Feather River

Posted on January 30, 2015 by siteadmin

Feather River is located in northeast California, about 65 miles north of Sacramento. Western access is north of Oroville on CA 70. The byway travels north to Belden and then east to the intersection with US 395, near the Nevada border. Feather River is a 130-mile route that follows CA 70, a two-lane paved road suitable for all types of vehicles. Winter driving conditions can be hazardous but otherwise the byway is open year-round.

Feather River follows a route that divides the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain Ranges. The byway provides the lowest pass route through the Sierras. It crosses Plumas National Forest through steep canyon walls covered with moss and ferns, past rock outcrops, and scenic waterfalls.

Bucks Lake Wilderness Area lay south of the byway and attracts back country hikers, horseback riders, and back packers. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail is also accessed from the byway in Belden. Several campgrounds and picnic areas are along the route. Others can be found by taking the many side roads into the national forest. The State of California manages two recreation areas: Lake Oroville and Plumas-Eureka. Lake Oroville has over 200 RV and tent campsites; 70 with water and electric hookups. The 15,500-acre lake offers boating, skiing, swimming, and fishing. Plumas-Eureka State Park has 67 RV and tent campsites (24 foot RV length limit), nature and hiking trails, and other amenities.

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Nebo Loop

Posted on January 30, 2015 by siteadmin

Nebo Loop is 15 miles south of Provo in central Utah. It begins in Payson and travels south to the intersection with UT 132. Nebo Loop is 38 miles long and follows Nebo Loop Road (FSR 015), a two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles. Nebo Loop is usually open May through November.

The Nebo Loop scenic drive climbs over 9,000 feet in elevation through beautiful mountain scenery. Scenic overlooks along the byway provide vistas of 11,877-foot Mount Nebo and 10,931-foot Bald Mountain. Colorful canyons lined with maples, oaks, and stands of aspen are passed, beseeching the hiker to come and explore. These trees provide beautiful fall colors and stand out among the spruce, fir, and pine. Displaying its own brilliant color of red is the sandstone rock formation known as the Devil’s Kitchen. An overlook constructed along the byway provides visitors the chance to photograph this ruggedly beautiful work of nature.

Mount Nebo Wilderness lies to the west of this scenic route. Hikers, backpackers, and horseback riders will find hundreds of miles of trails running through the 28,170-acre area. Trailheads can be found at various points along the byway that lead you into the wilderness. Some guide you to the top of Mount Nebo. Shorter trails can also be found for those interested in just taking a stroll. As you walk the trails, be sure to look for mule deer, elk, or moose grazing around lakes.

There are several campgrounds along the byway. Payson Lakes is the largest with 100 units available. The campground has barrier-free facilities for the handicapped. All the sites have picnic tables, grills, and access to drinking water. Blackhawk Campground is the next largest with 38 sites. Ponderosa Campground has 22 sites; Maple Bench offers ten sites set among Rocky Mountain maples.

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Heritage Drive

Posted on January 28, 2015 by siteadmin

Heritage Drive is 20 miles northeast of Rhineland in northern Wisconsin. The byway begins in Three Lakes and travels north to WI 70. A spur road travels east to Franklin and Butternut Lakes. Heritage Drive is 21 miles long and follows WI 32, FSR 2178 (Military Road), and FSR 2181 (Butternut Lake Road). The roads are narrow, two-lane paved roads suitable for all vehicles. The byway’s roads are usually open all year.

Heritage Drive crosses the Nicolet National Forest, following portions of the Lake Superior Trail used by the Menominee for trading with the Winnebago and Ojibwa Indians. By 1861 the trail was improved a bit and used as a mail route. Shortly following the trail’s initial service as a mail route, the military improved the trail to a roadway transporting supplies, ammunition, and mail from fort to fort. Today the road is a scenic byway through old-growth pine and northern hardwoods, and is used to access outdoor recreation activities.

In 1937 the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed eight stone buildings in the area of Franklin Lake Campground. One building has been renovated into an interpretive center where exhibits provide information on the area’s geology and history. The campground and its historic stone structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors will find 81 campsites suitable for tents and RVs up to 22 feet long. A nature trail and swimming area are also found here. The lake yields good walleye and bass fishing.

Seven Mile Lake Campground sits on a bluff overlooking the lake. The campground is two miles northeast of the byway on FSR 2435. It has 27 RV and tent campsites. There is boat access to the lake, a swimming area, and good musky, walleye, and bass fishing. A two-mile hiking trail heads east and circles two wetland lakes.

Anvil Lake Campground lies just to the east of the byway’s northern terminus. There are 18 campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. Drinking water, a swimming area, and boat access are among the facilities available. Anglers will find walleye and bass inhabiting the lake.

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Billy the Kid

Posted on January 25, 2015 by siteadmin

Billy the Kid is in south-central New Mexico nearly 50 miles west of Roswell. The byway forms a loop drive beginning and ending in Hondo. It is 68 miles long and follows US 380, NM 48, and US 70. The roads are two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles. Billy the Kid is open year-round.

Billy the Kid travels through a region of grassy plains and pine forests, and through towns of historic significance. Lincoln’s main street is lined with adobe homes and commercial buildings that date back to the late 1800s. It is here that Billy the Kid was tried, convicted, and sentenced to hang. Before the law carried out its sentence, Billy killed the prison guards and escaped from the Lincoln County Courthouse. Sheriff Pat Garrett eventually tracked him to Fort Sumner, where Billy was killed on July 14, 1881. Travelers of the byway can tour the Old Lincoln County Court-house Museum.

Portions of the byway travel through Lincoln National Forest. There are two national forest campgrounds near the byway, west of Alto: Skyline and Oak Grove. Skyline Campground is one mile west of Alto on NM 532, then four miles northwest on FSR 117. It has 17 RV and tent sites; RVs are limited to 16 feet long. Oak Grove Campground is five miles west of Alto on NM 532. It has 29 RV and tent sites; RVs are limited to 16 feet long. There are no hookups or drinking water at either campground and both are open mid-May to mid-September.

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Kings Canyon

Posted on January 24, 2015 by siteadmin

Kings Canyon is in central California, approximately 35 miles east of Fresno. The byway officially begins at the Sequoia National Forest boundary and travels east into Kings Canyon National Park. The 50-mile route follows CA 180, a two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles. It is generally open mid-April to early November. The byway ends in the national park; travelers will need to retrace the route back to Wilsonia.

Kings Canyon takes the traveler through dramatic changes in vegetation, wildlife, and geology. First the byway climbs 4,000 feet through the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Then it descends 3,700 feet into Kings Canyon only to climb 2,000 feet again and end in beautiful Zumwalt Meadow. Nearly half of the route is accompanied by South Fork of the Kings River, a National Wild and Scenic River. The byway also bisects the rugged Monarch Wilderness.

Kings Canyon is one of North America’s deepest canyons. It reaches a depth of 8,200 feet, the distance from Spanish Mountain’s peak to river level. Just as impressive are the giant sequoia trees that grow on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The trees can reach heights of more than 300 feet, with 40-foot bases and branches eight feet in diameter. A nature trail in Grant Grove will take you among these magnificent trees and the huge General Grant Tree.

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