Fall Foliage Trip Suggestions - IA, MN, or WI

[madguy30]

Keeping our fingers crossed! Motel is now locked in, so we;ll just have to deal with it!!!!

Just need 48 more hours!!!

Edit: We'll be a bit further south than that, between Winnona, MN and the IA border. May cross over to La Crosse once.

If you go to La Crosse, Grandad Bluff may be an easy great view. You can technically see all three states from it.

 

[AnkCyclone was SL Cyclone]

Breitbach's in Balltown for a meal and looking over the river. (take the River road from Balltown north to Pikes Peak)

Pikes Peak State Park for river views and some light hiking.

Prairie Du Chien - Stark's, Cabela's, some shopping for the wife.

Gays Mills - Apple Orchards

La Crosse - fun place to stay for a night with good restaurants, hotels, bars

Lanesboro MN area - good bike trails if you like that. More bed and breakfast places to stay vs hotels.

I'm sure the Galena area is fun in the fall but I have never been there this time of year so can't say for sure.

We did the Lansing to Dubuque to Maquoketa Caves last week. There was still a lot of green but also some really good colors. Pikes Peak State Park was closed. The weather was quite brisk.

 

[khardbored]

If you go to La Crosse, Grandad Bluff may be an easy great view. You can technically see all three states from it.

I believe that one is on the "easy to do, so we'll do it!" list.

I like scenic things where the parking lot is a few steps away...

 

[NWICY]

I believe that one is on the "easy to do, so we'll do it!" list.

I like scenic things where the parking lot is a few steps away...

Well as long as your there stop at the Alpine Inn and enjoy the view while having a brew.

 

[cycloneML]

Dubuque to Spring Green WI

 

[madguy30]

I believe that one is on the "easy to do, so we'll do it!" list.

I like scenic things where the parking lot is a few steps away...

Another easy one is the little river walk in La Crosse.

 

[cycloneML]

Dubuque to Spring Green WI

Via Platteville, Montfort, and Highland WI is even better

 

[Big Daddy Kang]

 

[Big Daddy Kang]

 

[StClone]

So khardbored how did the foilage viewing go?

I believe that one is on the "easy to do, so we'll do it!" list.

I like scenic things where the parking lot is a few steps away...

 

[nfrine]

So khardbored how did the foilage viewing go?

Lost in the woods...

 

[khardbored]

So khardbored how did the foilage viewing go?

THE FOLIAGE!!!!
LET'S DRIVE BY THE FOLIAGE!!!

we did.

more to come.

 

[qwerty]

THE FOLIAGE!!!!
LET'S DRIVE BY THE FOLIAGE!!!

we did.

more to come.

Drive by foliage? Anyone get hurt?

At least you waited so it was mature. You don't want to get caught with under'foli'age.

 

[khardbored]

So khardbored how did the foilage viewing go?

Sorry for delayed reply.

It was a great trip! I was having some foot issues right before we went so had to keep the walking to a minimum. Picked things where we could park close to the thing.

We did:

- Garvin Heights Lookout, Winona, MN
- Grandad Bluff Park, La Crosse, WI - this is probably the most beautiful place I've ever been in the midwest
- Beaver Creek Valley State Park near Caledonia, MN (thanks to @Al_4_State for the suggestion)
- Schech's Mill near Caledonia, MN (This was really cool. Extremely rustic. The only surviving all-water powered grain mill in MN they say)

The foliage was "pretty good" but I think we missed the peak by about 2-3 days. It was a bit past peak. (We were there Oct 21-23). In DSM area, at least, 2 days before that the leaves started falling pretty hard.

 

[khardbored]

Grandad Bluff, La Crosse


Grandad Bluff, La Crosse

 

[khardbored]

Beaver Creek Valley State Park, MN - the source of the creek is a natural spring that seeps out of the rocks on the far bank.

The Dam at Schech's Mill

 

[cowgirl836]

View attachment 105061
Beaver Creek Valley State Park, MN - the source of the creek is a natural spring that seeps out of the rocks on the far bank.
View attachment 105062
The Dam at Schech's Mill

Have you been to Wyalusing/pikes peak?


You need to go to Devil's Lake and Peninsula State Park if you enjoyed the view at Grandad. Even Blue Mound was pretty
cool.

 

[MuskieCy]

Our backyard two weeks ago.

 

[khardbored]

Our backyard two weeks ago.

View attachment 105065

Is that the Mississippi river in the background?

 

[khardbored]

Have you been to Wyalusing/pikes peak?


You need to go to Devil's Lake and Peninsula State Park if you enjoyed the view at Grandad. Even Blue Mound was pretty
cool.

I was at Pikes Peak state park / Effigy Mounds National Monument my senior year of high school for a Science Club trip (honestly the main reason I joined "Science Club...." ).

I'll save those other suggestions for next time!