Scenic byways in the United States

Catalina Highway climbing Mount Lemmon, Arizona

Scenic byways in the United States are highways noted for their scenic, historical, archaeological, natural, cultural, and recreational qualities. They are designated by national or state agencies.^[1]

National

National byways include:

• Bureau of Land Management Back Country Byways, designated by the Bureau of Land Management (U.S. Department of the Interior)^[2]
• National Forest Scenic Byways, initiated by the United States Forest Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture)^[3]
• National Scenic Byways, managed by the Federal Highway Administration (U.S. Department of Transportation)^[4] Some National Scenic Byways are classified as All-American Roads, a higher status reserved for more unique roadways. These byways are marketed under the term "America's Byways".^[5]

The National Scenic Byway Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2003 to support efforts for development, management and marketing of scenic byways by the Federal Highway Administration and byway organizations.^[6][7]

State

States also designate scenic byways, which is the first step towards designation of National Scenic Byways by the Federal Highway Administration.^[8]

Generally the state byways are designated by the state's department of transportation and are nominated with the assistance of the department of natural resources and tourism offices. The District of Columbia and 48 states are part of the National Scenic Byways Program.^[8]

Native American

The Navajo National Scenic Byways were developed by a task force including the Arizona Department of Transportation, and Bureau of Indian Affairs^[9] and are administered with the Federal Highway Administration.^[10]

References

1. "What is a scenic byway?". Navajo Scenic Roads. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
2. "BLM Back Country Byways". Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
3. "Tour USA" (PDF). United States Forest Service. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
4. "National Scenic Byways". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
5. "About America's Byways". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
6. "About Us". National Scenic Byways Foundation. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
7. "America's Byways". Byways 101. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
8. "State Scenic Byways Programs". Scenic America. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
9. Aztec Engineering; Corral-Dybas Group; Intrinsic Consulting (August 15, 2008). "Diné Biítah 'Among the People' Scenic Road Corridor Management Plan" (PDF). Transportation Enhancement & Scenic Roads Section, Arizona Department of Transportation. pp. 3, 8. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
10. "Navajo Nation Scenic Byways" (PDF). Kimley Horn Consulting. Retrieved August 15, 2014.

Further reading

• Federal Highway Administration (1991). National Scenic Byways Study (Report). Federal Highway Administration – via Google Books.
• Levin, David Richard (1988). Scenic Byways. Federal Highway Administration – via Google Books.
• National Geographic Society (2013). National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways & Byways. Washington, DC: National Geographic. ISBN 978-1-4262-1014-3 – via Google Books.
• Reader's Digest Association (2000). Great American Journeys. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association. ISBN 978-0-89577-847-5 – via Google Books.
• United States Forest Service (2008). National Forest Scenic Byways Program: Partnership Success Stories. United States Forest Service – via Google Books.

External links

• America's Byways, which lists National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads