Earlier this month The Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies was launched as North America’s newest destination for RVers and other travelers “who seek an authentic experience with scenic beauty, wildlife, and recreation that delivers a connection with the environment, American Indian cultures, and North American history.”
The Top 10 Scenic Drives connect 19 National Parks, Monuments, and Recreation Areas via nationally designated Scenic Byways and National Historic Trails in Western Canada and Northwestern United States.
The Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies includes and two Canadian provinces—British Columbia and Alberta—and five U.S. states—Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, and Oregon.
The new online tool features a personality and drive matcher that connects users with specific Top 10 Scenic Drives based on their interests. The site also provides an expanding list of the destination's diverse offerings, as well as a story-sharing section with photos and information from previous experiences on the Top 10.
The website highlights nearly every outdoor activity a traveler could imagine, from camping and RVing, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, and hunting to birding, photography, skiing, snowmobiling, snowboarding, horseback riding, and golfing to name a few. Visitors will also enjoy access to many dining options, artisans, and wineries, as well as cultural and historical centers.
To ensure that its pure and natural state is preserved for many generations to come, this destination supports the principles of green tourism or geotourism. For more information on sustainable travel, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable.
The Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies’ initiative began in 2005 after the International Selkirk Loop and Northwest Passage Scenic Byway joined the Beartooth Highway
and Hells Canyon Scenic Byway in achieving All-American Road (AAR) designation—the
highest designation in the U.S. National Scenic Byway system.
The destination is built upon its four AARs, four connecting Historic Trails and 19 National Parks, Monuments, and Recreation Areas, and includes more than 100 key partners, including State, Provincial, Regional, Local, and Tribal organizations, as well as State and Federal Agencies and private businesses, organizations, and individuals.
The Top 10 Scenic Drives include:
Beartooth Highway All-American Road (Montana and Wyoming)
Circle the Continental Divide Driving Tour (Wyoming)
Hells Canyon All-American Road (Oregon and Idaho)
Hot Springs Circle Tour (British Columbia)
International Selkirk Loop All-American Road (British Columbia, Idaho, and British Columbia)
Montana Scenic Loop (Montana)
Northwest Passage Scenic Byway (All-American Road) (Idaho)
Salmon River-Sawtooth Scenic Byways (Idaho)
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Loop (Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana)
Yellowstone-Grand Teton Loop (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho)
Connecting Historic Trails include:
David Thompson Historic Route (Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, and Washington)
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana)
Nez Perce National Historic Trail (Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming)
Oregon National Historic Trail (Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon)
Worth Pondering…
The night
An orange sunset fading on the horizon
A single shooting star across the black velvet sky
A majestic snow-capped mountain welcoming the dawn
Unforgettable moments are your private domain.
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