River Road Scenic Byway
22 miles from Oscoda on Lake Huron along the Au Sable River into the Huron National Forest, with river overlooks and logging history.
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length22 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout an hour, or two days to enjoy it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsNot verified
- Start and endFrom Lake Huron at Oscoda west into the Huron National Forest along the Au Sable River[2]
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The River Road Scenic Byway runs 22 miles west from Lake Huron at Oscoda into the Huron National Forest, following the Au Sable River (the old French "Rivière aux Sables", river of sand).
The Lumberman's Monument visitor center, in the middle of the byway, tells the story of the logging era. At Iargo Springs, an overlook high above the river leads down a long staircase to boardwalks past springs that feed the river.
It's about an hour of driving; the river views make it a popular fall color drive.
Stops along the way
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Iargo Springs
Overlook high above the river with a long staircase down to boardwalks and springs.
Official information · 44.44183, -83.67656 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Lumberman's Monument
Visitor center and monument to the logging era, on the byway.
Official information · 44.43529, -83.62413 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
-
Oscoda
Lake Huron town at the east end.
Official information · 44.4203, -83.33081 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Plainfield Township Farmers Market HaleHale, MI · about 5.5 mi from the route
- Northeast Michigan Regional Farm MarketAlabaster, MI · about 12.3 mi from the route
- Alcona County Farmers' MarketHarrisville, MI · about 16.0 mi from the route
- ARA Farm MarketLincoln, MI · about 17.0 mi from the route
- Rose City Farmers MarketRose City, MI · about 17.1 mi from the route · listed as year-round
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: River Road Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- River Road National Scenic Byway (Huron-Manistee National Forests, USDA Forest Service, archived copy of April 2026) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Experience a Fall Getaway in the Oscoda Area (Pure Michigan) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).