o zi / 21 mile / 41 de minute
River Road Scenic Byway showcases all the AuSable River Valley has to offer. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Huron National Forest, enjoy panoramic views from high bluffs, spectacular fall colors, or quiet winter splendor. Hike, canoe, birdwatch, snowmobile, or ski--River Road can be explored during any season.
Zi 1
9:00 - 0 mile / 0 - 9:00
Rollways Campground and Picnic Area
High above Loud Pond of the Au Sable River sits Rollways Campground. The site is home to Rollways Picnic Shelter, one of the area's last remaining log shelters built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The shelter boasts two impressive stone fireplaces, which face each other from the gable ends, and is a perfect location for family reunions, wedding receptions, or a picnic lunch.
9:00 - 4.7 mile / 9 minute - 9:09
Iargo Springs Interpretive Site
At Iargo Springs, a wooden deck juts out over a 200 foot vertical drop offering a dramatic view of Cooke Pond of the Au Sable River and 300 steps lead down to the spring area where two low level log dams create small waterfalls and 1500 feet of boardwalk wind through large hemlock, pines, and cedar. Interpretive panels tell how the springs are formed and how the site was used by native Americans who gathered there for tribal powwows believing the water held magical powers.
10:39 - 0 mile / 0 - 10:39
With more than 500 sites, Old Orchard Park is a large campground with showers, hook-ups, and a dump station. It lies along Foote Pond of the Au Sable River and is operated by Oscoda Township on land leased from Consumers Energy. Open year-round, it also has a public winter sports park for sledding and cross-country skiing and hosts the annual Snowbox Derby.
10:39 - 2.2 mile / 4 minute - 10:43
Eagle Run is seven miles of loop trails for hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing located in a quiet setting following the shoreline of the Au Sable River. This area is one of the finest spring wildflower walks and a great area for bird-watching enthusiasts. It is the only trail system in this section of the national forest open to mountain biking.
10:43 - 0 mile / 0 - 10:43
At the top of a steep sand bluff (known locally as Champagne Hill for its champagne-glass shape), the Foote Pond Overlook offers travelers excellent opportunities to photograph Bald Eagles and panoramic river scenery. This is a fall-color hot spot. Hiking the steep slope and picnicking on the dune are favorite summer activities. Interpretive signs display the natural history of the bald eagle, identification tips, and how the Forest Service protects the habitat.
11:13 - 7.2 mile / 14 minute - 11:28
One of four hydroelectric dams owned by Consumers Energy and adjacent to River Road, Foote Dam is operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in partnership with Consumers Energy. The dam creates a large impoundment which has significantly added to the recreational use of the Au Sable River. Spring steelhead fishing is particularly popular here and recreation facilities at Foote Dam include boat access to the pond and an accessible fishing access.
11:58 - 6.6 mile / 13 minute - 12:11