read: 751 / emailed: 0 / share: email September 09, 2011

Scenic Byways: Get an eyeful of beauty on a self-guided tour

Linn County is full of wonderful scenery, and a great way to take in some of the best is to travel our thrree Scenic Byways, which are part of the larger National Scenic Byways Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. 

The 66-mile Over The Rivers and Through The Woods Oregon Scenic Byway will take you along a picturesque route from the rich farmland of the Willamette Valley, across the Calapooia and South Santiam rivers into the thick forests of the Cascade Mountains. 

The Quartzville Creek Back Country Byway intersects with the Over the Rivers and Through the Woods byway at Quartzville Drive and Highway 20 at the east end of Foster Lake.  The Quartzville byway takes you through ancient forests, wildlife and the beautiful Quartzville Creek National Wild and Scenic River, above Green Peter Reservoir.  It's a great area to view a varied collection of wildflowers or blazing colors of autumn foliage.

The 82-mile McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway runs through the east end of Linn County, connecting east Linn County’s snowcapped Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Washington, and the very unique Three-Fingered Jack, gorgeous Clear Lake and Sahlie and Koosah falls on Highway 126, on the west end, with Sisters at the east. 

For more information, including brochures that offer self-guided tours, stop by the Albany Visitors Association headquarters at 250 Broadalbin St. SW, Suite 100 in downtown Albany or the U.S. Forest Service Sweet Home Ranger District headquarters at 431 Highway 20 in Sweet Home, or local chambers of commerce in Brownsville (101 Park Ave.), Sweet Home (1575 Main St.), Lebanon (1040 S. Park St.), and Albany (435 1st Ave.).

For more on-line information, click here.