Mississippi River Road

We did a trip in 2011 on the WI Great River Road (from north to south). Crossed into WI at Red Wing, MN. Then south on the Wisconsin road as far as Prarie du Chien. Absolutely loved this trip. Especially enjoyed staying at Stockholm Village Park (in Stockholm, WI) and the Blackhawk COE park in DeSoto, WI. Also stayed at Rieck's Lake park which was good too.

We just love watching barge traffic going through locks. Alma is an especially good place to do this, with interesting displays to read about stuff. Also loved places that have great views of the river, and just looking through these old towns built between the river, railroad and bluffs.

We used wigrr.com to research. You can click on each town along the river to learn about it.

paulj is correct, there is no formal river road north along the St. Croix River. If you take 21 north from Prescot to Afton and then pick up 18 to us 95, continue north to US 8, near Taylors Falls, this route pretty much follows the St. Croix River. It's been 20+ years since I was on these roads,so I don't know what condition they are in. There 1 state park between Prescott and Afton. 95 from Stillwater is a 2 lane, hilly and heavily traveled road. Also 2 state parks between Stillwater and Taylors Falls. Long down hill grade right after 95 ties into 8.

I would strongly advise against crossing the river at Stillwater. The bridge is very old and is in pretty poor condition. I can drive over almost any bridge, but I refuse to use this one due to its condition.

After you cross the river at Taylors Falls, there is a long hill, not sure of the grade, but 8/95 is a truckers route, so the grade isn't extreme. About 5 miles after crossing you can turn north on WI 35, which is sort of close to the St. Croix. The river turns east at Danbury and as far as I know, the roads don't follow it to its headwaters. You can stay on 35 all the way to Superior, WI.

From Superior, take US 2 east, to Ashland, which has a nice cg right on the lake or you can take WI 13 east thru Port Wing, Herbster, Corncopia, Red Cliff and then Bayfield. Several county cg's on this route, also at Red Cliff. You can get a boat tour of the islands at Sand Point, or go into Bayfield to check out the Visitor's center, book tours and sailboat trips, take the ferry over to Madeline Island. Sand Point has a visitor's center and is used by most of the kayakers that want to visit the caves between Cornucopia and Sand Point.

Plan on lots of time for this trip, the majority of the roads are scenic 2 lane, hill and curves, deer and wild turkeys, maybe a bear or two and traffic. I would suggest you plan your route and make reservations for cg around Lake Superior soon. The Apostle Islands are very popular and cg's can be full, especially at holidays.

Enjoy, Judy

In central Illinois the banks of the river are flat for miles around. But around the Palisades State Park they rise to a rolling plateau. The park is one of the best ones in Illinois. From there north to Minneapolis the river is in a valley a couple of hundred feet deep.

SW Wisconsin is called the Driftless area, an area of hills that were not scoured flat by the big glaciers. There are some towns in the area (and in NE Illinois) with a mining history (especially lead), and now are tourist attractions. On the other hand central Wisconsin around Wisconsin Dells is very flat, a former glacial lake bed. Except the Dells themselves which are scenic, and very touristy.

The main highway runs on the Illinois/WI side as far as I90. From there the main highway (with 4 lanes) runs on the Minnesota side. There is also a good state highway on the Wisconsin side, though I think it strays from the river more.

The state boundary follows the St Croix north, while the Mississippi turns west to the Twin Cities. I don't think there's a distinct 'river road' along the St Croix, though certainly there are access points and crossings.

Check the respective state park sites for scenery. Generally those preserve the most scenic spots. There are wildlife preserves along the Mississippi, and state (and national?) forests in northern Wisconsin and the Michigan UP.