Indiana National Road

Posted on January 14, 2015 by siteadmin

Indiana National Road follows US 40 across mid-Indiana from the Illinois state line to the Ohio state line. The byway is 180 miles long and remains open year-round. US Highway 40 is a two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles.

The National Road was the first federally funded highway in the United States. It ran from Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois. The portion running through Indiana was built between 1828 and 1834. Travelers of the byway today will find 32 historic places listed on the National Register of Historic Sites including: the James Whitcomb Riley Birthplace, the Indiana State Capitol, and Highland Lawn Cemetery in Terre Haute.

Those interested in camping will need to venture off the byway to find public campgrounds. South of Putnamville is the Lieber State Recreation Area. The 8,000-acre recreation area has over 400 RV and tent campsites; nearly 200 have electric hookups. Facilities are limited in winter, but the area remains open year-round. Near the byway’s eastern end is Whitewater Memorial State Park, located south of Richmond. It has over 300 campsites and some cabins available for rent.

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Judy Andreen Sierra Heritage

Posted on January 14, 2015 by siteadmin

This scenic byway is in east-central California, northeast of Fresno. The byway begins in Clovis and travels northeast to Kaiser Meadow, near Mono Hot Springs. Sierra Heritage is 70 miles long and follows CA 168 to Huntington Lake and then FSR 80 to Kaiser Meadow. Both roads are two-lane paved roads suitable for all vehicles. The last mile of FSR 80 to Kaiser Meadow is basically one lane and is suitable only for passenger vehicles. From Clovis to Huntington Lake, the byway is open all year. The portion from Huntington Lake to Kaiser Meadow is closed in winter.

Beginning at an elevation of about 500 feet, the byway winds through the Sierra Nevada to about 9,500 feet. The route crosses the Sierra National Forest through oak, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer forests. A beautiful display of wildflowers add color to the foothills in spring and the mountains in summer.

Shaver Lake offers developed camping facilities and excellent trout fishing. Farther up the byway is Huntington Lake. It’s rated one of the top sailing lakes in California; sailboat races are held throughout the summer. Huntington Lake also has camping facilities. Hiking trails provide access to two wilderness areas. White Bark Vista near Kaiser Meadow has a gentle half-mile nature trail with sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

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Edge of the Wilderness

Posted on January 13, 2015 by siteadmin

Edge of the Wilderness byway is in north-central Minnesota and begins in Grand Rapids. It follows MN 38, a two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles, north for nearly 50 miles to Effie. The 22-mile segment traveling through Chippewa National Forest is designated a National Forest Scenic Byway. Edge of the Wilderness usually remains open year-round; delays are possible during winter.

The Edge Of The Wilderness scenic byway winds through forests of oak, birch, and aspen, skirting the shores of numerous lakes. The variety of trees along the byway create a beautiful show of fall color. Wildlife observers will want to be on the lookout for beaver, white-tailed deer, osprey, and eagles. Coyotes and the gray wolf also inhabit this region of Minnesota.

The many lakes adjacent to the byway provide opportunities for boating and fishing. Anglers will find northern pike, muskie, walleye, bass, and sunfish. Lake trout can also be found in some of the lakes.

Those wishing to lengthen their stay will find a developed national forest campground at North Star Lake. The campground has 42 sites for tents and recreational vehicles, drinking water, restrooms, picnic tables, and fire rings. Additionally, there are primitive national forest campsites on Spider, Trout, and Wabana Lakes.

Approximately seven miles east of Bigfork on County Road 7 is the Scenic State Park. This park offers 117 campsites, some with electrical hookups. Facilities include restrooms, showers, drinking water, and a dump station. Picnicking, swimming, fishing, and boating are among the activities offered. Boat rentals are available for those that didn’t bring their own. The park also offers miles of hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling trails.

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Tioga and Big Oak Flat Roads

Posted on January 12, 2015 by siteadmin

Located in east-central California, the byway begins in the community of Big Oak Flat. The byway travels east and ends at the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park. Lee Vining Canyon scenic byway picks up where this one ends and continues east. The byway follows CA 120 (Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Pass Road in the national park), a two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles. It is approximately 80 miles long; 64 miles are officially designated a National Scenic Byway. Tioga Pass Road in the national park is closed during winter. The rest of the byway usually remains open year-round.

Yosemite National Park is one of the crown jewels of the National Park System. It was established in 1890 to preserve a portion of the Sierra Nevada Mountains that stretch along California’s eastern flank. The byway offers spectacular views of the mountains and meadows and valleys covered with wildflowers. Much of the surrounding land is undisturbed by man. In fact, nearly 95 percent of the park is preserved wilderness and many miles of its rivers are National Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Recreational opportunities are abundant within Yosemite National Park. Birdwatchers will delight in the more than 200 species of birds inhabiting the area. Other wildlife found here include black bear, mule deer, and mountain lion. Numerous campgrounds provide a total of over 800 campsites for RVers and tent campers. Anglers will be tempted by the many rivers teaming with cutthroat, steelhead, and golden trout. Miles of trails invite the hiker to explore the unspoiled wilderness.

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Enchanted Circle

Posted on January 10, 2015 by siteadmin

Enchanted Circle is in north-central New Mexico about 70 miles northeast of Santa Fe. The byway forms a loop drive beginning and ending in Taos. It follows NM 38, NM 522, and US 64 for a total of 84 miles. All the roads are two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles. Enchanted Circle generally remains open year-round.

Enchanted Circle crosses Carson National Forest forming a circle around the 13,161-foot Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest point. The byway climbs the southern portion of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains through forests of spruce and fir, crosses wide mountain valleys and meadows, and follows alongside meandering streams and rivers.

The ghost town of Elizabethtown lies on the byway’s eastern portion, just north of the US 64 intersection. This town was established in 1870 after gold was discovered in the area; it was New Mexico’s first incorporated town. It’s reported to have been a wild and wooly place with thousands of residents, seven saloons, and three dance halls. The remains of the town are a short drive west of the byway on CR B-20 across Moreno Creek.

Farther south of Elizabethtown is another monument to American history. The Vietnam Veterans National Memorial, now operated by the Disabled American Veterans, was originally built by Dr. Victor Westphall in memory of his son who died in the Vietnam War. The memorial is open daily and has special Memorial Day Services each year.

Plenty of opportunities exist for extending your stay along the byway. The national forest developed several campgrounds with numerous shaded sites and picnic tables. Dispersed camping is also permitted nearly anywhere on national forest land.

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