Unparalleled Outdoor Recreation of the
Wisconsin Great River Road
The stunningly rugged landscape traversed by the Wisconsin Great River Road serves up abundant opportunities for outdoor fun and relaxation. The Mississippi River and its tributaries, scenic limestone bluffs, and pristine trout streams provide an unmatched natural playground for hiking, camping, fishing, cycling, kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sailing, and mountain biking that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere.
The Mississippi River and Lake Pepin, the largest natural lake on the Mississippi, offer boaters and sailors access to numerous landings and marinas. Fishing is a favorite activity because of the variety of fish species, ranging from catfish to walleye to bass. Huge sandbars in and along the Mississippi River provide places for camping, beach volleyball, and picnics.
Bird watchers will have ample binocular targets in the Mississippi River Flyway, which provides habitat for 40% of America’s waterfowl and more than 300 bird species. Bald eagles, great blue herons, ducks, pelicans and egrets are abundant along the river, and neotropical migrant songbirds provide an explosion of color and song in the springtime.
In addition, there are opportunities for boat tours and dinner cruises on the mighty Mississippi River, including venturing out on elegant paddlewheel boats from the era of Mark Twain. Or rent a houseboat, pontoon boat, or kayaks for your family to lead its own aquatic expedition!
Come experience the nation’s greatest migratory flyway, as well as fishing trips on waters ranging from the country’s biggest river to intimate, crystal-clear trout streams. There’s even spelunking in ancient caverns and viewing of thousand-year-old effigy mounds. Don’t forget horseback and carriage riding and fall color touring, too. You can find it all along the Wisconsin Great River Road.
Header photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin
