from an N.C. DOT press release:  Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez announced today that the Outer Banks and Forest Heritage scenic byways have been named as national scenic byways, joining 149 other distinctive and diverse routes throughout the country to receive this designation. Only four state byways share the designation, the highest a route can receive in the United States.

“This puts these byways in an elite category, on par with the Blue Ridge Parkway,” said North Carolina Department of Transportation Scenic Byways Coordinator Jeff Lackey.

The Forest Heritage Scenic Byway was nominated for the national designation by the U.S. Forest Service in honor of its proximity to the Cradle of Forestry, the birthplace of the organization. The route begins in Brevard near U.S. 276 and travels north through the Pisgah National Forest, passing the popular recreation spot of Sliding Rock Falls and the rural Haywood County community of Bethel, home to Cold Mountain. It ends at the intersection of N.C. 215 and U.S. 64 in Rosman.

The NCDOT has designated 54 routes as part of North Carolina’s Scenic Byways program to give visitors and residents a chance to experience a bit of the state’s history, geography and culture while raising awareness for the protection and preservation of these treasures. Routes are carefully selected to embody the diverse beauty and culture of the Tar Heel State and provide travelers with a safe and interesting alternate route.

The FHWA’s National Scenic Byways Program is a voluntary, grassroots collaborative effort across the United States. It recognizes roadways that have outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational and archaeological qualities.

Additionally, FHWA recently awarded the Waterfall Scenic Byway and the Nantahala Byway more than $1.6 million in grants for improvements.

Nearly $1.1 million will go to fund a viewshed conservation effort along the Nantahala Scenic Byway, which begins in the far western Cherokee County town of Marble and winds through the Nantahala Gorge whitewater recreation area along U.S. 74 to Bryson City in Swain County. The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, a local conservation group, is working to purchase 400 acres of land along the corridor to protect it from future development.

“One of the great things about the Scenic Byways program is that it really encourages grassroots involvement,” said Lackey, citing the LTLT’s efforts as an example.

Another $512,000 will fund a project along the Waterfall Scenic Byway. The route begins in the Transylvania County town of Rosman and travels west along U.S. 64, passing 200 waterfalls as it winds through Jackson, Macon, Clay and Cherokee counties. The grant will pay for the construction of a pedestrian bridge that will allow visitors to access a trail to a waterfall, as well as a parking area.