak. The John W. Evans Solar Facility is used for studying the sun’s surface.

There are several scenic turnouts that not only provide panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape, but also opportunities for taking a break and enjoying a picnic. Those that enjoy hiking will find 13 miles of the Rim National Recreation Trail running alongside the byway. Many side roads off the byway also invite exploration by the hiker or mountain biker.

Several national forest campgrounds are along or near the byway. They have campsites suitable for RV and tent campers but there are no hookups. All of the campsites have picnic tables and fire rings; some campgrounds have drinking water and restrooms.

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North Fork Highway

Posted on October 7, 2015 by siteadmin

North Fork Highway is in northwest Wyoming about 20 miles west of Cody. If follows US 14 (also US 16 and US 20) between Wapiti and Pahaska. The 30-mile byway is a two-lane paved road that is suitable for all types of vehicles. US Highway 14 is usually open all year. West of Pahaska, US 14 enters Yellowstone National Park; this road is closed mid-November through March. It is groomed for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. North Fork Highway is also known as the Buffalo Bill Cody scenic byway.

North Fork Highway travels through the beautiful Shoshone Canyon where the North Fork of the Shoshone River flows nearby. The route travels through the heart of the Shoshone National Forest and is surrounded by two wilderness areas. The canyon is a narrow valley with extremely steep slopes and vertical cliffs, giving the visitor a feeling of being embraced by the surrounding mountains.

Wildlife observers will want to be on the lookout for mule deer and elk that can sometimes be seen grazing in the meadows or along the river. Moose, bighorn sheep, black bear, and the mighty grizzly bear are also inhabitants of the area. The North Fork is believed to have one of the highest concentrations of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states.

There are numerous trails along the byway that invite the traveler to explore. Many will lead into the wilderness areas lying to the north and south of the byway. To the north is 350,488-acre North Absaroka Wilderness. To your south is the huge 704,529-acre Washakie Wilderness. Both of these wilderness areas provide excellent opportunities for those seeking solitude. You don’t have to be a seasoned hiker or backpacker to enjoy short segments of the trails. For those that are equipped to handle the wilderness, the trails are your gateway to a wonderland of beautiful mountains and wildlife in its most natural setting.

Those interested in sleeping under the stars will find a lot of campgrounds along the byway. Altogether, there are over 200 campsites. All of them but Deer Creek Campground is situated on the banks of the river.

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Talimena

Posted on October 5, 2015 by siteadmin

The Talimena scenic byway is in southeast Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas. It follows OK 1 and AR 88 for 54 miles between Talihina, Oklahoma and Mena, Arkansas. Both state highways are two-lane paved roads with some steep grades and sharp curves. All types of vehicles can safely drive the byway. Temporary closure is possible during winter, otherwise the byway remains open year-round.

Talimena scenic byway rides atop the forested Ouachita Mountains, one of America’s oldest land masses. These mountains are unique because they stretch east to west rather than north and south. The byway also cuts through the 26,445-acre Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area. Several scenic turnouts are located along the route providing beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness. Numerous side roads invite the traveler to further explore these heavily forested mountains. Wildflowers in spring proudly display their colors while autumn, not to be outdone, also puts on its own beautiful display.

The byway offers nearly unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation. Wilderness areas adjacent to the byway offer seclusion for hikers, backpackers, and horseback riders. Also popular with the hiker or backpacker is the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, which can be accessed from the byway.

Several national forest campgrounds are located along or a short drive off the byway. Cedar Lake Campground is one of the larger camping areas. It is situated on the shores of the 90-acre lake and has 98 sites for tents or recreational vehicles. Some of the sites have water and electric hookups. The campground also has drinking water, restrooms, a boat ramp, shower facilities, hiking trails, fishing, and swimming. Hundreds of miles of horseback riding trails are also in the area. Billy Creek Campground is a short drive off the byway and has 11 units. Winding Stair Campground is located along the byway and has 26 campsites with picnic tables. Drinking water and restrooms are also provided.

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Rogue Umpqua – North Umpqua River

Posted on October 3, 2015 by siteadmin

This scenic byway is in southwest Oregon 70 miles south of Eugene. It begins in Roseburg and travels east to Diamond Lake; it then heads south to Gold Hill. The byway follows OR 62, OR 138, OR 230, and OR 234, which are two-lane paved roads suitable for all vehicles. It is 172 miles long and remains open year-round.

This scenic drive takes the traveler through a diverse landscape, from rural countryside dotted with farms and open pastures to thick forests of Douglas fir and lodgepole pine. Wildflowers bloom along the byway making their colorful presence known. Travelers are also treated to views of the beautiful Cascade Mountains, meandering mountain streams, and scenic cascading waterfalls.

The byway provides nearly unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are hiking trails ranging from short easy walks to pretty waterfalls to longer, more arduous trails that are enjoyed by experienced hikers and backpackers. Wilderness areas surrounding the byway provide opportunities for hiking or horseback riding to secluded places.

Numerous campgrounds are provided along the entire length of the route by the Bureau of Land Management, National Forest Service, Corps of Engineers, and the State of Oregon. You’re bound to find a campsite that interests you, whether you seek a primitive, secluded site or one that is highly developed.

The byway winds along two National Wild and Scenic Rivers, the North Umpqua and Upper Rogue. These rivers, and the many others found within the forest, provide excellent fishing and rafting opportunities.

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