A seagull flies over the California Coastal National Monument which stretches along the entire coast of California and extends 12 miles into the Pacific Ocean. The Monument includes 20,000 rocks, islands, pinnacles and reefs.
BLM
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Wagon wheel in the Carrizo Plain National Monument Geothermal Well Rock Climbing Wild Horses River Rafters on Cache Creek
California
BLM>California>Recreation>Back-Country Byways, scenic driving tours
Print Page
Scenic and Back-Country Byways BLM byways

The best way to get to know a place is to get off the highway and onto the back roads. That's what "byways" are about.

Responding to the 1989 President's Commission on American Outdoors, this program designates "back-country byways" -- a system of low-standard roads and trails that pass through public lands with high scenic or public-interest value.

Former Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan described these roads as "Adventure Routes" into some of America's last wide open spaces. The designation of a back-country byway highlights the area's special recreational and scenic values, and increases public awareness of their lands and resources.

Though not designated back-country byways, many roads or trails through BLM lands offer other scenic routes that let you see what the area is really like.

Please note: Web pages for these sites are maintained by BLM California's field offices. You can use your browser's "back" button to return to this page.

Back-country byways:
dotBradshaw Trail; Riverside and Imperial Counties
dotChimney Peak Byway; Kern and Tulare Counties
dotSurprise Valley/Barrel Springs Back Country Byway; Modoc County, California and Washoe County, Nevada

Other scenic routes:
dotAlabama Hills; Inyo County
dotFort Ord; Monterey County
dotVolcanic Tablelands; Inyo County

   
Last updated: 04-26-2007