AAA Offers 10 Scenic Routes for Picture-Perfect Fall Drives
22 September 1997
AAA Offers 10 Scenic Routes for Picture-Perfect Fall Drives
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 22 -- As fall approaches, you may be
wondering which drives provide some of the most memorable views of fall
foliage.
AAA's fall drives are based on input from AAA road reporters who drive
more than 200,000 miles a year, information from local AAA clubs and the
expertise of professionals in the association's Highway Information
Department. The information is not intended to be an all-inclusive or ranked
listing, but a selection of memorable autumn drives that mother nature
provides...weather permitting.
Here's a sampling from AAA's Scenic Byways program:
CALIFORNIA
Route: SR 299 Length: 135 miles
Terminals: Shasta to US 101 Classification: Natural Beauty, Culturally
Interesting
Road Type: State Road Best Viewing Time: Mid-October
SR 299 travels through heavily forested mountains, allowing access to very
scenic recreational areas around Whiskeytown and Trinity lakes. Historical
markers in a few small towns commemorate the gold-mining days. The road winds
along the Trinity River gorge and provides some great views of the slopes as
it cuts across the coastal mountain range. Redwood trees are visible near the
coastal region.
CONNECTICUT
Route: SR 77 Length: 15 miles
Terminals: Guilford to Durham Classification: Natural Beauty,
Quintessential, Culturally Interesting
Road Type: State Road Best Viewing Time: Mid-October
This picturesque drive has many pullouts which offer great views.
Historic Guilford offers the state's oldest home and first museum, the Henry
Whitfield State Museum. Pretty old homes, forests, parks and farms can be
spotted along this 15-mile drive. Many pullouts along beautiful Lake
Quonnipaug offer great picnic spots. The hills look like they are on fire
with pretty orange, gold and red foliage.
KENTUCKY
Route: Mountain Parkway Length: 32.00 miles
Terminals: 6 miles so. of I-64 Classification: Natural Beauty
to south of Slade
Road Type: Other, local roads Best Viewing Time: Through October
The Mountain Parkway rolls through the Appalachian ranges of eastern
Kentucky. Traveling eastbound, the first view of the distant, densely wooded
mountains occurs shortly after leaving I-64. Forestation becomes heavier as
the route approaches Daniel Boone National Forest, primarily a hardwood forest
with occasional stands of pines. The Forest's oaks, maples and sycamores put
on a colorful display during fall foliage season.
MAINE
Route: I-95 Length: 154 miles
Terminals: Augusta to Sherman Name: Interstate 95
Road Type: Interstate Classification: Quintessential
Best Viewing Time: Early October
I-95 offers a view of inland Maine from an interstate perspective as it
glides past a variety of landscapes. The southern half of the byway begins in
Augusta, the state's capital and home to several historical museums.
Generally, the byway follows the Sebasticook River valley through heavily
wooded farmland. Mid-route offers access to the picturesque college and
resort towns of Waterville, Bangor and Orono. From Bangor, the road parallels
the Penobscot River into the backwoods country. An abundance of streams and
wildlife are common in this beautiful countryside framed by wooded mountains.
MICHIGAN
Route: SR 26 Length: 24 miles
Terminals: Phoenix to
Copper Harbor Classification: Natural Beauty,
Quintessential
Road Type: State Road Best Viewing Time: Late September-mid-
October
From Phoenix on US 41, SR 26 turns toward Lake Superior, providing an
alternative route to Copper Harbor, Michigan's northernmost community, and the
remote tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Lakeshore and forest flank the road and
are equally impressive in natural beauty. Copper Harbor is noted as a popular
summer vacation spot. Boats link the mainland to the dense wilderness of Isle
Royale National Park on Isle Royale, the largest island in Lake Superior. The
Estivant Pines, a grove of 100 foot tall white pines, some over 500 years old,
grow along the Montreal River near Copper Harbor.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Route: US 302 Length: 41 miles
Terminals: Bethlehem/I-93 to
Glen/SR 16
Road Type: US Highway Classification: Natural Beauty,
Culturally Interesting
Best Viewing Time: Late September-late
October
US 302 offers a beautiful and historic trip through the White Mountains
and majestic Crawford Notch. Beginning at I-93, the route travels hilly,
rural countryside and enters the Ammonoosuc River Valley at Pierce Bridge.
Along the route is Bretton Woods with its lavish Mount Washington Hotel, a
famous resort spa for wealthy families at the turn of the century, and the
Mount Washington Cog Railroad, which makes a scenic round-trip ride to the top
of the mountain. The route continues through the boulder-strewn Crawford
Notch (el. 1,773 ft.) past several ski and golf resorts. The byway parallels
the Saco River downstream, passing other towering peaks of the White Mountains
(Bear Mountain, Mount Parker and Mount Carrigan) on the way to the eastern
terminus. The road also passes a covered bridge over the Saco River just west
of Glen.
NORTH CAROLINA
Route: US 321 Length: 17 miles
Terminals: Boone to
Tennessee border Classification: Natural Beauty
Road Type: US Highway Best Viewing Time: Late September-
mid-October
The route's eastern terminus is in Boone, which sits high atop the Blue
Ridge Mountains. This area, rich in American history and Appalachian
heritage, offers the Appalachian Cultural Museum and Hickory Ridge Homestead
Museum. The type of scenery ranges from rolling, wooded hills with farms to
densely wooded mountains, all seen from winding roads that offer very good
mountain views in some places. Several ski areas, including Beech Mountain
Resort, are located off the byway.
TENNESSEE
Route: US 129/SR 115 Length: 22 miles
Terminals: Pumpkin Center/US 129 to Classification: Natural
North Carolina border Beauty
Road Type: US Highway Best Viewing Time: Late
October-early November
This byway follows the Little Tennessee River and skirts the fringes of
the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The western section offers very good
views of the river and lakes, especially scenic Lake Chilhowee and the
surrounding mountains. The eastern section of the byway winds winds on
"hairpin turns" through dense woods toward the North Carolina border.
TEXAS
Route: McKittrick Canyon Road Length: 2 miles
Terminals: US 62/US 180 to
McKittrick Canyon Classification: Natural Beauty
Road Type: Other, local roads Best Viewing Time: Late October
A spur road off the main route through Guadalupe Mountain National Park,
McKittrick Canyon Road offers access to surprising McKittrick Canyon. Located
within the arid, rocky Guadalupe Mountain, this canyon contains a mixture of
desert canyon woodlands and highland forest. In late October, the red, yellow
and orange color of the deciduous trees are reminiscent of northern woods.
This transition zone between the desert and mountain highlands also contains
prickly pear, ferns and wildflowers fed by spring water. The McKittrick
Canyon Visitor Center at the end of the road has exhibits about the canyon; it
is the starting point for a trail into the canyon's upper regions.
VERMONT
Route: SR 9 (Molly Stark Trail) Length: 39 miles
Terminals: Bennington to Brattleboro Classification: Natural Beauty
Road Type: State Road Best Viewing Time: Early November
The Molly Stark Trail traverses scenic, hilly to mountainous terrain and
offers pleasant views of lakes, forests and mountains. The byway continues
east across the densely wooded mountains which is gorgeous during the fall
color season and follows a mountain stream to the shores of Harriman
Reservoir. From Bennington, the route quickly ascends to the top of the Green
Mountain range through the oak, maple and pine woods of Green Mountain
National Forest. Spectacular views of the Hogback Mountains are seen west of
Brattleboro. The Brattleboro Museum and Art Center and the Brooks Memorial
Library are of interest. This route passes old rustic taverns, houses and
churches and offers recreational and historic points of interest.
SOURCE American Automobile Association