Top things to see and do from Dubuque to La Crosse – Great River Road
The Great River Road is described by RVTravel.com as “One of America’s Best Road Trips.” The Upper Midwest hosts the most scenic road trips along the Great River Road. During the Ice Age, the Mississippi River created steep limestone and sandstone bluffs lining the river valley. Below these bluffs, on both sides of the river, runs the state portions of the Great River Road. In part 1 we profile scenic views and visitor attractions along the Wisconsin Great River Road.
The Wisconsin Great River Road begins at US 61 as it crosses the Mississippi from Dubuque, Iowa.
Take Time to Visit Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa’s oldest city, is typical of old river towns along the upper Mississippi that were founded during the fur trading era that followed the discovery by explores Louis Joliet and Father James Marquette. Many of its historic structures have been rescued and it has a variety of interesting visitor attractions, among them the extensive National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. See more visitor attractions here.
Fenlon Street Elevator, the world’s shortest, steepest, inline railway.
As you travel North on Hwy 61 from Dubuque, you climb out of the river valley to the top of one of the many bluffs that line the river from this point all the way to St. Croix Falls in Northern Wisconsin.
The first town you encounter is Dickeyville, Wisconsin – most well known for its Dickeyville Grotto.
it is a unique and extensive folk art creation.
Visiting Tennyson-Potosi
At Tennyson, the Great River Road leaves Hwy 61 for State Hwy 133 through the town of Potosi and the home of the historic Potosi Brewery, another worthwhile stop. The brewery offers brewery tours and has an attractive pub and outdoor beer garden with quite a decent menu of sandwiches and dinner offerings. Plus you get to try many of Potosi’s brews, fresh from the brewery. The brewery is also home to the National Brewery Museum and the Great River Road Interpretative Center.
Another Potosi Attraction is the Grant River Corps of Engineering Recreation Area (see our article). Grant River offers picnic areas, a boat landing, and an attractive, well-maintained campground with several RV sites.
Cassville Visitor Attractions
When you leave Potosi, you travel adjacent to the river to the town of Cassville, home to the Cassville Ferry. The ferry has been transporting people and vehicles across the Mississippi since 1836 and now connects the Iowa and Wisconsin Great River Roads.
Cassville was the capital of the newly established Wisconsin Territory and now home to the Stonefield Historic Village and Nelson Dewey State Park.
See our article on Top Campgrounds for RVs along the Wisconsin Great River Road
Wyalusing State Park
After Cassville, the Great River Road climbs out of the river valley to run along the bluff-top ridge for a few miles. It returns to river when it goes through the villages of Bagley and Wyalusing, located at the foot of Wyalusing State Park.
The park is located on the high bluff 500 feet above the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. In addition to scenic lookouts of the river valley, the park offers swimming, boating, 14 miles of hiking trails, and a large campground high on the ridge.
from Wyalusing State Park
Historic Prairie Du Chien
From Wyalusing State Park, the Great River Road crosses the Wisconsin River to the town of Prairie Du Chien. The town traces its history back to 1673 when Marquette and Jolliet came down the Wisconsin River and were the first Europeans to enter the upper Mississippi River. In the 1700s French Canadians established a fur trading post on St. Feriole Island, which later became the fourth ward of the town and a center of commerce.
The island hosts several National Historic Landmark buildings from the 1800s, including the Villa Louis estate (now a State Historic Site and Museum), the 1851 Brisbois Store (now the Fur Trade Museum), the 1836 Brisbois House, 1842 Rolette House, and the 1864 Dousman House Hotel.
oldest standing stone houses in Wisconsin
Lynxville, Ferryville, De Soto, Stoddard River Towns
Leaving Prairie Du Chien, the Great River Road now travels adjacent to and often within view of the river. You pass the huge Cabelas/Bass Pro Warehouse and Store on your way to Lynxville, the first of several quaint river towns between Prairie Du Chien and La Crosse.
North of Desoto is Blackhawk Recreation Area, a top notch Corps of Engineering Campground with hookups for RVs. North of Stoddard is another excellent campground with RV hookups – Goose Island County Park. (See more top rated Great River Road campgrounds)
Visiting LaCrosse Wisconsin
La Crosse is located on a prairie flanked by tall bluffs at the confluence of the Black and Mississippi rivers in La Crosse County. French explorers named the area for the game Indians played on the prairie. Initially a fur trading post, La Crosse became an important center for steamboats, lumber mills, railroads, and brewing. In 1884, La Crosse produced more beer than any other city in the state. (From History of La Crosse)
One of La Crosse’s top attractions GrandDad Bluff, offering a panoramic view of the city and river valley as well as several hiking trails and a picnic shelter. Another top attraction is Riverside Park, which hosts the river steamboats American Queen, La Crosse Queen, and Julia Belle Swain. Within walking distance of the park are several excellent dining and drinking establishments. La Crosse is also host to the longest running OktoberFest in the midwest (since 1961)
See more Top La Crosse attractions here:
Links to Great River Road Articles and Attractions
Here’s some interesting particular points of interest, things to see and do along the Upper Mississippi Great River Road
- Mississippi River Visitor Center – Rock Island
- Potosi Brewery & Restaurant, Potosi, Wisconsin
- Visiting Dubuque, Iowa
- Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
- Dubuque Area Golf Courses
- Breitbach Historic Tavern & Restaurant
- McGregor Arts & Crafts Festival
- Effigy Mounds National Landmark Park
- Nelson Creamery Restaurant & Cheese Store
- Visiting the Headwaters of the Mississippi River
- Mississippi River Travel Itineraries