The Scenic Road Trip That Will Make You Fall in Love With the Beauty of Wisconsin All Over Again

There’s almost no end to the beautiful spots you can discover in Wisconsin. The state is home to sweeping Lake Michigan shores, vast wild wetlands, rugged limestone bluffs, and plenty of postcard-worthy farmland. It’s easy to take in a big swath of this natural beauty with a Wisconsin road trip. Gas up your car—here’s a scenic road trip in Wisconsin that will help anyone fall in love with the beautiful places in Wisconsin. The drive covers about 60 miles and takes about an hour and a half to complete, although you’ll want to allow a half-day or more to take in the sights.

1. Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve - Ozaukee County

We’ll start this road trip on the shores of Lake Michigan. Located just south of the charming city of Port Washington, Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve is considered an "ecological jewel" within the Ozaukee County park system. The gorge represents one of the last stretches of undeveloped bluff land along the Lake Michigan shoreline in this region. The 100-foot bluffs offer tremendous views, high above a rocky beach.

2 . Kettle Moraine State Forest, Pike Lake Unit - Washington County

Heading inland, your road trip will pass through some scenic farm country before heading into an iconic state forest. Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit is part of a 56,000-acre state forest that follows the path of the last glacier. The topography is rugged and unique and this section offers some nice hiking trails, as well as a pleasant swimming beach.

3. Dodge County Ledge Park - Horicon

This scenic park in Wisconsin's Dodge County is situated directly along a rock ledge known as the Niagara Escarpment. It’s a geologic feature that extends from south of Lake Winnebago, along Door County and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, through Canada, all the way to Niagara Falls—with which the escarpment shares its name. Here, the park offers a look at small caves and rock formations that dot this geologic marvel.

4. Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area - Horicon

Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area, which is adjacent to Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, is an incredible natural area in eastern Wisconsin that sees vast numbers of migratory birds pass through every year. The marsh is a silted-up glacial lake, and it’s the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. The area is world-renowned as an important birding destination.

5. Edgewater Park, Beaver Dam

We’ll finish this road trip at a destination that’s so common in Wisconsin, it could almost be taken for granted—an inland lake. Wisconsin is home to more than 11,000 lakes. This particular lake, Beaver Dam Lake, is located in Edgewater Park, in the town that shares its name with the lake. The park is situated on the lake’s east shore, and it's a pleasant place to grab a snack and stretch your legs at the end of your road trip.

Are you in love yet? This Wisconsin road trip just scratches the surface of our state's natural beauty. Here are some more unforgettable road trips for your Wisconsin bucket list. Whichever one you choose, make sure you've packed everything you'll need. Do you have any favorite Wisconsin scenic drives? We'd love to hear about them.