Selma to Montgomery March Byway

Posted on December 11, 2015 by siteadmin

This scenic byway is in central Alabama and travels between the cities of Selma and Montgomery. The 43-mile byway follows US 80, a four-lane divided highway suitable for travel by all types of vehicles. The byway is open year-round.

The Selma to Montgomery March Byway is more than a scenic drive, it celebrates one of the major historic events in 20th century American history. The Selma to Montgomery march represents two fundamental ideals of the American people – democratic equality and nonviolent protest. It is also recognized as a catalyst for passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

On March 7, 1965, more than 500 African-Americans determined to march arrived at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma. Early that afternoon the marchers left the church. When they reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the marchers could see state troopers waiting on the other side. The troopers blocked the road just outside the city limits of Selma. The commander of the troopers declared that the march was unlawful and ordered the marchers to disperse. When they did not move, the troopers began to move toward the marchers and pushed them back with their billy clubs. Then suddenly, the troopers attacked by firing tear gas and striking marchers with their clubs. The two hospitals in Selma that admitted blacks reported 65 injuries from the attack. Footage of the attack was broadcast that evening on network television, outraging much of the Nation. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. urged clergy nationwide to come to Selma to join in a minister’s march the following Tuesday.

On Tuesday, March 10, 1965, King and the group of ministers marched only to the site of the attack. When the ministers reached the line of troopers, they offered prayers and then turned around.

At about 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 21, about 3,000 marchers once again began the march to Montgomery. This time they had the protection of the National Guard. It was in Lowndes County that the march size was reduced to 300 and the road narrowed to two lanes. It was also in Lowndes that Stokely Carmichael began to speak to the African-Americans about registering to vote. On March 25, the marchers arrived at the state capitol in Montgomery where a platform had been erected for King and others to speak. The largest civil rights march ever to take place in the South had finally reached its destination.

Recreational opportunities are limited directly along the scenic byway, however, camping facilities can be found at Six Mile Creek on Dannelly Reservoir, and at Prairie Creek and Gunter Hill on Woodruff Lake. These Corps of Engineers projects also offer picnicking, swimming, boating, and fishing.

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Apalachee Savannahs

Posted on December 7, 2015 by siteadmin

Apalachee Savannahs is in northwest Florida about 45 miles west of Tallahassee. The byway begins in Bristol and travels south to the junction with US 98, east of Apalachicola. Apalachee Savannahs is 60 miles long and follows CR 12, FL 379, and FL 65. The roads are two-lane paved roads suitable for all vehicles and generally remain open all year. Thirty-two miles are officially designated a National Forest Scenic Byway.

The Apalachee Savannahs scenic byway traverses the Apalachicola National Forest through the landscape of gentle slopes, longleaf pine flats, savannahs, cypress bogs, and numerous sloughs and creeks. Over one hundred species of wildflowers grow among the grasses and sedges of the savannahs, offering a beautiful display of seasonal color. Flowing alongside much of the byway is the meandering Apalachicola River.

Recreational opportunities along this byway are abundant. Florida National Scenic Trail crosses the national forest and can be accessed from the byway. The trail passes through the 23,432-acre Bradwell Bay Wilderness, mostly a large-fresh water swamp with several hundred acres of pine, mixed hardwoods, and titi.

Several developed recreation areas are along the byway. Camel Lake offers 10 campsites situated next to a small natural lake. Access to the Florida National Scenic Trail is provided. Cotton Landing is a smaller recreation area with only four campsites. Wright Lake has a 21-unit campground set in a wooded area along the shores of the lake. Hickory Landing Recreation Area has 10 camping units and access to the Apalachicola River for boating and fishing.

Fishing, hiking, and picnicking are among the attractions at Fort Gadsden State Historic Site. This site also offers interpretive exhibits depicting the history of the fort and its role in Florida’s history.

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Big Walker Mountain

Posted on December 7, 2015 by siteadmin

Big Walker Mountain is 90 miles west of Roanoke in southwest Virginia. It begins west of Bland at the junction of I-77 and US 52. It follows US 52 and VA 717 for a total of 16 miles and reconnects with I-77. The two-lane paved roads remain open year-round and are suitable for all types of vehicles.

Big Walker Mountain takes the traveler through forests of oak, hickory, and white pine as it ascends Big Walker Mountain. In spring colorful wildflowers bloom, beseeching your admiration. Flowering trees compete with the wildflowers, adding their own dash of color to the landscape. In fall the byway is painted in beautiful colors of red and gold. Among the trees within the mountains, one finds a diversity of wildlife. White-tailed deer can sometimes be seen along the byway, usually in the early morning or evening. Wild turkeys tend to be more secretive, but they occasionally allow themselves to be seen. The numerous songbirds inhabiting the area joyfully sing their songs of welcome to visitors. Meandering creeks along the byway add to the symphony with their bubbling and gurgling sounds.

Once atop Big Walker Mountain, visitors will find a privately-owned 100-foot tower open to tourists for a small fee. The view from here is spectacular, encompassing the surrounding densely-forested mountains and wide open valleys. An historical marker here tells the story of Mary Tynes warning the people of Wytheville of an impending Union Calvary raid led by Colonel John Toland in 1863.

A side trip on FSR 206 near the tower will take you to the Big Bend Picnic Area, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Set amidst orchard grass under a canopy of oaks, the picnic site offers vistas of the ridge and valley terrain to the south. This is a good spot to take a break and breathe in the surrounding landscape.

A national forest campground is located on the banks of East Fork of the Stony Fork Creek off VA 717. Stony Fork Campground offers 53 sites for tents and recreational vehicles. Drinking water, comfort stations, and a dump station are among the facilities available. A 1.5-mile nature trail guides you among the trees and flowers.

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Red Gulch – Alkali

Posted on December 5, 2015 by siteadmin

Red Gulch / Alkali is ten miles east of Greybull in north-central Wyoming. It is 32 miles long and follows the Red Gulch / Alkali Road, which is a gravel and dirt road. The byway requires a two-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle to complete. It is open May through October but can become impassable after periods of rain.

Travelers of the Red Gulch / Alkali Back Country Byway will find themselves winding through the foothills of the beautiful Bighorn Mountains. It’s easy to see how the byway was named when you travel this back country route. The reddish color of the Chugwater formation is seen to the east with the Bighorn Mountains as a backdrop. The landscape is composed mostly of sagebrush that provides habitat for the sage grouse. The sage grouse will proudly display their showy plumage at dawn in early spring for those traveling that time of year. If you’re traveling this byway in the fall, be on the lookout for mule deer or elk that make their way down from higher elevations for the coming winter. You may also encounter a gold eagle or peregrine falcon soaring overhead.

As you travel along the byway you may notice stacks of stone piled upon each other. Some of these were constructed by Native Americans to mark trail routes, hunting areas, or other important features of the landscape. Others may have been constructed by sheepherders to mark bed grounds and springs or simply out of boredom.

Although there are no developed campgrounds along the byway, the Bureau of Land Management permits dispersed camping nearly anywhere on public land. It is best, however, to obtain maps from the BLM before setting up camp as there may be private property nearby. The Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site, just east of the southern end of the byway, has camping facilities. You can also see Native American petroglyphs here.

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Quebradas

Posted on December 5, 2015 by siteadmin

Quebradas Back Country Byway is approximately 75 miles south of Albuquerque in central New Mexico. Northern access is off I-25 in Escondida. The byway travels southeast to the junction of CR A129, a few miles north of US 380. The 24-mile route follows Quebradas Road, which is a dirt road requiring a two-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended during wet weather. Quebradas is open all year but heavy rain can make portions impassable.

Quebradas Back Country Byway traverses a ruggedly scenic desert landscape east of the Rio Grande Valley. It crosses the Rio Grande River just east of Escondida. The river valley and surrounding area provides habitat for a variety of wildlife including mule deer, gray fox, coyote, bobcat, opossum, and jack rabbit. Bird watchers should be on the lookout for red-tailed hawk, horned lark, snow goose, and sandhill crane. Occasionally, the endangered whooping crane may also be seen along the river.

The byway continues east of Escondida for several miles before turning south where it crosses several arroyos that drain into the Rio Grande River. These crossings can contain deep pockets of sand and should not be crossed during or immediately following heavy rain. Loma de las Canas comes into view as you continue driving southward. Nearly vertical, multicolored cliffs and narrow box canyons dominate the view through here. This area provides excellent opportunities for exploring the back country on foot and is popular with hikers and backpackers.

To the south of the byway lies 57,000-acre Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Nearly 300 species of birds either inhabit this area or migrate through on a seasonal basis. The whooping crane has also made its presence known in this area.

Although there are no developed public campgrounds along the byway, the Bureau of Land Management permits camping nearly anywhere on BLM-managed land. To the west of the byway is Cibola National Forest, which has developed camping facilities.

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