Chasing Fall Colors Along the Great River Road
Where does one go to see fall colors in the great states of Minnesota and Wisconsin? There are many beautiful drives to see fall leaves, but one of the best is along the Mississippi River bluffs. We decided to chase fall colors along the Great River Road. “Chasing” is an apt verb, as chilly weather caused peak to pass super quickly. While we found some trees already bare, the mighty oaks native to the bluffs were at the apex of blazing orange, and many birches and maples still had their yellow and red leaves. We had a sublime autumn day, complete with bright blue skies and sunshine, for our all-day road trip.
The Great River Road is a collection of state and local roads that follow the course of the Mississippi River through 10 U.S. states. The first 2 states are Minnesota, home of the Mississippi headwaters, and on into Wisconsin and 3,000 miles of Great River Road National Scenic Byway.
The Wisconsin Great River Road, State Highway 35, travels for 250 miles along the river through more than 33 historic river towns and villages. A green and white pilot’s wheel and National Scenic Byway signs mark the entire route, often called one of the most scenic drives in America.
Fall colors along the Great River Road: Prescott
From Minneapolis, we headed over to Wisconsin via the bridge at Prescott. A network of 70 museums and historic sites in all 10 river states showcase stories of the Mississippi River. Wisconsin offers 6 interpretive centers along their Great River Road corridor. You can learn more about Mississippi River history and find travel information, too. One such center is in Prescott, the Great River Road Visitor & Learning Center. Stop in if you have time.
We filled up on gas, then headed south down highway 35.
The Wisconsin GRR was once voted the “Prettiest Drive: Ultimate Summer Road Trip in the United States.” Rugged bluffs rise up from the deeply carved river valley, displaying sheer limestone and sandstone cliffs. In autumn, the river bluffs glow with the oranges, reds and yellows of fall foliage. You’ll have awe-inspiring views from natural overlooks more than 500 feet above the mighty Mississippi all along the route.
Fall colors along the Great River Road: Diamond Bluff
Our first stop was a wayside rest near Diamond Bluff. I can’t recommend using the facilities there, but the views are fab.
Fall colors along the Great River Road: Lake Pepin
At our next stop we got our first view of lovely Lake Pepin.
Lake Pepin is a lake actually within the Mississippi River. The Chippewa river carried glacial debris into a gorge at what is now the southeastern end of the lake. This delta provided a natural dam, forming Lake Pepin. The gorgeous lake is 22 miles long, varies in width from 1 to 2.5 miles, and covers about 38 square miles.
State Highway 35 hugs Lake Pepin along most of its Wisconsin shore. One of the lake’s admirers, William Cullen Bryant, praised its natural scenery. Bryant declared “every poet and painter in the land” should visit the area.
Fall colors along the Great River Road: Maiden Rock
A little further on, we stopped in the town of Maiden Rock for a closer shoreside view of Lake Pepin. Maiden Rock is both a town and a rock formation.
It’s a sad story of star-crossed lovers. In the early part of the 18th century, a young and beautiful Lakota girl was in love with a young man her relatives would not allow her to marry. They insisted she marry another man, whom she despised. Though she managed to avoid the marriage for nearly a year, eventually her relatives compelled her to marry despised man. They had sent away her beloved. Less than an hour after the ceremony, she went missing from the lodge. In the morning, they discovered her at the foot of this precipice.
Fall colors along the Great River Road: Stockholm
There are a bunch of cute towns along the road, but Stockholm has to be my fave because of pie.
Stockholm Pie
The Stockholm Pie Shop has really wonderful pie. I am intensely serious when I say it’s a must do. Unless you hate pie. In which case I don’t know how to help you.
We shared a piece of the double lemon. Their menu describes it as “an explosion of lemon taste with the perfect combination of sweetness and tartness in a lemon chess pie (similar to a lemon custard) topped with whipped lemon curd and lemon zest.”
The filling was divine and the crust was superlative, probably the best pie crust I’ve ever had, except for my grandma’s, of course.
The pie shop has a general store next door where you can buy all sorts of chocolates and vintage candy. Whee! I’m on a bit of a sugar high just thinking about it.
Another read: If you like pie, you might enjoy Minneapolis Summer Fun, with Pie!
More Stockholm fun
But that’s not all. The town has plenty of charming historic storefronts, shopping, and a lovely old hotel. Tables set up along the sidewalk offered some unusual items, like Bonsai celery and an aqua mosquito farm. Whaaaaa? Believe me, nobody needs to breed mosquitoes in either Minnesota or Wisconsin.
Stockholm Hotel
Stockholm’s original post office is now a museum. You may have guessed from the town name that Swedes have had something to do with this place.
In 1851 Swedish adventurer Erik Petterson declared the area an ideal site for a settlement. Two years later, he and his brother Jacob each brought over a party of immigrants. In 1856 Stockholm was officially born, and the village became a stopover for Scandinavian immigrants to western Wisconsin.
For some reason there were a lot of classic cars around that weekend. We saw several on the road and a candy-red Chevy in Stockholm that was quite the sight. I sneakily tried to take a picture while appearing not to, since someone was sitting in the passenger seat…well, it didn’t turn out. Here’s one of a cute girl hiding in a forest of pampas grass, darling historic storefront in the background.
Back over to Minnesota
We crossed over into Minnesota just south of Lake City, to return home on Highway 61.
Pepin Heights orchard in Lake City
I’m fond of Pepin Heights orchard in Lake City and try to get there at least once every fall to buy apples and a gallon of their incredibly delicious apple cider. They grow fabulous Honeycrisp apples right on the Mississippi River bluffs.
The Honeycrisp apples grown in Minnesota, land of their birth, are truly the best, as the University of Minnesota developed the variety to thrive in our state. Minnesota-grown Honeycrisp have the richest flavor, which should be complex, sweet and slightly tart. I find Honeycrisps grown elsewhere rather bland. Try one grown here; you’ll see what I mean.
Honeycrisps are a popular specialty at Pepin Heights, but check out their other varieties as well. You may find a new favorite. They offer apple taste tests in their retail store. I love Sweet Sixteen and Sweet Tango.
Watching the sun set at the Lake City Marina
We always stop at the marina when visiting Lake City. I love to walk out onto the stone pier for fabulous views of Lake Pepin and the river bluffs. We watched the sun set, a perfect ending to our fall colors road trip adventure.
When to go
Peak season for this drive is typically during the first three weeks in October. For current information on fall colors, see the Wisconsin Fall Color Report or the Minnesota Fall Color Finder. The Mississippi River creates the border between the two states, and this section of the Great River Road runs roughly between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Wabasha.
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More road trips in Minnesota and Wisconsin
Join me on road trips to Madeline Island, Wisconsin, the Minnesota North Shore, Cascade River State Park, Itasca State Park, and Roseau! (For camping disaster stories, see Cascade River, Itasca and Madeline Island. Thank you in advance for your sympathy.)
Great captures, Maiden Rock and the lake in particular look fabulous, Cynthia. How lucky you caught that vintage car on camera. And can’t seem to go wrong with that lovely pie.
Thanks for reading, Stefan! I always seem to see classic cars along that route, I believe they drive this road to show off! Lake Pepin is really gorgeous, you must visit someday 🙂
Now I’m ready to drive this route again. This time we’ll have to stop for pie!
Don’t miss Stockholm Pie shop, you’ll love it! Thanks for stopping by, Tom!
Mississippi to me is the mythic river I’ve always dreamed to see. Tom Sawyer has probably something to do with it. Your post just confirms that I need to go. Stockholm will be a stop, the pie my little pleasure.
It is a mythic river, indeed! I’d like to travel the entire length of the river a couple of ways—on a road trip along the Great River Road, and on a steamboat all the way down the river!
I love me a good road trip. And when I’m surrounded with such magnificent colours, it’s even more rewarding. I’m not convinced by your photos of the Stockholm pie though –I should go and see it myself.
Yes I think you should, Anthony 😉 This route is a dream road trip any time, but the fall leaves are spectacular.
That road trip sounds wonderful, especially with those beautiful fall colours. Have to say the lemon pie looked delicious and would head there just for that. Loved reading about the history in the area too.
The lemon pie is a regular menu item, thank goodness! Do you should be safe any time of year, though fall is my favorite.
Such a lovely post! There is nothing better than taking a road trip in the fall especially if the leaves are changing colors and there are apples involved. Would love to drive this one day!
Thank you, Vanessa! Road trip, colors, apples, and don’t forget pie, lol. I recently took a fall train trip and that was amazing, too!
Now that’s a fun trip!
I LOVED THE POST CYNTHIA AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS, AUTUMN IS A TIME TO BREATH GREAT AIR WITH NO FEAR OF WASPS AND FLIES, CHINA
Thank you, China!
“Gorgeous” is the word! This road trip is clearly a “must do” in your beautiful region this time of the year. It all sounds, looks and feels like the perfect day – the scenery, the history & the food (of course!). Loved the pictures too! (And you got us craving Stockholm pie and Honeycrisp apples…)
Thanks guys! I am heading out tomorrow to do this drive again, and I think I will have a few more leaves on the trees this time! Supposed to be a beautiful day. I admit I’m seriously looking forward to trying another variety of pie in Stockholm! 😉
Fall season makes anything picture-esque! Loved reading this! 🙂
Thanks for reading!
I love doing road trip in the fall and apple picking so would love to do this one of these years! Stockholm sounds like such a neat town and that pie looks delicious!
I was too lazy to actually pick apples, just stopped and bought them at their retail store 😄 I’m thinking of actually picking this year
Wow, love the fall colors and that is such a great trip driving up River Road to chase those colors. I just could not stop myself and move past that amazing looking double lemon pie in Stockholm. I would so drive up there to try a slice oh and yes see those amazing trees. #feetdotravel
It is an amazing drive in any season, but the fall is especially beautiful. The pie is a big plus, too! 😉
Such lovely autumnal colours, though Maiden Hill is such a sad story. Love the look of that little Post Office museum. Would love to visit it! #feetdotravel
Autumn is the best time to take a drive, can’t wait to get out there in the next couple weeks!
Loved this post because autumn leaves are always beautiful right. I also am a pie lover although here we call it tart. So a apple pie is a apple tart in South Africa. I really enjoyed reading this post.
Thanks for reading, Nikki, autumn leaves are always beautiful. I love pies, tarts, and even poptarts. Putting a crust on anything makes it pretty darn good.
That’s true ha ha ha enjoy the autumn season
I love a good roadtrip and this one sounds fab – so much to see, especially at this time of year. And that pie! Stockholm would definitely be a stopping off point. Loved the story of Maiden Rock too.
Actually Jane, this really should be on your list for next time you’re in the area. It’s a spectacular drive. And so much history along the way. Probably could find you some whiskey, too. 😉
Wow. So many beautiful places to see! Road trips like that just to sight see the colors and all are awesome. And I need to make more of those trips.
I fully agree, I need to make more of them myself! It’s getting to be our peak season here, so have to set some time aside for leaf peeping!
A perfect fall road trip Cynthia! Lovely shots of all the changing colors, and you found some yummy pie, and amazing midwest sunsets.. there’s nothing better! Enjoyed this read!
Thank you, I do love a fall road trip, looking forward to getting on another one soon! And eating pie, too, of course!
That drive looks amazing! I love looking at the fall colors! (Of course here in Texas it’s going to be 97 today). Stockholm is on my bucket list now! I love quaint towns like this. The history is phenomenal! Your pictures are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing!
How kind of you, Kimmie, thank you for reading. Sounds like fall colors won’t be happening where you are for a little while! But it’s nice to have something to look forward to 🙂
Chain migration!! Just kidding 😉
I really love how you made this drive such a fun journey for your readers, Cynthia! We’re always driving along highways to get quickly to our destination, but you’re making a strong case for taking the scenic route. Now you also have me curious about Minnesota Honeycrisps, I hate to think I’ve been eating subpar apples my whole life 😉 Another fun post!
Oh, they brought ’em over by the boatload, lol. It’s possible decent Honeycrisp might be grown in upstate New York, Lynn, but to be safe you better come to Minnesota for your apples. And I know you like pie 😉
Stockholm pie?? That’s all I read and I’m sold! Lol. What non-scientist breeds mosquitoes? Not even for science lol. That shouldn’t be table decoration, Stockholm.They ain’t fun at all coming from one who’s had malaria.
I questioned the humor on that one too, Kemi, though having it actually for sale was pretty funny. Maybe they could breed smaller mosquitoes to take over from the giant bird-like ones? That pie was worth traveling for, can’t wait to go back and try their other varieties!
Lovely and funny article! Lots of beautiful pictures, too! Reading this made me want to jump in the car and ride along.
Thank you! I’m ready to get back on the Great River Road myself!