Keeping with the lofty theme, Rustic Road 52 in Washington and Ozaukee counties travels 6.7 miles through the woods, past historic farmsteads and along ridges offering panoramic views of the countryside. If you’re up for a trek, visit the basilica and climb the 192-foot tower for breathtaking views of fall color as far as the eye can see from the highest point in southeastern Wisconsin! Rustic Roads 33 and 52 – Washington CountyĪs you snake through the curves and ridges of Rustic Road 33’s 12.1-mile route through farmlands and along Lowe Lake, you’ll see the spires of Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary peeking above the treetops. Stop and climb the 45-tower at Lapham Peak to take in autumn colors from the highest point in Waukesha County.īonus routes: Also connected, try Rustic Roads 11, 12 and 36 for 19.6 more miles of kettle lakes and glacial formations in neighboring Walworth County. Three separate routes, Rustic Roads 10, 86 and 115, combine for 12.7 miles of scenic driving through the lakes and hills of Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine State Forest’s Southern Unit, with access to hiking trails including the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Southeast Rustic Roads 10, 86 and 115 – Waukesha County
Or, check out Rustic Road 110 in Columbia County, a 5.9-mile route famous for its fall foliage. Most of Rustic Road 49's paved 9.8-mile route travels through protected natural lands and hugs the south shore of the Wisconsin River, lined by marshes, prairie grasses and trees.īonus routes: Another picturesque route in Sauk County, the 8.6-mile Rustic Road 21 passes through stands of oak, maple, hickory and basswood and near Natural Bridge State Park, the earliest documented site in the upper Midwest where primitive humans sought shelter. Rustic Road 49 – Sauk and Columbia Counties Just to the north, the 3.7-mile Rustic Road 75 traces the mid-1800s “Welsh Settlement” in Iowa County. Don’t miss the tin shacks and other evidence of an abandoned lead mine off Kennedy Road.īonus routes: Routes in neighboring Grant County include the 10.1-mile Rustic Road 70 through the Platte River Valley and the 3.4-mile Rustic Road 99, the program’s only designated route directly along the Mississippi. The 7.5-mile Rustic Road 66 near Wisconsin’s southwestern corner takes you up and down several backroads in the unglaciated “ Driftless Area” and boasts amazing fall colors. The unpaved 5-mile Rustic Road 91 loops between Highway 54 and the Black River in Trempealeau County to the north, while Jackson County to the west offers a 12.3-mile route through the Black River State Forest along Rustic Road 54. Rustic Road 64 is just to the north near the Mississippi and only 2.7 miles, but connects to the McGilvray Road walking trail through the Van Loon Wildlife Area, popular for its seven unique bowstring-arch bridges.īonus routes: Rustic Roads 55 and 56 directly to the south in Vernon County pass near Wildcat Mountain State Park and offer excellent fall foliage views. Scenery and heritage intersect on the 5.3-mile Rustic Road 26, which offers a panorama of the Mississippi River and a wildlife refuge on Goose Island, and passes by a hundred-year-old root cellar and 1854 mill. Southwest Rustic Roads 26 and 64 – La Crosse County
Bikers can claim a Rustic Roads Motorcycle Tour patch for driving at least 10 of the roads, which also are popular for driving tours, cycling or just strolling.Ĭheck out 23 of our favorite drives (and just as many nearby bonus routes), categorized into four regions within the state.
Some gravel, some paved, they range in length from less than a mile to nearly 40!īeautiful any time of year, these backroads are some of Wisconsin’s best spots for fall color, with history and hidden gems tucked along each crest and curve.
These specially designated backroads criss-cross 61 of the state’s 72 counties, providing a quiet, scenic alternative to the highway for trekking across the state. Just to be a part of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Rustic Roads Program, a route has to have “unusual or outstanding natural beauty,” so you can’t go wrong with any of the state’s whopping 122 rustic roads. View the DOT's interactive Rustic Roads Guide.