River Road Scenic Byway
Encyclopedia
The River Road is a National Scenic Byway
in the US state of Michigan
. This 22 miles (35.4 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 Riviere aux Sable (River of Sand). The Au Sable River
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.
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.
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. 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).
listed the roadway as the River Road National Scenic Byway.
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
in the US state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. This 22 miles (35.4 km) byway follows M-65
M-65 (Michigan highway)
M-65 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The highway runs between termini on US Highway 23 near Omer and Rogers City in the northeastern Lower Peninsula of the state. M-65 runs inland through several small communities in the region, passing through forests and fields along...
and River Road; it extends eastward into the Huron National Forest and ends in the historic community of Oscoda
Oscoda, Michigan
Oscoda is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan located on the northern side of the Au Sable River where it enters Lake Huron. The community of Au Sable is on the other side of the river. Oscoda is in Oscoda Township in Iosco County, and not in Oscoda County, which is to the...
near Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
. The road parallels the historic Riviere aux Sable (River of Sand). The Au Sable River
Au Sable River (Michigan)
The Au Sable River in Michigan runs approximately through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the towns of Grayling and Mio, and enters Lake Huron at Oscoda. It is considered one of the best brown trout fisheries east of the Rockies and has been designated a blue ribbon trout stream by the...
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.
Recreational opportunities
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 lush forest and panoramic vistas from the many scenic overlooks along the route. Other sites along the byway include the Lumberman's MonumentLumberman's Monument
Lumberman's Monument is a monument dedicated to the workers of the early logging industry in Michigan. It was built in 1931, dedicated in 1932 and is managed by the USDA Forest Service . It is located in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan along the Au Sable River within...
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
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
and boardwalks along the river.
Route description
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 DamFive Channels Dam
Five Channels Dam is a hydro-electric dam on the Au Sable River in Michigan.-Background:This hydro-electric dam was completed in 1912 and is capable of producing 6,000 kilowatts. It is named for the nearby location on the Au Sable River where there were once five distinct river channels...
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
Lumberman's Monument
Lumberman's Monument is a monument dedicated to the workers of the early logging industry in Michigan. It was built in 1931, dedicated in 1932 and is managed by the USDA Forest Service . It is located in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan along the Au Sable River within...
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
Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport
Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport is a public use airport located three nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Oscoda, an unincorporated community in Iosco County, Michigan, United States...
, 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. The segment of the byway that follows M-65 is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
(MDOT), while River Road is under the jurisdiction of the Iosco County Road Commission (ICRC).
History
The section of the byway that follows M-65 was first added to the state highway system in the mid 1930s. 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 AdministrationFederal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
listed the roadway as the River Road National Scenic Byway.
Major intersections
See also
- Brockway Mountain DriveBrockway Mountain DriveBrockway Mountain Drive is a scenic highway just west of Copper Harbor in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the United States. Drivers can access the road from state highway M-26 on either end near Eagle Harbor to the west or Copper Harbor to the east in the Keweenaw Peninsula...
- Pierce Stocking Scenic DrivePierce Stocking Scenic DriveThe Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a scenic route within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, in western Northern Michigan in the United States. The roadway, with its "scenic vistas and gentle curves", is located off state highway M-109 between Empire and Glen Arbor...