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| Mississippi River bluff in Wisconsin along Iowa border |
The trails sit in the Driftless Area – hilly country untouched by glaciers during the last ice age – and run along the Mississippi River. The continuous elevation changes and multiple waterways ensures a variety of trees and hence a harvest-hued rainbow of fall colors.
Iowa
Allamakee CountyAmong Iowa’s best fall color trails sit high on an ancient site over the Mississippi River. One of them, the 2-mile round trip Fire Point Trail at Effigy Mounds National Monument, passes Eagle Rock with a vista 300 feet above the river. Amber, pumpkin orange and scarlet leaves of sugar maple and bronze-colored basswood dominate the trail’s northern slopes while the warmer southern side is lit with the russet of red oak, tan and brown of shagbark hickory, and gold to burgundy of white ash. Hike during the early morning when mist rises off the river as high as the bluff, and there’s little wonder why the Native American found these bluffs a spiritual place. From U.S. Hwy. 18 in Marquette, Iowa, take Iowa Hwy. 76 north. Park at the visitor center; the trail leaves from there.
Clayton County
Brilliant fall colors and bald eagles abound at Pikes Peak State Park. The 3.4-miles round trip Point Ann Trail passes through a forest of sugar maple, basswood, red oak, shagbark hickory, and white ash on its way to Point Ann, an overlook about 200 feet above the river. The vista not only offers an inspiring view of the Wisconsin River’s confluence with the Mississippi River but of majestic bald eagles riding the thermals. There are 62 eagle nests along the Mississippi River just in Clayton County. From McGregor, head south on Great River Road. After passing the Speed Limit 50 sign, take the first left/east. Leave your vehicle in the lot at the end of the park road.
Dubuque County
Day hikers can walk through a birch forest, which is impressive during autumn, at the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area. The 1-mile looping Catfish Trail (upper portion) offers scenic viewpoints and for a while runs alongside Catfish Creek. Rock outcroppings rise in a forest of amber-leaved white and river birch forested areas. The white birch’s chalky trunks are striking against the autumn leaf hues. From U.S. Hwy. 61 in Dubuque, exit east onto South Grandview Avenue then turn right/south onto Julien Dubuque Drive. Go right/south onto Mar Jo Hills Access Road; following it straight takes you onto Mines of Spain Road. Cross the railroad tracks and park at the first lot.
Wisconsin
Crawford CountyDay hikers can head through a wooded blufftop that ends at a goat prairie offering fantastic views of the Mississippi River below on the Sugar Creek Bluff Nature Trail. The 1.5-mile round trip trail sits in the Sugar Creek Bluff State Natural Area. After passing through a small prairie, the trail enters a dry-mesic forest of red and white oak, shagbark hickory, white ash, and basswood. About 0.7 miles in, the trail reaches a goat prairie with the Mississippi below. During autumn, the land surrounding the river below turns into a sea of yellow as silver maple, green ash and river birch rule the sloughs and river valley. From Ferryville, go south on Wis. Hwy. 35. Turn left/northeast on North Buck Creek Road. In about a mile is a small parking area with a Mississippi Valley Conservancy kiosk.
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Hikers can enjoy autumn colors at La Riviere Park in Prairie du Chien. Covering 300-acres, the park sits in the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. The 1-mile A-Dan La Riviere Trail loops through the park’s woods, where each autumn leaves turn yellow, tan and russet. From downtown Prairie du Chien, head south on U.S. Hwy. 18/Wis. Hwy. 35. Turn left/northeast onto Vineyard Road. Go Left on Public Road to the parking lot. The trail is shared with mountain bikers.Grant County
Day hikers can see effigy mounds towering above a vast sea of yellow leaves during autumn in southwest Wisconsin. The 1.2-mile round trip Mound Point Trail sits in Nelson Dewey State Park overlooking the Mississippi River. Though the trail crosses a blufftop prairie, whose grasses turn amber then brown each autumn, that’s just the opening act for the hike’s real star: Unobstructed views of the sparkling Mississippi River from 500 feet up. Every autumn, across the horizon stretches a sea of yellow with spots of orange at the bluff’s base, on the islands amid the river’s backwaters, and along the opposite shore in Iowa. From Wis. Hwy. 133 in Cassville, drive northwest on County Road VV. In about a mile, the park entrance is on the right with the Stonefield Village Historic Site on the left. Follow the park road to its intersection with the road leading to the Family Campground. Go straight/west past the campground and park in the small lot where the road loops back on itself. The trail heads southwest from the parking lot across North Ridge.
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Day hikers can explore an oak savanna that’s nearly 300 feet above the Wisconsin River at the Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area. In autumn, the bluffside lights up in an array of colors. The 3-mile round trip trail climbs 400 feet on an old logging road along the Lower Wisconsin River valley’s south flank. After passing through a globally rare dry prairie, the trail reaches a savanna offering the yellow to brown leaves of bur oak, the rich gold of shagbark hickory, and the maroon of American hazelnut. From U.S. Hwy. 61/Elm Street in Boscobel, turn east onto Mary Street, which becomes Freemont Street and then County Road MS. Just past Oakes Street, a parking lot is on the left/north.
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Yellow, orange and russett leaves await hikers at the 45-acre Oakwood Nature Park. Of the four trails there, try the 1.25-mile Oak Valley Trail, which weaves in and out of a small oak-dominated woods. From downtown Fennimore, take U.S. Hwy. 18 east. Turn left/northeast onto County Road Q. Immediately after south on Bronson Boulevard, go right/south into the parking lot. Walk south across the lawn and head east on the paved path.Vernon County
Hikers can step back in time and walk through the woods as in the days of old at Wildcat Mountain State Park. The rugged 2.5-mile Old Settlers’ Trail includes 390-feet of elevation change as heading through a forest of sugar maple, basswood and oak, all very colorful in autumn. An additional 0.8-mile round trip spur goes to the Taylor Hollow Overlook, which offers a fantastic view of the village of Ontario in the coulee below. From Westby, take Wis. Hwy. 27 north. In Cashton, turn right/east onto Wis. Hwy. 33. Once in the park, go left/east past the park office and at the split turn left/northwest to the Upper Picnic Area. Park there; a connector trail goes north to the Old Settlers’ Trail.
