Highlands Scenic Tour

Posted on May 15, 2015 by siteadmin

Highlands Scenic Tour is 50 miles northwest of Roanoke in central Virginia. It forms a loop drive beginning and ending in Longdale Furnace. The 20-mile route follows VA 770, VA 850, and FSR 447. Virginia Highway 770 is a narrow road with steep, hairpin turns; vehicles pulling trailers should not attempt this portion. The other roads are a combination of paved and gravel roads suitable for all vehicles. Virginia Highway 770 and FSR 447 are not maintained during winter and are usually impassable December to March. Virginia Highway 850 is generally open year-round.

Highlands Scenic Tour travels through the hardwood forests of George Washington National Forest, rides the crest of North Mountain on FSR 447, and travels alongside Rich Hole Wilderness on VA 850. In spring, flowering trees provide beautiful colors of red and pink set against the green leaves of forested hillsides. The trees are given their chance to show off their colors when autumn arrives. If you can look beyond the colorful display, chances are pretty good that you may see white-tailed deer. Perhaps unnoticed by the deer are the numerous songbirds serenading the mountains in thanksgiving for the beautiful habitat. Other wildlife living peacefully among others are black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, and squirrels. Red-tailed hawks can also be seen soaring overhead.

To the west of the byway is 6,450-acre Rich Hole Wilderness. Visitors may want to take some time to walk the six-mile, moderately strenuous trail running through the wilderness area. The trail takes you along the North Fork of the Simpson Creek through stands of poplar, oak, and hickory. If interested, you can spend some time trying to pull brook and rainbow trout from the creek.

Large RVs and vehicles pulling trailers will want to plan their trip so they travel south on FSR 447. There is a large turnaround point at Top Drive Overlook so these vehicles can avoid the steep switchbacks of VA 770. This portion of the byway provides beautiful views of the Allegheny Highlands in the southwest and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east.

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Silver Thread Highway

Posted on May 14, 2015 by siteadmin

The Silver Thread scenic byway is approximately 50 miles northwest of Alamosa in southwest Colorado. Its southern terminus is in South Fork on US 160. The byway follows CO 149 northwest through Creede to Lake City. Colorado Highway 149 is a two-lane paved road that is suitable for all vehicles. Silver Thread Highway is 75 miles long and is generally passable year-round.

The Silver Thread Highway has been a passageway from Creede to Lake City since the 1870s. It was once a toll road and stage route for the miners. Traveling through the Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests, this scenic route offers spectacular views of the San Juan Mountains, cascading waterfalls, and historic mining towns. Flowing alongside much of the byway are the waters of the Rio Grande River.

Wildlife observers will delight in seeing Rocky Mountain Sheep grazing along the highway. In fall, winter, and early spring, elk are commonly seen as they descend to the lower elevations for winter range. Other wildlife found in the area includes mule deer, coyotes, porcupines, and bears.

Those interested in extending their stay will find several national forest campgrounds. Campground facilities vary from primitive to more developed. Many of the camping areas are situated on the banks of the Rio Grande River. Near the North Clear Creek Campground is a scenic overlook providing views of the beautiful North Clear Creek Falls.

Rio Grande Reservoir and Colorado’s second largest natural lake, San Cristobal, offer excellent opportunities for fishing. Campgrounds are located nearby. Hiking trails near the area will lead you deep into the national forest and its wilderness areas.

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Lake Koocanusa

Posted on May 12, 2015 by siteadmin

Lake Koocanusa scenic byway is located in northwestern Montana, northeast of Libby. The byway forms a loop drive around Lake Koocanusa between Libby and Eureka. It is 88 miles long and follows MT 37 and FSR 228, which are two-lane paved roads suitable for all vehicles. Temporary closure is possible during winter, otherwise the byway remains open year-round.

The Lake Koocanusa scenic byway travels across Kootenai National Forest through ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and Douglas fir. The lake for which the byway is named is a 90-mile long reservoir reaching into Canada. It was created by the construction of Libby Dam. Many scenic turnouts provide excellent views of the lake and surrounding mountains. A visitor center at the dam provides information and guided tours of the 370-foot high structure.

Excellent fishing in the lake has given the area a reputation as one of the best salmon fisheries. The lake and Kootenai River below the dam provide excellent opportunities for catching rainbow, westslope, cutthroat, bull trout, kokanee salmon, and brook trout.

Several recreation areas are located along the byway. Rocky Gorge has 120 campsites suitable for tents and recreational vehicles. A boat ramp gives access to the lake. Peck Gulch has restrooms, a boat ramp, and plenty of sites for picnicking or camping. The Barron Creek Recreation Site has a boat ramp and dispersed camping areas. McGillivray Recreation Site is a campground and day use area with group picnic shelters. Overnight camping, ball fields, a swimming beach, and a boat ramp are available. A short boat ride from this recreation area will take you to Yarnell Islands, which have camping and picnicking facilities.

Numerous side roads invite further exploration of Kootenai National Forest. The forest offers a total of 35 camping areas with over 600 campsites. Dispersed camping is also permitted nearly anywhere on public lands. Five national recreation trails are within the national forest for those interested in hiking or backpacking. Little North Fork Trail is near the byway and guides you to a scenic waterfall.

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Stevens Pass

Posted on May 11, 2015 by siteadmin

Stevens Pass is in west-central Washington about 40 miles northeast of Seattle. It follows US 2 between Gold Bar and Leavenworth, a distance of 70 miles. US Highway 2 is a two-lane paved road suitable for all types of vehicles. Winter driving conditions in higher elevations require extra caution, otherwise the byway remains open year-round.

This drive takes travelers across densely forested Snoqualmie and Wenatchee National Forests as it crosses 4,061-foot Stevens Pass. The byway begins climbing the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains from Gold Bar to its climax at the pass and then descends into Leavenworth. The rushing South Fork of the Skykomish River, with its many cascading waterfalls, flows alongside from Gold Bar to Deception Creek Campground. At that point the Tye River will take over and show you the way to Stevens Pass. Tye River has a couple of scenic waterfalls to show off, too. Beyond the pass, Nason Creek will accompany you to WA 207, just north of Winton.

Opportunities for outdoor recreation are abundant. There are two wilderness areas for hikers, backpackers, and horseback riders. Many rivers and streams provide opportunities for spending an afternoon trying to pull fish from the water. The national forest has constructed several campgrounds that provide just the right spot for pitching a tent or parking your RV. Wildlife observers can spend their time seeking the many species inhabiting the area.

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Trail Ridge Road – Beaver Meadow Road

Posted on May 10, 2015 by siteadmin

This scenic byway is in north-central Colorado about 30 miles west of Loveland. It begins in Estes Park and heads southwest to Grand Lake through Rocky Mountain National Park. The byway follows US 36 and US 34 for a total of 53 miles. Both US Highways are two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles. Trail Ridge Road through the national park is usually open Memorial Day to mid-October.

Trail Ridge and Beaver Meadow Roads take the visitor to the “top of the world” as it reaches 12,183 feet above sea level, higher than any other continuous paved highway in the United States. In fact, Trail Ridge Road stays above treeline, the alpine tundra, for eleven beautiful miles. Views to the north, south, east, and west extend into Wyoming and three national forests adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park. The Alpine Visitor Center, located at Fall River Pass, provides exhibits explaining the life of the alpine tundra. This is also a good place to stop for a snack before continuing on.

Rocky Mountain National Park was born in 1915, several years after Enos Mills, a naturalist, writer, and conservationist, began campaigning in 1909 for preservation of this pristine area. In addition to the rugged and majestic mountain scenery, the park offers plenty of opportunities for horseback riding, camping, fishing, hiking, skiing, and snowmobiling. A side trip worth taking is the 10-mile road to Bear Lake. This little alpine lake offers a half-mile, wheelchair accessible trail that surrounds the lake. The area is heavily used and is often congested; you can expect parking lots to be full between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on summer days.

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