Lake Itasca State Park – Explore old-growth pine forest and outdoorsy amenities.Notable Sights Along the Great River Road in Minnesota Paul and Minneapolis, south of which the road slips into rural Wisconsin.

Cloud, the GRR enters an increasingly developed corridor that culminates in the hugely sprawling Twin Cities of St. The next morning we hiked up the 520-foot Brady's Bluff for terrific views of the Mississippi River and 388-foot Trempealeau Mountain, which separates the river from the bay.The Great River Road begins in Itasca State Park and stair-steps along occasionally unpaved but well-graded backcountry roads through a mix of northern boreal forest, tree farms, and hayfields, all the while staying as close to its namesake as possible.īy Grand Rapids, only 130 mi (209 km) from its source, the Mississippi has been transformed from a grassy brook barely deep enough to canoe to an industry-sustaining river fed by a half-dozen of the state’s 10,000 lakes.įarther south, the red and white pines, paper birch, and big-tooth aspen give way to more farms while the route breaks from the surveyor’s section lines to curve with the river across the glacially flattened state.īy St. Our campsite (47) was a good private one on Trempealeau Bay, but just a few down from us was one of the best in the campground. Site 44 boasts views of the bay and the setting sun (our views were obscured by trees) - mark it as one to book on future trips. North of town is Perrot State Park, home for the night. Trains rumbling past on tracks that seem dangerously close are a reminder of the building's past as a boarding house.

Views of the Mississippi River abound from the dining room, three-season porch and deck. Built in 1871, the building was one of only a few in the town to survive a fire in 1888. We drove north out of La Crosse and stopped for the famed walnut burgers at The Historic Trempealeau Hotel. One I knew, of course (don't worry, Mom).Īfter a beer at Pearl Street Brewery, I picked up friend and fellow Journal Sentinel reporter Katie O'Connell at the Amtrak station. RELATED: The Driftless Region's Kickapoo Valley is a hilly paradise in western Wisconsin North of La Crosseīack on the road in La Crosse, I added one thing my southern Great River Road trip was missing: a hitchhiker. Not all of the Great River Road hugs the Mississippi River - Highway 35 occasionally dips inland, the bluffs flattening out into farmland that obscures views of the river.īut this southern stretch of the road, from just north of Prairie du Chien to past Stoddard, parallels the river for the most part, making it a good segment to drive at a leisurely pace to fully take in views of the river and the 100- to 600-foot limestone-capped bluffs.Īt Genoa I had to divert inland for another trip through the Driftless Region, saving the road's northern portion for a few days later. RELATED: Majestic Mississippi River views await at Rush Creek I saw countless eagles as I continued north through Ferryville, where Rush Creek State Natural Area is a good spot to stretch the legs and take in views of the river from an open bluff. Some 40% of migrating North American waterfowl and shorebirds use the route. The refuge is part of the Mississippi Flyway, a major bird migration route. The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge protects 261 river miles from the river's confluence with the Chippewa River near Pepin to Rock Island, Ill. Army Corps of Engineers' Upper Mississippi River Restoration project, which is working to restore islands for wildlife such as tundra swans, Canada geese and eagles. Schneden also pointed out islands in the river and told me of the U.S. Once kids are out of school, he said, traffic picks up as people come for fishing tournaments and sightseeing along the river. 'This river draws so many people, it's unbelievable,' he said. The bright yellow-and-red building was closed for the day, but Mark Schneden, whose wife, Kim, runs the restaurant, stepped outside to chat. From Prairie du Chien I continued north to Lynxville, where Quamme had suggested I stop at the Dawg House, which she described as 'an upscale roadside eatery.'

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