Meeting of the Great Rivers

Posted on December 28, 2015 by siteadmin

Meeting of the Great Rivers is in southwest Illinois about 20 miles north of Saint Louis, Missouri. The byway begins in Alton at the Melvin Price Lock and Dam and travels north to Kampsville. It follows IL 100, Eldred Road, and IL 108 for a total of 50 miles. The byway reaches Kampsville via a ferry across the Illinois River. The roads followed are two-lane paved roads suitable for all vehicles.

Meeting of the Great Rivers follows the Mississippi River between Alton and Pere Marquette State Park and the Illinois River to Kampsville. Dense woodland and high bluffs add to the scenic beauty of the byway. In fall, the region is decorated with vibrant color. The byway traveler passes through several small communities with Victorian homes and rural areas with charming farmhouses and barns. A variety of wildlife inhabits the region including deer, otter, and beaver. In January and February, bald eagles can be seen. In November and March thousands of white pelicans stay a week or two during their migration.

Camping is available in the Pere Marquett State Park. It has 117 RV and tent sites; 82 have electric hookups. It also features nature trails, horseback riding, and fishing. The state park is open all year.

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Trinity River

Posted on December 24, 2015 by siteadmin

Trinity River is in northwest California, traveling between I-5 and US 101. Eastern access is near Redding and its western near Arcata. The byway is approximately 140 miles long and follows CA 299. The road is a two-lane paved road suitable for all types of vehicles. It is usually passable year-round but winter driving conditions can be hazardous.

The Trinity River scenic byway crosses Shasta-Trinity National Forests with a small portion running through Six Rivers National Forest. Trinity River meanders alongside much of the byway and attracts anglers in search of salmon or trout. Anglers are also attracted to the Trinity Alps Wilderness, which boasts more than 60 alpine lakes. It is California’s largest wilderness area and is also used by hikers, equestrians, and backpackers.

Whiskeytown Lake is next to the byway near the eastern terminus. It is part of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, which is managed by the National Park Service. Lake fishing is good either from the shore or from a boat. Rainbow and brown trout, kokanee salmon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass inhabit the lake. The recreation area also has developed camping facilities for RVers and tent campers. Several national forest campgrounds are also along or near the byway.

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Lower Crooked River

Posted on December 24, 2015 by siteadmin

Lower Crooked River is in central Oregon about 35 miles east of Bend. The 43-mile byway follows OR 27 between Prineville and Brothers. Oregon Highway 27 is a two-lane paved road for 21 miles from Prineville; the rest is gravel. The road is suitable for all types of vehicles and generally remains open year-round.

This back country byway begins in Prineville and heads south through the steep-walled canyon carved by the Crooked River. The river flows alongside the byway until you reach Prineville Reservoir, formed by the construction of Arthur R. Bowman dam on the river. The segment of river along the byway is a National Wild and Scenic River. The river provides excellent fishing for native rainbow trout. Wildlife seen along this stretch of the byway include deer, coyotes, and numerous birds of prey. Black bear inhabit the area as do bald eagles during winter.

Once you cross Bear Creek the landscape begins to change. As you continue driving south, the canyon walls give way to a vast expanse of sagebrush. This is Oregon’s high desert. Here you can spot mule deer, antelope, sage grouse, and coyotes.

There are several primitive BLM campgrounds along the byway in addition to the Chimney Rock Campground, which offers 16 campsites with picnic tables. Although not located directly along the byway, there are two state parks that offer camping facilities. Ochoco State Park has 22 primitive sites situated on the shore of Ochoco Lake. Prineville Reservoir State Park is more developed and has 22 sites with full hookups and 48 sites for tent campers. Shower facilities and a swimming beach are among the facilities available here.

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Flat Tops Trail

Posted on December 21, 2015 by siteadmin

Flat Tops Trail is in northwest Colorado about 100 miles northeast of Grand Junction. It crosses the White River and Routt National Forests between Meeker and Yampa. The byway follows CR 8 and FSR 16 over a combination of paved and gravel-surfaced roads. Most vehicles are able to complete the entire 82-mile route. Flat Tops Trail receives two to ten feet of snow in winter and is not maintained for automobile use. It is open for snowmobile and cross-country ski use.

The Flat Tops Trail crosses sage-covered hills, meadows, and working ranches as it winds through two national forests. Byway travelers are also treated to forests of lodgepole pine, spruce, fir, and aspen. The byway climbs across 10,343-foot Ripple Creek Pass before leaving White River National Forest. Vaughn Lake is nearby and offers fishing for rainbow and brown trout.

A side trip on FSR 205 will take you to Trappers Lake, an area known as the “Cradle of Wilderness.” In 1919, Arthur Carhart made recommendations to cease further development of roads and homes around the lake. His efforts to protect the natural beauty of the area led to a wilderness protection movement, which ultimately led to the Wilderness Act of 1964. Visitors will find four camping areas with a total of nearly 60 RV and tent sites. An RV length limit of 22 feet exists for each camping area.

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Lake Tahoe East Shore Drive

Posted on December 19, 2015 by siteadmin

Lake Tahoe East Shore Drive is in west-central Nevada about 15 miles west of Carson City. It follows the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe between the cities of King’s Beach and South Lake Tahoe. The byway is 30 miles long and follows NV 28 and US 50. Both highways are two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles. They usually remain open all year.

Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. It stretches for 22 miles north to south and is 12 miles wide. It is said that a white dinner plate can be seen in these crystal-clear waters to a depth of 75 feet. A tram near the lake’s south shore takes visitors up 2,000 feet above the lake for spectacular panoramic views of the lake and Lake Tahoe Basin.

Near the byway’s northern end is Incline Village. Located here is the Ponderosa Ranch, which was the filming site for the television show “Bonanza.” It is now a theme park featuring a petting farm, saloon and a museum. Visitors can stroll through the original Cartwright ranch house and a recreated Western town. The museum displays automobiles, carriages and an antique gun collection.

Recreational opportunities are plentiful along this scenic byway. In winter, the area provides excellent opportunities for cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, and sledding. Lake Tahoe attracts sailboats and water-skiers during the warmer months. Miles of alpine beaches can be found within Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park and around the lake that provide the perfect spot for a family outing. Numerous side roads and trails provide hiking and mountain biking opportunities. The 63,475-acre Desolation Wilderness on the California side offers hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail also passes through here.

Numerous camping areas are along the byway and within the surrounding national forest land. Washoe Lake State Park is located north of Carson City off US 395. The campground has 50 sites for tents and recreational vehicles with some sites having hookups. It also has drinking water, picnic areas, restrooms, a dump station, and a boat ramp. In South Lake Tahoe is a county park with 170 campsites. Hookups are available at many of the sites. Other facilities include restrooms, picnic areas, shower facilities, and a boat ramp. On the California side is 593-acre Emerald Bay State Park. There are 100 campsites suitable for tents and recreational vehicles. Just north of this state park is the D.L. Bliss State Park which, has 167 campsites. This 1,237-acre park also offers miles of hiking trails.

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