The River Road National Scenic Byway (also called the River Road National Forest Scenic Byway) is a National Scenic Byway and National Forest Scenic Byway in the US state of Michigan. This 23+1⁄2-mile-long (37.8 km) byway follows M-65 and River Road; it extends eastward into the Huron National Forest and ends in the historic community of Oscoda near Lake Huron. The road parallels the historic Au Sable River (French: Rivière aux Sable, "River of Sand") which has historically been a major transportation route for floating Michigan's giant white pine from the forest to the saw mill towns on Lake Huron. Along its course, the roadway offers access to several recreational areas as well as the local scenery. The section of the River Road that follows M-65 was added to the State Trunkline Highway System in the 1930s. The River Road was given National Forest Scenic Byway status in 1988, and National Scenic Byway status in 2005.
The scenic byway starts at the intersection of M-65 and Rollways Road and runs eastward along M-65 near Loud Dam Pond. The road runs through the Huron National Forest and along the Five Channels Dam Pond to a junction with River Road. There, the byway leaves M-65 to follow River Road eastward along the south bank of the Au Sable River. The road passes the Canoer's Memorial, the Kiwanis Monument and the Lumberman's Monument near Cooke Dam Pond. River Road runs away from the river, cutting across forest land near a bend in the Au Sable. Near the Old Orchard Park, the byway follows the southern shore of Foote Dam Pond. From here east, the roadway continues along the south bank of the river, across from Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport, as it runs into Oscoda. The eastern terminus of the byway is at a junction with US 23 in town, a few blocks from Lake Huron.[3][4][5] The segment of the byway that follows M-65 is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), while River Road is under the jurisdiction of the Iosco County Road Commission (ICRC).
Recreational opportunitiesedit
Byway travelers will find abundant, year-round recreation opportunities, with many trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. Camping, fishing, and wildlife viewing are popular activities along the byway. Visitors can enjoy the forest and vistas from the scenic overlooks along the route.[6] Other sites along the byway include the Lumberman's Monument and its visitors' center which are dedicated to telling the story of Michigan's lumber industry in the 19th century. The Iargo Springs Interpretive Site presents visitors with exhibitions on natural springs and boardwalks along the river.[7]
Historyedit
The section of the byway that follows M-65 was first added to the state highway system in the mid-1930s.[8] On December 20, 1988, the National Forest Service designated the River Road National Forest Scenic Byway in Iosco County. A second designation was added on September 22, 2005, when the Federal Highway Administration listed the roadway as the River Road National Scenic Byway.[2]
^ abFederal Highway Administration (n.d.). "River Road Scenic Byway: Official Designations". America's Byways. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
^Federal Highway Administration (n.d.). . America's Byways. Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on March 17, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
^Google (April 6, 2011). "Overview Map of the River Road Scenic Byway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
^Federal Highway Administration (n.d.). . America's Byways. Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
^Swoyer, Megan (October 1, 2004). "Northeast Michigan Overflows with History at Iargo Springs". The Detroit News. p. 9E. ISSN 1055-2715. OCLC 137348716.
^Michigan State Highway Department & Rand McNally (June 1, 1936). Official Michigan Highway Map (Map). [c. 1:850,000]. Lansing: Michigan State Highway Department. §§ F12–I12. OCLC 12701143.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to River Road National Scenic Byway.
river, road, national, scenic, byway, also, called, river, road, national, forest, scenic, byway, national, scenic, byway, national, forest, scenic, byway, state, michigan, this, mile, long, byway, follows, river, road, extends, eastward, into, huron, national. The River Road National Scenic Byway also called the River Road National Forest Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway and National Forest Scenic Byway in the US state of Michigan This 23 1 2 mile long 37 8 km byway follows M 65 and River Road it extends eastward into the Huron National Forest and ends in the historic community of Oscoda near Lake Huron The road parallels the historic Au Sable River French Riviere aux Sable River of Sand which has historically been a major transportation route for floating Michigan s giant white pine from the forest to the saw mill towns on Lake Huron Along its course the roadway offers access to several recreational areas as well as the local scenery The section of the River Road that follows M 65 was added to the State Trunkline Highway System in the 1930s The River Road was given National Forest Scenic Byway status in 1988 and National Scenic Byway status in 2005 River Road National Scenic BywayRiver Road National Forest Scenic BywayRiver Road NSB highlighted in redRoute informationMaintained by MDOT and ICRCLength23 458 mi 1 37 752 km ExistedSeptember 22 2005 2005 09 22 2 presentMajor junctionsWest endM 65 near HaleEast endUS 23 in OscodaLocationCountryUnited StatesStateMichiganCountiesIoscoHighway systemScenic BywaysNational National Forest BLM NPSMichigan State Trunkline Highway SystemInterstate US State BywaysIosco County Roads Contents 1 Route description 2 Recreational opportunities 3 History 4 Major intersections 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksRoute description edit nbsp Entrance sign north of HaleThe scenic byway starts at the intersection of M 65 and Rollways Road and runs eastward along M 65 near Loud Dam Pond The road runs through the Huron National Forest and along the Five Channels Dam Pond to a junction with River Road There the byway leaves M 65 to follow River Road eastward along the south bank of the Au Sable River The road passes the Canoer s Memorial the Kiwanis Monument and the Lumberman s Monument near Cooke Dam Pond River Road runs away from the river cutting across forest land near a bend in the Au Sable Near the Old Orchard Park the byway follows the southern shore of Foote Dam Pond From here east the roadway continues along the south bank of the river across from Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport as it runs into Oscoda The eastern terminus of the byway is at a junction with US 23 in town a few blocks from Lake Huron 3 4 5 The segment of the byway that follows M 65 is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation MDOT while River Road is under the jurisdiction of the Iosco County Road Commission ICRC Recreational opportunities editByway travelers will find abundant year round recreation opportunities with many trails for hiking and cross country skiing Camping fishing and wildlife viewing are popular activities along the byway Visitors can enjoy the forest and vistas from the scenic overlooks along the route 6 Other sites along the byway include the Lumberman s Monument and its visitors center which are dedicated to telling the story of Michigan s lumber industry in the 19th century The Iargo Springs Interpretive Site presents visitors with exhibitions on natural springs and boardwalks along the river 7 History editThe section of the byway that follows M 65 was first added to the state highway system in the mid 1930s 8 On December 20 1988 the National Forest Service designated the River Road National Forest Scenic Byway in Iosco County A second designation was added on September 22 2005 when the Federal Highway Administration listed the roadway as the River Road National Scenic Byway 2 Major intersections editThe entire byway is in Iosco County Locationmi 1 kmDestinationsNotesPlainfield Township0 0000 000 nbsp nbsp M 65 south HaleRollways RoadWestern end of the National Scenic Byway at Rollways Road M 65 continues southwardOscoda Township4 3176 948 nbsp nbsp M 65 north GlennieRiver Road east OscodaM 65 departs the byway northwardOscoda23 45837 752 nbsp nbsp US 23 LHCT Standish AlpenaEastern end of the National Scenic Byway1 000 mi 1 609 km 1 000 km 0 621 miSee also edit nbsp Michigan Highways portalBlack River National Forest Scenic Byway another National Forest Scenic Byway in the state Brockway Mountain Drive a scenic roadway overlooking Lake Superior near Copper Harbor Michigan Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive a similar scenic drive in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Whitefish Bay National Forest Scenic Byway another National Forest Scenic Byway in the stateReferences edit a b Michigan Department of Transportation 2021 Next Generation PR Finder Map Michigan Department of Transportation Retrieved October 11 2021 a b Federal Highway Administration n d River Road Scenic Byway Official Designations America s Byways Federal Highway Administration Retrieved April 6 2011 Federal Highway Administration n d River Road Scenic Byway Driving Directions America s Byways Federal Highway Administration Archived from the original on March 17 2011 Retrieved April 6 2011 Rand McNally 2008 Michigan Map The Road Atlas 2008 ed 1 in 20 mi Chicago Rand McNally p 51 K10 K11 ISBN 0 528 93981 5 OCLC 226315010 Google April 6 2011 Overview Map of the River Road Scenic Byway Map Google Maps Google Retrieved April 6 2011 Federal Highway Administration n d River Road Scenic Byway America s Byways Federal Highway Administration Archived from the original on June 10 2011 Retrieved April 6 2011 Swoyer Megan October 1 2004 Northeast Michigan Overflows with History at Iargo Springs The Detroit News p 9E ISSN 1055 2715 OCLC 137348716 Michigan State Highway Department amp Rand McNally June 1 1936 Official Michigan Highway Map Map c 1 850 000 Lansing Michigan State Highway Department F12 I12 OCLC 12701143 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to River Road National Scenic Byway KML file edit help Template Attached KML River Road National Scenic BywayKML is from Wikidata River Road Scenic Byway at Pure Michigan Travel M 65 at Michigan Highways Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title River Road National Scenic Byway amp oldid 1168079325, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
