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Scenic Scioto Heritage Trail Introduction
To The Scenic Byway
Scioto County derives its name from a Native American word for "deer." The Scioto and Ohio rivers meet in Scioto County, and the area's hilly terrain the foothills of the Appalachia Mountains, often is described as the "Little Smokies." First settled in 1803, the county is rich in history, full of rim lore and Native American Influences, which is matched only by its natural beauty. The hills with their myriad of seasonal colors, combined with the beauty of its rivers and lakes, make Scioto County a truly beautiful place to live or visit. The Advisory Council wanted to highlight the character of the Western portion of Scioto County with the designation as a scenic byway. In order to capture the full flavor of the region, it was necessary for the Advisory Council to identify a relatively large route of 84 miles primarily on County Routes. The byway begins in Downtown Portsmouth, the County seat of Scioto County, tying into the National Ohio River Scenic Byway Portsmouth Murals Point Feature. It then follows the Ohio River westerly into the Shawnee Forest. Heading northerly and upward to the highest elevations in the county, and then easterly and southerly around to some historical landmarks before turning back to Portsmouth. To qualify for Scenic Byway designation, a route must possess at least one of the following characteristics: Archeological, Cultural, Historic, Natural, Recreational, and/or Scenic beauty. The route chosen by the Advisory Council is blessed with each and every element. Taken as a whole, the route is Scenic. Each of the other features is demonstrated in Points of Interest along the way. The entire route takes approximately 4 hours to travel. The Advisory Council decided that if a visitor only had a limited amount of time to spend, it would be wise to identify several connector roads to provide some route/time flexibility. Much of the byway is on County Roads. These routes were narrow, soft-surfaced, rutted, overgrown with brush, and treacherous to travel 10 to 15 years ago. Wedges along the route were in poor condition. The Scioto County Engineer undertook a program to systematically improve every county road, and now is able to realize his dream of sharing the natural beauty of the county through the scenic byway. Byway designation will enable funding for additional improvements to enhance and preserve the character of the community. click here for: POINTS OF INTEREST | EVENTS
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