11 Scenic Drives to Experience Fall in Wisconsin
Autumn in Wisconsin is all about color. Whether on back country roads or in leafy urban parks, the beauty that emerges each year is so breathtaking that you’ve got to see it to believe it. These 11 vivid fall color driving tours give you and your crew a front-row seat to Mother Nature's annual show. Start with these suggestions and feel free to design your own fall road trip through the state. Color-spotting opportunities are waiting for you, your friends and your family around every turn — take a look!
Insider tip: Our Fall Color Report is your interactive guide to peak colors throughout Wisconsin. With 100 fall color reporters providing updates in all 72 counties of the state, no other resource is as comprehensive or timely.
Marinette County's Waterfall Tour
Marinette County’s Waterfall Tour is a true scenic wonder, especially in autumn. Marvel at a series of 15 falls and cascades throughout a 125-mile loop drive. See one or see them all; make this fall foliage tour as long or as short as you like. Half of the falls are located in county parks with fairytale-like footbridges and picture-perfect picnic areas. It’s a tour fit for friends, family and pups too!
While traveling along Parkway Road on the west side of the county, or Hwy 141 on the east, look for blue "waterfall tour" signs as a guide. You can also stop in at the Wisconsin Welcome Center in Marinette to pick up free maps and brochures about the area and plan your perfect adventure.
Marinette County also boasts some of the finest whitewater paddling in the Midwest. The Pike, Peshtigo and Pemebonwon Rivers run fast and clear through pine and hardwood forests, lit up with breathtaking colors during the autumn season. And their tributaries offer more than 620 miles of excellent trout fishing.
Insider tip: Explore these whitewater rafting trips for beginners and start planning your thrilling getaway.
Hayward Lakes Area
The Hayward Lakes Area in Northwest Wisconsin has developed six fall color tours ranging from 45 to 73 miles long in Sawyer County. Most of the driving routes traverse portions of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation or the ancient Blue Hills. Fall foliage scenic routes are well-marked with numbered signs with a distinctive leaf design. Fishing fans should also take note – Lac Courte Oreilles Lake is a trophy muskie fishery that’s also home to bass, perch and northern pike.
Hayward is one of Wisconsin's prime fall vacation areas, so you'll find plenty of resort accommodations and eateries. For an exciting way to experience the season up close, the 74-mile Tuscobia State Trail, formerly a rail corridor, bisects Sawyer County and is popular with ATV riders.
Insider tip: Here, ATVing is a family activity perfect for taking in the fall colors. Use this guide to family ATVing around Hayward to plan your next adventure in the Northwoods.
Upper Mississippi River Valley
The Upper Mississippi River Valley is fantastic for scenic fall drives; you'll follow a broad ribbon of water shouldered by sandstone bluffs decorated in shades of amber and gold. Follow Hwy 35, known as the Great River Road, from Prescott to Potosi for nearly 250 miles of charming river towns, antique shops, great cafes and stunning bluff-top views.
Along the way, observation platforms allow you to watch river barges "lock through" at Lock & Dam No. 4 at Alma, No. 6 at Trempealeau and No. 8 at Genoa. Between these three stops, you can enjoy three Wisconsin State Parks, a pair of Wisconsin Historical Society sites, terrific walleye and bass fishing and some of the finest bird watching in the Midwest (they do, after all, call it the "Mississippi Flyway").
Insider tip: Discover charming bed and breakfasts, impressive restaurants, artsy shops and much more in these small towns along the Great River Road.
Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway
Crisp fall colors frame the views along the Bayfield Peninsula tour near the northern tip of Wisconsin. Start in Ashland at the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center. Here you can explore an immersive series of exhibits that detail the area's history and culture. And with portable magnifiers and devices that translate text to audio, everyone can enjoy their visit to the fullest.
During your scenic fall driving tour, follow Hwy 13 and the Lake Superior shore north to Bayfield, Wisconsin's smallest city. Bayfield is also the gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: 21 beautiful coastal islands and 12 miles of mainland that are home to six lighthouses, labyrinthine sea caves, terrific blue-water sailing and some of the best sea kayaking in the world. Take the ferry to Madeline Island to visit Big Bay State Park and the Madeline Island Museum, a State Historical Society site where you can learn about the Ojibwe people and settlers from all over the world who eventually came to call the island home.
North of Bayfield, Hwy 13 swings west, paralleling Lake Superior's southern shore for forty miles to the Brule River State Forest – 40,000 acres of brilliant fall color, whitewater canoeing, kayaking, camping and trout fishing.
Insider tip: Be sure to stop at Frog Bay Tribal National Park, the first tribal national park in the U.S.!
Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive
The Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive is a 115-mile trip through colorful oak, maple and aspen in the 50,000 acres of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
The scenic fall drive traverses six Wisconsin counties; from Whitewater Lake in Walworth County to Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County. The forests include much of the terminal moraine (where the last great glacier stopped 12,000 years ago) in South-Central Wisconsin that left “kettles” or depressions in the landscape that range from small ponds to large valleys, making for many uniquely beautiful places to picnic, hike, camp, bike, paddle and fish during your fall foliage road trip.
Marked by distinctive green and white "Acorn" signs, the driving route ends near Greenbush and the Wade House, an 1844 stagecoach inn now operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society that includes one of the last working water-powered mills of its kind in North America.
Insider tip: Check out our in-depth guide to the natural wonders of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
Hilltop Color Tour
Visit three of the state's highest points along the Hilltop Fall Color Tour from Wausau to Ogema to Neillsville in Central Wisconsin.
A 60-foot observation tower in Rib Mountain State Park near Wausau affords a breathtaking perspective of the Wisconsin River Valley's fall foliage below. The four-mile-long ridge of ancient quartzite, estimated to be 1.7 billion years old, is one of the oldest geological features on the planet! The park offers 13 miles of hiking trails and over 8 miles are wheelchair accessible, so everyone in your crew can savor the fall splendor.
About an hour’s drive northeast, stop at Timm's Hill near Ogema to experience the highest point in Wisconsin at 1,951 feet above sea level. At its top, an observation tower rises an additional 60 feet for outstanding views of the surrounding forest and its vibrant fall colors.
Good things come in threes, so round out your fall drive with The Highground Veteran Memorial Park near Neillsville. The site was founded as a memorial to honor Wisconsin Vietnam veterans and has since grown into a beautiful 155-acre park that overlooks colorful hillsides and glacial moraines. With picnic areas, wheelchair-accessible paths and outstanding views, this is a great spot to end your fall foliage road trip.
Insider Tip: Learn the science behind fall color so you can make the most of the picturesque season.
Kewaunee and Door County
Framed by majestic Lake Michigan, the hardwoods of Kewaunee and Door County make for stunning fall drives with plenty of charming rest stops. Trace Hwy 42 going north starting from a historic lighthouse in Kewaunee for 75 miles to Gills Rock at the very tip of Door County. Once there, explore Death’s Door Maritime Museum and take a boat tour to see hidden shipwrecks below the water. On the return trip, follow Hwy 57 down the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula for the "other half" of the Door County fall foliage experience.
Along the way, your group can enjoy four popular state parks: Potawatomi, Peninsula, Newport and Whitefish Dunes. Beyond those favorites, you'll want to take in terrific bluff-top views of the lakes, seven stunning lighthouses, apple orchards and a 20-minute ferry ride to Washington Island. The Door County peninsula is one of Wisconsin's premier fall vacation destinations, so quality accommodations, restaurants, shopping and attractions for all types of groups are always close at hand.
Insider tip: Soar above the trees and get stunning panoramic views of surrounding islands, the Upper Michigan shoreline and the village of Ephraim with Peninsula State Park’s wheelchair-accessible Eagle Tower.
Lake Geneva Area
For more than a century, vacationers have come to the Lake Geneva area during every season. Autumn is particularly scenic here, where fall colors abound on and off the lakeshore.
Three Wisconsin Rustic Roads (R-11, R-12 and R-36, totaling nearly 20 miles of scenic fall driving) traverse glacial Kettle Moraine topography and pass through large wooded areas of oak, maple and hickory, as well as former cranberry bogs. The tiny community of Lyons is worth a stop, with its several quaint, picturesque churches, the White River Bike Trail and great fishing spots. And of course, the city of Lake Geneva offers many memory-making opportunities. Enjoy fall color cruises on the lake, championship golf, spa retreats, boutique shopping and a full range of dining and lodging options.
Insider tip: Need some help planning a fun weekend away in Lake Geneva? Check out some spectacular spots in this guide to getting the most out of your 48 hours there.
Black River State Forest
Cruise through 68,000 acres of the Black River State Forest in west-central Wisconsin to experience pine, oak and unique geology that comes alive with color each fall.
For a picture-perfect view, stop at Castle Mound Pine Forest State Natural Area. A hike to the top provides colorful fall vistas of the former bed of glacial Lake Wisconsin, a 400-million-year-old butte, sandstone hills and castellated bluffs up to 30 feet tall that dot the forest landscape.
Access even more of the forest’s fall splendor via North Settlement Road (I-94 exit 128 at Millston). Here, the road sweeps ten miles north to the Dike 17 Wildlife Area, home to sandhill cranes, geese, ducks, bobolinks, warblers, harriers and bald eagles. The forest also offers 98 family campsites, 27 miles of hiking trails and 33 miles of mountain bike and ATV trails. As a bonus, the Black River Falls area is rich in cranberry bogs that bloom red in autumn with the seasonal harvest.
Insider tip: Looking for more activities to immerse yourself in the Black River State Forest? Browse these 8 ways to experience the gorgeous area.
Wisconsin River/Baraboo Hills Tour
The Wisconsin River/Baraboo Hills Fall Tour begins in Lodi and heads west on Hwy 113 for five miles to Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area (watch for the signs!). The climb to the top of this ancient butte is steep and not for the faint of heart, but the panoramic autumn views are truly spectacular.
Journey two miles further on Hwy 113, and you'll cross the Wisconsin River aboard the Merrimac Ferry, which is free and runs until the end of November or until the river ices over. Hwy 113 then turns north and bisects Devil's Lake State Park – one of Wisconsin’s most popular parks. Stop here to surround yourself with terrific views of fall color from the bluffs above the deep blue mountain lake. Then, continue on Hwy 113 into Baraboo, where the kids will love a stop at Circus World Museum or the International Crane Foundation.
For more fall splendor, follow Hwy 12 north seven miles to Fern Dell Road where you'll turn west towards the awe-inspiring Mirror Lake State Park. From there, the many amusements of Wisconsin Dells – including autumn boat tours through the carved sandstone bluffs of the Wisconsin River – are just minutes away.
Insider tip: These five cabins along the route are perfect for autumn in the Baraboo Hills.
Dodgeville to Spring Green
The scenic fall drive along Hwy 23 from Dodgeville to Spring Green is one of the most picturesque in Southwest Wisconsin. This 18-mile stretch traverses the hardwood ridges and valleys of Wisconsin's Driftless area. During your fall foliage road trip, you can visit a pair of Wisconsin state parks as well as two of the state's top tourism attractions. For more fall color adventure, take any of the intersecting roads that meander the coulees and echo their history: Norwegian Hollow Road, Hunter Hollow Road or Percussion Rock Road.
Just outside Dodgeville, Governor Dodge State Park offers 5,000 acres of adventure with 270 campsites, 28 miles of hiking trails and a scenic waterfall made even more gorgeous by vibrant fall foliage.
Closer to Spring Green, House on the Rock's daring Infinity Room features a 218-foot-long glass walkway that hangs over the autumn splendor of the Wyoming Valley 156 feet below. Tower Hill State Park and Taliesin, Architect Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin home (open for tours through October 31st), are also nearby and make unforgettable stops.
Insider tip: Check out these five cabins along the route to help you make a vacation out of this memorable drive.
Keep the fall road trip fun going by following Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads.
