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Over the River and Through the Woods...This 66 mile route begins in the rich farmland of the Willamette Valley, then winds along rushing streams and through thick forests as it climbs into the Cascades to join the West Cascades and McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway.
Much of the Byway parallels the Santiam Wagon Road. Unlike most routes across the Cascades, this road was built to lead livestock ranchers east to the lush pasture lands in central Oregon and to gold mines in eastern Oregon and Idaho.
The Byway begins at Interstate 5. It quickly enters Brownsville, which was settled in 1846 and is one of Oregon's oldest towns. Historic structures dot Main Street, and thanks to preservation efforts, look much the way they did 100 years ago. During winter months, grass fields around Brownsville host wintering bald eagles and large flocks of white tundra swans.
The road continues east through some of Oregon's oldest settlements. With access to rivers, reservoirs, parks and campgrounds, many trails and snow-play areas, this Byway offers a wide range of recreational activities.
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