This Fall Foliage Road Trip Through the Driftless Area Is Guaranteed to Dazzle

Your road trip begins in the beautiful Mississippi River city of Dubuque, Iowa. With nearly 60,000 residents, Dubuque is the most populous city in the four-state Driftless Area. (La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a close second). As it sits at the southernmost edge of the region, it's an apt starting place for our adventure. Before hitting the road, get a taste of what you'll see along the way with a quick ride up the Fenelon Place Elevator—a funicular that affords beautiful views of the valley as you ascend a steep river bluff.

From Dubuque, you'll follow the Great River Road northward, along the Iowa side of the Mississippi River valley, through charming towns like Guttenberg, while enjoying all the fall foliage on the high river bluffs. Stop in McGregor at Pikes Peak State Park, where you can stretch your legs with a hike along the highest bluffs in Iowa, some of which rise 500 feet above the Mississippi. Soak in the autumn air while you enjoy the colors, and stroll over to see if Bridal Veil Falls is flowing—it sometimes dries up during drier autumns—before you continue onward.

As you drive northward, pass through the Yellow River State Forest—a large, 8,900-acre expanse of remnant hardwood forest, which means it bursts with color when it dons its autumn mantle. The Paint Creek Unit of the forest is close to our route, so it makes for an easy detour through some stunning foliage. Get out and hike or tree bathe if the mood strikes you.

This stop is just across the border in Minnesota, and it's part of the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest. Reno Recreational Area is a great place to experience all the blazing colors of oaks, maples, and ashes in a rugged, untamed setting. Hike a bit if you're feeling it; otherwise, just enjoy the panorama of autumn splendor against towering dolomite cliffs.

At Great River Bluffs State Park, you'll have the opportunity to view the Mississippi River valley in all its fall glory from some of the tallest bluffs on the river's course. You'll see for miles, up and down the valley and over the mighty river to Wisconsin, soaking in the smorgasbord of colors spread out before you. Take the Kings Bluff Overlook Trail for some of the most spectacular vistas.

Stop for the night in historic Winona, Minnesota, where you'll find plenty of lodging options, such as the Fairfield Inn and Suites or the Alexander Mansion Bed and Breakfast. Grab dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Minnesota, Nosh Scratch Kitchen, before you settle in for the night. In the morning, on your way out of town, stop by the beloved Bloedow Bakery for some of the best donuts in the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Start the second day of your journey with a quick dash across the river for a taste of history with your fall color feast at Perrot State Park, near Trempealeau, Wisconsin. You can choose from several bluff top hikes to enjoy sweeping views of the valley, or whet your appetite with a stroll among the foliage along the beautiful, relatively level Riverview Trail, along which you can take in the colorful canopy of the bluffs.

Note: On the way to your next stop, your GPS may attempt to route you back across the Mississippi at La Crosse, causing you to retrace your track through Iowa. Instead, I recommend following Wisconsin Highway 35 and U.S. Route 18 along the Badger State side of the river to keep your views fresh.

The dramatic landscape of Wyalusing State Park was carved by the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers near Prairie du Chien. In addition to incredible vistas from which to enjoy the region's autumn splendor, you'll also find caves to explore and waterfalls to marvel at within this wondrous park.

To end the road trip, you could simply complete the loop by returning to Dubuque, but if you're up for even more fall colors, I recommend continuing southward in Illinois, past charming Galena, and onward to Mississippi Palisades State Park. Here, you'll find wonderful hiking trails and, yes, as the park's name implies, more cliffs towering above the Mississippi River and affording views of its broad valley clad in fiery fall foliage.