-Wisconsin’s Great River Road-
An early Saturday morning drive on some back roads in rural Wisconsin. No idea where we are headed but we have snacks, cold beverages and our bicycles racked up. We zigzag south through Eau Claire and Buffalo counties. Green is the color of the day. The grass and trees are in full bloom and the farmers fields are alive with color. The rolling hills of Buffalo County lead us to the Mississippi River.
Our first stop along the Great River Road, a boat landing near Buffalo City. Fishermen are out on the water in boats and kayaks in search of a battle on the end their lines. We stop for a moment to take some photos then head north on Highway 35.
Alma is next up and this small tourist friendly town seems to be alive and well. This is one of my favorite stretches of the River Road. The tall bluffs and Mighty Mississippi River are separated only by the roadway. Looking up, eagles are soaring all around taking in the views from high above the ground.
Heading north through Nelson we pass over the Chippewa River Bottoms and begin to see Lake Pepin appear. This is widest point of the Mississippi River at just under 2 miles across and 21 miles long. The city of Pepin has some great eateries and is a good place to stop and enjoy the views on a warm sunny day.
Maiden Rock Bluff
Continuing on we drive through Stockholm and turn onto County Highway J towards Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area. A trail leading from the parking lot here will lead you toward Maiden Rock Bluff. At 400 feet in height this bluff gives you an amazing view of Lake Pepin and the Mississippi River Valley! The edge of the bluff is unprotected and drops straight down to the road. For this reason you should probably skip this hike if you have little ones along.
Jen and I met a young couple here who had just stopped for a picnic lunch atop the bluff. I can’t think of a better place to relax and enjoy nature. There are many species of colorful birds and flowers to be viewed here as well. This bluff is one of just six on the Mississippi River that is home to successfully nesting peregrine falcons. We did not see any on our hike however we did see numerous turkey vultures.
After leaving the bluff, a stop at the historical marker below on the river road is a must to get a different perspective. The monument also tells a story that will bring you back in time.
Just up the road from here, the Rush River flows into the Mississippi. This is also a neat area to explore as there are trails along the edge of the river delta. Watch out for the nesting swallows under the bridges! Jen and I were amazed by the massive swarm of birds that did not appreciate our presence.
Red Wing, MN
As we drove towards Red Wing we decided it was time to get the bikes off the back of the car. Lucky for us Red Wing has an awesome mountain bike park on top of Sorin’s Bluff. Memorial Park is also home to a 9 hole frisbie golf course, numerous hiking trails and picnic areas.
There are two trail loops, intermediate and advanced. Jen and I stayed on the intermediate loop and survived with no injuries! The blue (intermediate) trail starts off with a slightly uphill leg workout that levels out just in time to give you a breather! The next section of this trail is fast and a blast! Straightaways, hairpin corners and obstacles are scattered throughout and I was feeling brave enough to give a few a go!
Along the trails there are openings in the trees that give you great views of the city of Red Wing and the area below. We got off trail just once but were shown the way back by a fellow rider. Thanks to Russ who is also one of the MTB trail volunteers. Without people like him we wouldn’t be able to enjoy rides like this! If you haven’t been here yet make plans and try it out!
No plan, no problem! Our day couldn’t have been any better! Good weather, great company and adventure waiting for us wherever we go!
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