River Road National Scenic Byway | |
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River Road National Forest Scenic Byway | |
Map of the Huron National Forest with the River Road NSB highlighted in red
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Route information | |
Maintained by MDOT and ICRC | |
Length: | 23.458 mi (37.752 km) |
Existed: | September 22, 2005 | – present
Major junctions | |
West end: | M-65 near Hale |
East end: | US 23 in Oscoda |
Location | |
Counties: | Iosco |
Highway system | |
National Scenic Byways National Forest Scenic Byways Iosco County Roads |
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.