I heard from one of my neighbors that the state owns only 20 feet from the center line. I live directly across the road from federal land which also has the Blue Ridge Parkway. I see perhaps a good 6 cord of wood, some standing, some fallen, and a few hangers that I could easily just wonder over and take. A lot of it is within 50 feet of the road I live on.
Should I take it? Not on your life!
Last year when I removed a couple of trees from a road because it was a hazard after a wind storm, all I did was cut it into pieces small enough for me to handle and put it off to the side of the road. I figured the county would come by and take care of the rest. Sure, I could have taken the wood that was on the road, but did it belong to me? No! I didn't have permission to take it. All I did was remove the hazard since it was covering better than half the road. Once I was done I went on home and about my business.
Otherwise, let me ask the OP this. If a loaded log truck is parked in the ditch and seemingly abandoned, do I have the right to take all the logs and process them as my own? NO WAY! And if the OP had a load of logs that was down by the road, is it okay for me to take it? Again NO WAY! I would think the OP would be right upset that I had or was taking his wood. But according to his way of thinking it is okay for him to do the same to someone else.
There is a right way and a wrong way to procure something. Ask the owner of the property or get whatever permit. OR, look on Craigs List. I am forever seeing adds "wood free for the taking." Some is still standing! I've even recently seen someone giving away seasoned firewood that has already been bucked. Point is, with so much free stuff out there, why take it from someones property without at least getting permission FIRST!
On a final note: If I have a downed tree laying in the ditch along my property and I see you pull up and start cutting, I will fill your butt with rock salt if your not with the city or county. N the chances are, I will eventually limb n cut the tree into sizes I can handle and move it the rest of the way on my property to process it for next years firewood since it belongs to me!