Trinity Heritage

Posted on April 14, 2015 by siteadmin

Trinity Heritage is located in northwestern California, about 45 miles northwest of Redding. The byway begins in Weaverville and travels northeast, ending at the junction with I-5 north of Weed. It follows CA 3 and FSR 17, which are two-lane paved roads safe for travel by all vehicles. The byway is about 120 miles long. California Highway 3 is usually open year round. Forest Service Road 17 is closed late November through May.

Trinity Heritage climbs more than 4,000 feet as it crosses the Shasta-Trinity National Forests. Several scenic vistas offer beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, including Mount Shasta. Much of the byway follows the shores of 16,000-acre Clair Engle Lake, which has a rugged and densely forested shoreline and hundreds of hidden coves. Most development on the lake is limited to the western shore. The lake is in the Trinity Unit of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. Several developed campgrounds are available to those interested in staying overnight.

Trinity Heritage skirts the huge 517,500-acre Trinity Alps Wilderness, an area used by hiking and horseback riding enthusiasts. Coffee Creek Road provides access to the heart of this preserved wilderness. At road’s end is a small, five-site campground. In the spring, large herds of deer may be seen in the meadows. Thousands of miners lived along Coffee Creek and its tributaries during the Gold Rush. Evidence of their activity is visible from the road.

Bowerman Barn is a short distance off the byway and is worth seeing. It has a foundation of hand-laid stone, mortise and tenon framework, and whipsawn pine boards attached with hand-forged square nails. It’s one of the last of its kind.

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Seward Highway

Posted on April 12, 2015 by siteadmin

Seward Highway is in south-central Alaska on the Cook Inlet. The byway begins in the city of Anchorage and travels south through the Chugach National Forest to the community of Seward. The scenic drive follows AK 1 and AK 9, which are two-lane paved roads. The roads are suitable for all types of vehicles although some sections are narrow and winding. Seward Highway is 127 miles long and is usually open year-round. Winter driving conditions may be hazardous. Snow avalanches can temporarily close sections of the highway.

Seward Highway ties Alaska’s metropolitan center with the port of Seward on Resurrection Bay. From Anchorage the byway follows the shores of Turnagain Arm as it travels through Chugach State Park. After passing through Girdwood, the byway enters the beautiful scenery of the Chugach National Forest.

The byway offers spectacular scenery and a variety of wildlife all along its 127 miles. Beluga whales are occasionally seen rolling at the surface of the Turnagain Arm as they chase salmon and searun smelt. Dall sheep can sometimes be seen as they scale the rugged mountain sides. Bald eagles, moose, bear, mountain goat, and a variety of birds also inhabit the area.

Tracks of the Alaska Railroad are visible as you travel along the Turnagain Arm. This railroad was completed in 1923 and linked the port of Seward to the gold fields. Today, the Alaska Railroad operates various scenic train rides from May through September.

Seward Highway gives the byway traveler an opportunity to view glaciers close-up. Portage Glacier lies at the end of Turnagain Arm and is one of Alaska’s most visited recreation sites. Exit Glacier, outside of Seward in the Kenai Fjords National Park, is also a great place to experience a glacier firsthand.

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Apache Trail

Posted on April 11, 2015 by siteadmin

Apache Trail is located in central Arizona, east of Phoenix. The byway begins in Apache Junction off US 60 and follows AZ 88 northeast to the community of Roosevelt on Theodore Roosevelt Lake. Apache Trail is 46 miles long and is usually open year-round. Portions are subject to closure due to heavy rain. The byway travels over dirt and paved roads with many sharp curves and an occasional narrow stretch. Vehicles pulling trailers are discouraged from traveling the section from Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt, especially over Fish Creek Hill.

The Apache Trail winds through some of the most awe-inspiring country in Arizona as it crosses Tonto National Forest. The scenic drive is bordered on the north by Canyon, Apache, and Roosevelt Lakes, and on the south by the rugged Superstition Mountains. At Fish Creek Hill, perhaps the most impressive part of Apache Trail, the road is primarily one-way and drops 1,000 feet in elevation over a 15 to 17 percent grade. Views of the Walls of Fish Creek Gorge are simply fantastic from this area.

Tonto National Forest covers nearly three million acres of rugged, scenic landscape ranging from cactus-studded desert to pine-covered mountains. Seven wilderness areas encompassing 589,000 acres are found within the national forest. Two wilderness areas are located next to the byway: Four Peaks Wilderness and Superstition Wilderness. Hiking trails can be accessed along the drive that lure you into the Superstition Wilderness.

There are several Forest Service recreation areas along or near the byway. Acacia and Boulder offer picnic facilities; a swimming beach is in Acacia. Tortilla Flat Campground has 77 RV and tent sites; all have water and sewage hookups but no electricity. Near the byway’s eastern end is the Burnt Corral Campground. It has 79 RV and tent campsites and is open all year. There is a 22-foot RV length limit at both campgrounds.

Lost Dutchman State Park is five miles northeast of Apache Junction. The nearly 300-acre park offers a 35-site campground with restrooms, showers, and sanitary disposal station. There are many desert interpretive trails here. It is also a good place to access the Superstition Wilderness.

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Ozark Highlands

Posted on April 7, 2015 by siteadmin

Ozark Highlands is in northwest Arkansas about 60 miles east of Fort Smith. Southern access is east of Clarksville off US 64. The byway heads north for 45 miles and officially ends at the Ozark National Forest boundary, north of Mossville. Ozark Highlands follows AR 21, a two-lane paved road safe for travel by all types of vehicles. The highway usually remains open year-round.

The Ozark Highlands scenic drive cuts across the Boston Mountains as it winds through Ozark National Forest. Blanketing the byway are large stands of hardwood forest, primarily oak and hickory, with scattered areas of native shortleaf pine. Scenic vistas along the route provide outstanding views of the tree-covered mountains.

Lying near the byway’s northern end is the 10,500-acre Upper Buffalo Wilderness with the headwaters of the Buffalo River running through the heart of the area. This wilderness area provides solitude and excellent back country hiking and camping opportunities.

For those interested in a more “civilized” setting, the national forest has developed several campgrounds within the forest. Ozone recreation area is located just off the byway and has eight camping units suitable for tents or recreational vehicles. The park also has drinking water, chemical toilets, and picnic tables. This area was originally the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the late 1930s and early 1940s. There are several other developed camping areas throughout the forest that are shown on the map.

Ozark Highlands Trail may be accessed from the Ozark recreation area. This 160-mile trail cuts across the national forest from west to east. Wildlife is abundant in this area. Keep your eyes on the lookout for mule deer and wild turkey. Black bear also inhabit the region. Occasionally bald eagles and golden eagles are also seen.

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Alpine Loop

Posted on April 7, 2015 by siteadmin

Alpine Loop Back Country Byway is in southwest Colorado about 100 miles southeast of Grand Junction. The byway forms a loop drive between Lake City and the towns of Ouray and Silverton. Alpine Loop is 65 miles long and is generally open late June through October.

Near Ouray, the byway follows Mineral Creek Road to Engineer Pass. From Silverton, the byway follows Animas River Road to Cinnamon Pass. The northern segment from Lake City follows Henson Creek Road to Engineer Pass. The southern portion from Lake City follows Lake Fork of the Gunnison River Road to Cinnamon Pass. The roads are marked with “Alpine Loop” signs. Two-thirds of the byway is paved and is suitable for all types of vehicles. The rest is a dirt surface and requires a four-wheel drive vehicle to complete.

Alpine Loop winds through the beautiful San Juan Mountains to an elevation as high as 12,800 feet. It crosses two mountain passes: Engineer and Cinnamon. Byway travelers are treated to spectacular views of snow-capped mountains, meadows of wild flowers, ghost towns, and mountain lakes. Most of the roads along the byway were originally constructed by prospectors in the late 1800s for transporting ore and supplies. Today, the roads are used by four-wheelers and mountain bikers. Four-wheel drive vehicles may be rented in the surrounding communities.

Several hiking trails are accessed from the byway, including five that lead to peaks over 14,000 feet. Those not interested in hiking may wish to photograph or explore the byway’s many ghost towns. Anglers will find lakes, rivers, and streams teaming with rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout. Three campgrounds are along the byway for those interested in staying overnight.

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