America's Scenic Byways

Christmas Valley Back Country Byway

93 miles - 3 hours to visit the byway

Christmas Valley loops through high desert landscapes, an isolated pine forest called Lost Forest, and a sparkling lake. On the way, take a brief stop at Green Mountain Fire Lookout to survey the whole area. If you want, you can even use one of the campgrounds at this picturesque site. If you are interested in natural history, Fossil Lake offers great opportunities to view the remains of creatures that lived in the area over 10,000 years ago. The Fossil Lake Sand Dunes rise over 60 feet.