Owyhee Uplands

Posted on March 15, 2015 by siteadmin

Owyhee Uplands Back Country Byway is in southwest Idaho, 75 miles south of Boise. The byway begins near Grand View and travels west for 101 miles. It ends south of Jordan Valley, Oregon off US 95. Owyhee Uplands follows Deep Creek-Mud Flat Road, which is a narrow, gravel road. There are short grades of 12 percent at plateau breaks. The byway is generally open June through September.

The Owyhee Uplands scenic drive travels across a remote area in Idaho with a small portion crossing into Oregon. This route travels through juniper and mountain mahogany woodlands, sheer-walled river canyons, mountain valleys, and sagebrush covered hills. To the south and west, the vast desert expanse is framed by the Santa Rosa and Steens Mountains. In the spring, wildflowers growing in the open fields add a splash of color to the desert landscape.

There is only one campground located directly along the byway, the primitive BLM-operated North Fork Campground. The BLM also maintains Cove Campground, just a few miles south of the byway’s eastern end. This campground offers 26 units for tents and recreational vehicles and also has drinking water, shower facilities, and restrooms. The BLM does permit dispersed camping nearly anywhere on BLM land.

A few other camping areas may be found within the area. The Idaho Power Company maintains three parks near the C.J. Strike Reservoir’s dam with a total of 50 campsites available, some being pull-through sites. The reservoir offers abundant fishing and boating opportunities.

Farther east of the byway is Bruneau Dunes State Park. This 4,800-acre park encompasses sand dunes reaching heights of several hundred feet. There are also several lakes within the park that offer good fishing. The campground here has 48 sites, some with hookups, drinking water, shower facilities, flush toilets, and a dump station.

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Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway

Posted on March 13, 2015 by siteadmin

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway is in south-central Oregon. It begins on US 97 at the California state line and travels north for 140 miles. The byway follows US 97, OR 140, OR 62, and OR 138. All are two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles. The portion running through Crater Lake National Park is closed by snow from mid-October to mid-June.

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway takes travelers along the shores of Upper Klamath Lake and through Crater Lake National Park. It crosses the desert landscape of Klamath Basin and evergreen forests surrounding the national park. Upper Klamath Lake is Oregon’s largest fresh-water lake; it has a surface area of more than 90,000 acres. Thousands of migrating birds can be seen around the lake during peak fall migrations.

Crater Lake National Park’s main attraction is six-mile long Crater Lake. The lake is 1,932 feet deep and is surrounded by lava cliffs that rise 500 to 2,000 feet. Over 50 miles of trails exist within the park, including 33 miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Some trails lead to the summit of high points above the lake while others bring you closer to the lake. There are two campgrounds within the national park: Lost Creek and Mazama. Lost Creek has 16 tent-only campsites. Mazama has nearly 200 sites, restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and a dump station. There are no hookups in either campground. A 71-room lodge is also in the park.

Other public campgrounds are available along or near the byway. Hagelstein Park is a county-operated park that has ten campsites on Upper Klamath Lake. Collier State Park is 30 miles north of Klamath Falls on US 97 and has 50 sites with complete hookups. It is open mid-April through October.

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Bitter Springs Trail

Posted on March 12, 2015 by siteadmin

Bitter Springs Trail is about 45 miles northeast of Las Vegas in southeast Nevada. It can be accessed from I-15 by taking Exit 75 and then traveling east. The byway is 28 miles long and follows Bitter Springs Road, which is a single-lane dirt road that requires a two-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle. The byway usually remains open year-round.

Bitter Springs Trail travels through the foothills of the Muddy Mountains, past abandoned mining operations, and brightly colored sandstone hills. One of the more interesting sites encountered along the route is the Bitter Ridge, a sweeping arc that cuts for eight miles across a rolling valley. Side roads invite the byway traveler to explore the many canyons, but unless you’re in a four-wheel drive vehicle, it is not recommended that you attempt to take these side roads.

Remnants of the American Borax mining operation can be seen along the byway. Several mine buildings still stand, along with 30-foot deep cisterns that were once used to hold water, mine tunnels, and adits (horizontal passages). Evidence of early human inhabitants is also found along the byway; on many of the canyon walls are pictographs and petroglyphs.

There are no developed recreational facilities directly along the byway, however, camping areas are not too far away. Valley of Fire State Park offers 50 campsites with shaded picnic tables, drinking water, restrooms, and shower facilities. Near the byway’s eastern terminus is Echo Bay Campground in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The campground has over 150 sites with picnic tables and grills. There is also a dump station, restrooms, drinking water, a marina, and a lodge.

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Shawnee Hills on the Ohio

Posted on March 10, 2015 by siteadmin

Shawnee Hills on the Ohio is in southern Illinois. It begins in Mitchellsville and travels south along the banks of the Ohio River to end in New Liberty. The byway follows OH 34, Karbers Ridge Road, OH 1, OH 146, and CR 1. All the roads are two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles. Shawnee Hills on the Ohio is about 70 miles long and usually remains open year-round.

Shawnee Hills on the Ohio travels through the heart of the Shawnee National Forest, winding through gently rolling hills and ridgetops before descending to follow the Ohio River. Shawnee National Forest preserves over 250,000 acres of hardwood forest, meandering streams, and placid lakes.

White-tailed deer can be found throughout the national forest and are most commonly seen along the forested creek bottoms. Alert wildlife observers may occasionally catch a glimpse of a wild turkey or two. Fishermen will find largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie in the many creeks and lakes throughout the national forest.

A short distance off the byway is the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area and Wilderness. There are eight miles of trails that wind above and below the bluffs and sandstone rock formations. The campground located here has 12 RV and tent sites, a picnic area, and drinking water.

Cave-In-Rock State Park has a campground with 48 sites for tents and recreational vehicles. Hookups are also available at many of the sites. A short hiking trail here leads to a cave that was once a pirate’s den in the 1790s. The cave was also used as the headquarters for outlaws and gangs.

Near the end of the byway is Smithland Lock and Dam, a facility operated by the Corps of Engineers. There is a picnic area for enjoying a lunch while watching the locks in operation.

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Christmas Valley

Posted on March 8, 2015 by siteadmin

Christmas Valley is in south-central Oregon about 60 miles south of Bend. The byway follows a series of county roads and BLM Road 6109C for a total of 102 miles. The roads are a combination of paved and gravel roads suitable for most passenger cars. BLM Road 6109C requires a high-clearance or four-wheel drive vehicle. Some sections of the byway are closed in winter. Sections may also become impassable after periods of heavy rain from March through May.

Christmas Valley Back Country Byway travels across the high desert landscape covered with sagebrush and shifting sand dunes. A unique feature to this desert landscape, however, is the isolated forest of pine trees. The Lost Forest area preserves a 9,000-acre stand of ponderosa pine growing among the high desert landscape common to this part of Oregon. This stand of ponderosa pine is about 35 miles east of the nearest ponderosa pine forest.

Adjacent to this oddity of nature is the 15,000-acre Christmas Valley Sand Dunes Off-Road Vehicle Area. Some of the sand dunes here rise 60 feet above the desert floor. Ten thousand acres are open to the public for recreational purposes. Vehicle use outside the dunes is restricted to roads or trails posted as open to vehicular travel.

There are no developed campgrounds along the byway. The BLM manages a campground in the Green Mountain area but there are no designated campsites or facilities. Only picnic tables are provided. About ten miles north of Fort Rock is the Deschutes National Forest and Cabin Lake Campground. It has 14 campsites on five acres and drinking water. South of the byway is Thompson Reservoir and the Fremont National Forest. Two campgrounds with a total of 32 sites and drinking water are on the lake.

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