Oregon's Mt. Hood Loop Hailed Among National Magazine's Best Scenic Roads

Country magazine’s November EXTRA issue unveils the “2014 Best Scenic Roads” a special section highlighting America’s most magnificent byways.

Multnomah Falls is in the splendid Columbia Gorge, on the way to Mount Hood. Photo by Steve Terrill, Country magazine

(Milwaukee, WI) - The November EXTRA issue of Country—the magazine for readers who enjoy the land and life we love—presents an extraordinary list of the nation’s most remarkable routes.

With the changing colors of fall, many of America’s beautiful landscapes are at their most stunning, and this special section, titled “Best Scenic Roads,” allows readers to see them in all their striking hues. The Mt. Hood Scenic Loop is among those selected as one of the country’s must-see roads.

To build the annual list, Country asked some of America’s best scenic photographers to share images of their favorite scenic byways from around the country.

From the impressive list of roads and images offered, the editors at Country selected 10 that are both beautiful and varied—found in the north, south, east and west regions of the United States.

The resulting list has a wonderful range of sights, from record-setting mountains and placid lakes to preserved ghost towns and rare wildlife. New this year, the magazine also shares fun facts and tips on attractions worth visiting, must-take historical tours and more.

East of Portland, where the Columbia River divides Washington from Oregon, the Mount Hood Scenic Byway offers a breathtaking drive. This nearly triangular loop, roughly 130 miles long, first follows along the Columbia River Gorge, then arcs down and around magnificent Mount Hood.

“Road trips are about adventure, and even more important than the beautiful sights, is the company you are with. We encourage readers to get lost in their journeys, whether it’s in the pages of the magazine or on the open road with their loved ones,” says Marija Andric, Country Editor.

“This year’s list delivers more incredible drives, so families from coast to coast can enjoy the grandeur our country has to offer.”

Go for a ride with Country on some of the other magnificent scenic roads that made the list:

• Keweenaw Peninsula (MI): Beginning with a trip over the world’s heaviest and widest double-decked lift bridge, this enchanting path winds through lush forests on Michigan’s Highway 41. Drivers can stop along the way for a tour of Quincy Mine, a visit to the stately 13,000 square-foot Laurium Manor Inn, or a sea kayaking trip on Lake Medora.
• Outer Banks Scenic Byway (NC): North Carolina’s Route 12 unveils 200 miles of coastal beauty and rich history. This scenic byway follows a narrow string of barrier islands with white sand beaches, shifting dunes, effervescent surf, picturesque fishing piers and five historic lighthouses.
• Heart of the Palouse (WA): Some of the world’s most fertile and uniquely scenic farmland lies along U.S. Highway 195. Thousands of square miles of undulating hills are studded with friendly farm towns, soaring raptors, and Steptoe Butte, a towering remnant of an ancient mountaintop.
• Monument Valley Scenic Drive (AZ/UT): Best known as the set of many well-known westerns, Thelma & Louise, Forrest Gump, and the Road Runner cartoons, the famous spires, pinnacles, and buttes of Monument Valley are even more amazing in real life than in the movies. The 17-mile drive through the valley features 11 numbered stops with special views of the rock formations.
• Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway (CA): California’s Highway 395 has multiple majestic panoramas, including Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States; Fossil Falls, a range of volcanic rock formations including an incredible chasm of lava falls; and Mono Lake, home of prominent tufa formations that draw thousands of visitors each year.

Read more: http://www.country-magazine.com/road-trip/west/drive-mount-hood-in-scenic-oregon/#ixzz3HVkLmsN0