3,000 Mile Scenic Byway Features Amazing Views in Iowa and Wisconsin

I love taking adventures with my family. In fact, just this past weekend we traveled to Eau Claire, Wisconsin and enjoyed some much needed family time. Little did I know our trip would travel along what is considered one of the longest and most important scenic routes in the United States. This scenic byway totals 3,000 miles across 10 states, and I'll be honest when I say that our driftless area of Iowa, and the portions through Wisconsin, surely offer THE best views.

I don't know how many times I've travelled along the Great River Road, but it's for sure been a lot. From my trips to Pikes Peak outside of Guttenberg, to exploring the Effigy Mounds and Yellow River Forest area, I always find myself coming back.

This time my journey took me farther north along the road than I've been in a long time. Exploring places like Big Falls County Park in Seymour, Mt. Simon Park in Eau Claire, and spectacular views from Grandad Bluff Park in La Crosse and the hidden gem known as Old Settler's Overlook outside of Stoddard, WI.

The Great River Road is a scenic route that follows the Mississippi River from its headwaters in Minnesota. Established in 1938, it connects a network of federal, state, and local roads, offering travelers a slower, more scenic alternative to the interstates.

Marked by green pilot’s wheel signs, the "GRR" winds through historic towns, bustling cities like St. Louis and New Orleans, and stunning landscapes ranging from limestone bluffs to cypress swamps. Whether you're into history, BBQ, blues music, or just a classic road trip adventure, the Great River Road is a perfect way to experience the heart of America.

We only traveled the Great River Road from Guttenberg, Iowa to Onaska, Wisconsin before deviating towards our destination in Eau Claire, but the views in this section are well worth the trip alone.

Guttenberg offers up tremendous views of the mighty Mississippi, whether it's from the random roadway overlooks, or from the viewing platform at Pikes Peak.

Continuing along the road gets you to my favorite part of the state, the Effigy Mounds and Yellow River Forest area. Make sure to stick around to the end of this article to see my awesome adventures through the Yellow River Forest and Effigy Mounds area.

Then my family and I were onto Wisconsin to get some views I have never seen before. The most stellar and a for sure hidden gem, would actually wait until we were on our way back home. Our first real view was at Mt. Simon in Eau Claire, WI.

The view was great from the top, but not of Mt. Simon itself. It is a massive bummer when people go about carving into and ruining beautiful natural features like this one.

On our trip back home, we made stops along the great river road through Wisconsin for some amazing views. La Crosse offers up hiking and biking trails and a beautiful overlook of the city, Mississippi, and surrounding area from Grandad Bluff Park.

On a separate trail in the park, you can get a cool shot of the main overlook at Grandad along with its high-flying American flag.

Further down the road we stopped at Old Settler's Overlook. This is truly a hidden gem along the historic byway. The road to the actual overlook area was still closed for the winter and I can see why. The steep grade of the road would make it impossible and dangerous to try and drive up in icy or snowy conditions. So, we parked at the gate and walked up to the top. About a mile later we reached several lookout paths at the top, all offering the very best views of the Mississippi.

If you're looking for arguably the best view at this location, it is right above this picnic area surrounded by limestone bluffs.

A trail to the left of this photo leads to the highest point in the area on top of that limestone cliff behind my son.

After the hike up and back down, it was time to hit the road and enjoy an ice cold root beer made with locally sourced Wisconsin maple syrup (super good). These views never look as good in the pictures, so hopefully my trip can inspire you to plan one of your own, along the beautiful and historic Great River Road. One of my favorite places to stop is and always will be Yellow River State Forest, check out that adventure below.