Zilpo Road

Posted on February 14, 2015 by siteadmin

Zilpo Road is in the forested hills of eastern Kentucky approximately 60 miles east of Lexington. The short, nine-mile byway ends on the western shore of Cave Run Lake at the Zilpo Recreation Area. It follows FSR 918, which is a wide two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles. The byway is open year-round.

Zilpo Road is a ridgetop route running through the hardwood forests of Daniel Boone National Forest. The road is a wide, gently curving road among trees that offer beautiful colors of orange, red, and gold during autumn. Wildlife observers will want to stay alert and be looking for white-tailed deer foraging among the woods. The patient observer may also see an occasional wild turkey. Woodpeckers, owls, and whippoorwills make their presence known within the forest. Hawks, osprey, and the bald eagle can also be seen soaring on the wind currents.

Cave Run Lake is perhaps the main attraction of this byway. It is a 7,390-acre lake constructed on the Licking River by the Corps of Engineers. The lake provides excellent fishing and boating opportunities. The Zilpo Recreation Area is a 355-acre park offering 172 wooded campsites, some with hookups. Facilities include restrooms with showers, a boat ramp, swimming beach, drinking water, walking trails, and two dump stations. On the other side of the lake is the 700-acre Twin Knobs Recreation Area. Each of the 277 campsites found here will accommodate large recreational vehicles or tents. Restrooms with showers, a swimming beach, and walking trails are among the facilities offered. Weekly programs are offered at the amphitheater.

A smaller, more primitive camping area is found near the beginning of the byway, the Clear Creek Campground. This campground has 21 units with picnic tables and chemical toilets.

The Zilpo Road scenic byway runs through the heart of the Pioneer Weapons Wildlife Management Area. This 7,480-acre area provides hunters the opportunity to experience hunting the way Daniel Boone did years ago. Hunting is limited to pioneer weapons such as the bow and arrow, cross bow, and black powder firearms.

Posted in Scenic Drives | Tagged | Comments Off on Zilpo Road

Elkhorn Drive

Posted on February 11, 2015 by siteadmin

Elkhorn Drive is in northeast Oregon. It forms a loop drive beginning and ending in Baker City. The byway follows OR 7, CR 24, FSR 73, CR 1146, and US 30 for a total of 106 miles. The roads are two-lane paved roads suitable for all vehicles. Most of Elkhorn Drive is open all year. The portion between Granite and Anthony Lake is not plowed during winter and is closed mid-November through mid-June.

The Elkhorn Drive cuts through dense forests of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and Engelmann spruce as it winds through the Elkhorn Mountains of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The byway passes beautiful mountain lakes and rivers, all providing excellent fishing opportunities. Gold was discovered in this area in 1862 by five ex-Confederate soldiers. Visitors may wish to pan for gold near the Deer Creek Campground or McCulley Fork Campground at the areas set aside for this purpose.

Be sure to take some time and ride the rails of the historic Sumpter Valley Railroad. A five-mile section of the original tracks have been restored between Sumpter and the McEwen Station. The ten-mile round trip ride is powered by a steam locomotive. The narrow-gauge train operates on weekends and holidays throughout the summer.

Those interested in hiking or just taking a walk will find numerous trails along the byway. Hikers can access the Elkhorn Crest National Recreation Trail, which is a 22½-mile trail following the ridge top of the Elkhorn Mountains. Other shorter trails can be found that lead to placid mountain lakes and secluded spots.

If you wish to extend your stay in the area, the national forest has several campgrounds to choose from. The largest campground is Union Creek, situated on the banks of Phillips Lake. Here visitors will find 58 campsites that can accommodate tents or recreational vehicles. Drinking water, restrooms, electric hookups, a boat ramp, and swimming area are among the facilities. Deer Creek Campground is a small six-site campground for tent campers. The Anthony Lakes area offers four campgrounds with a total of 56 sites.

Posted in Scenic Drives | Tagged | Comments Off on Elkhorn Drive

Talladega Scenic Drive

Posted on February 10, 2015 by siteadmin

Talladega Scenic Drive is in east-central Alabama, about 70 miles east of Birmingham. The northern terminus is just west of Heflin off US 78. The byway travels south through Talladega National Forest to the junction with AL 148 near Millerville. Talladega follows AL 281, a two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles. It is about 47 miles long and is usually open year-round.

Traveling through the scenic woodlands of Talladega National Forest, the byway offers beautiful views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. Travelers of the byway cross the highest point in Alabama, Cheaha Mountain. The peak is 2,407 feet and lies within Cheaha State Park. Travelers may wish to spend time in the state park hiking, boating, swimming, fishing, or camping.

Located at several points along the byway is access to the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail. Also available to hikers and equestrians is Cheaha Wilderness, south of the state park. The wilderness is also open to hunting, fishing, and primitive camping. Motorized vehicles and bicycles are prohibited.

Talladega National Forest has many developed recreation areas. There are two designated for off-road vehicle use: Ivory Mountain and Kentuck Mountain. Coleman Lake, Lake Chinnabee, and Pine Glen Recreation Areas provide opportunities for camping, picnicking, fishing, hiking, and hunting.

Wildlife is abundant in the area. Careful observers may catch glimpses of white-tailed deer wandering through the forest. The bald eagle can also occasionally be seen soaring overhead. Other forms of wildlife include bobwhite quail, gray and fox squirrel, turkey, rabbit, opossum, and various waterfowl.

Posted in Scenic Drives | Tagged | Comments Off on Talladega Scenic Drive

Parker Dam Road

Posted on February 6, 2015 by siteadmin

Parker Dam Road is in southeast California and west-central Arizona on the banks of the Colorado River. On the California side, the byway travels between Earp and Parker Dam. Earp is on CA 62 about 50 miles north of Blythe. The Arizona side travels between Parker and Lake Havasu City. Lake Havasu City is approximately 60 miles south of Kingman.

The California side of the byway is the officially designated portion. As its name implies, the scenic drive follows Parker Dam Road, which is a two-lane paved road safe for travel by all types of vehicles. The Arizona side also follows a two-lane paved road, AZ 95. Both roads generally remain open year-round. Eleven miles of this 55-mile route is designated a Type I Back Country Byway.

Parker Dam Road follows the Colorado River through an area commonly referred to as the Parker Strip. It travels through the wide river valley with views of surrounding mountains. There are hiking trails along the byway that will take you into the mountains. Anglers will find bass, bluegill, and catfish in the river and Lake Havasu. There are two areas for those that enjoy off-road vehicle activities: Copper Basin Dunes and Crossroads.

A large number of public and privately owned campgrounds are situated along the byway. Facilities vary but most have hookups, drinking water, picnic areas, gasoline, food, marinas, and swimming areas. In some areas, golf courses are also available. On the Arizona side are two state parks: Buckskin Mountain and Lake Havasu. Both have developed campgrounds with hookups. Some campsites at both state parks are only accessible by boat.

On the Arizona side in Lake Havasu City is the famous bridge that once spanned the Thames River in London, England. The London Bridge, built in 1825, was put up for sale in 1967 after engineers discovered the structure was slowly sinking into the river and could no longer handle busy city traffic. Robert McCulloch purchased the bridge for over two million dollars, dismantled it block by block, and had it shipped to California. From there, it was trucked to its present location and reassembled over a three-year period. It now stretches across the water to Lake Havasu’s largest island. An English Tudor village is located on the east end of the bridge.

Posted in Scenic Drives | Tagged | Comments Off on Parker Dam Road

George Washington Memorial Parkway

Posted on February 6, 2015 by siteadmin

George Washington Memorial Parkway is in northeast Virginia and south-central Maryland. Portions of the scenic drive pass through Washington, D.C. The segment described here is north of the District of Columbia; see Virginia for the other segment. The byway follows a four-lane divided highway named Clara Barton Parkway. Its short–six miles long–and remains open year-round.

The George Washington Memorial Parkway preserves the natural scenery along the Potomac River, connecting historic sites from Mount Vernon, past the Nation’s Capital, to the Great Falls of the Potomac. The many historic sites are complemented by the scenic countryside. The banks of the Potomac River are covered with willows, elders, and birches. Autumn brings vibrant colors to the parkway as the red maples, oaks, sumacs, and hickories proudly display their autumn attire. It is not unusual to see white-tailed deer, raccoon, wild turkey, and opossum in the area.

The Clara Barton National Historic Site was the home of American Red Cross founder, Clara Barton, from 1897 to 1904. The 38-room house was designed by Clara and was first used as a Red Cross warehouse. Over 30 large closets in the building were used for storage of relief supplies. It was later modified for living quarters and offices in 1897. The building is furnished with original and period artifacts that provide interesting insights into the character of Clara Barton and the American Red Cross. Guided tours are given daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Glen Echo Park is located adjacent to the Clara Barton National Historic Site. Glen Echo is now an arts and cultural center where classes are taught year-round by well-known artists and professionals. It was once an amusement park that served the Washington area until 1967. An antique, hand-carved and hand-painted Dentzel Carousel operates on summer weekends. The gallery offers monthly exhibitions of Glen Echo’s artists.

Posted in Scenic Drives | Tagged | Comments Off on George Washington Memorial Parkway