Have Any of You Ridden the Driftless Area?

[flying_hun]

WTF GForce talkin' 'bout, M8? I rode through there in 2022. It wasn't the main purpose of the trip, and I just scratched the surface. Earlier this month I drove through there in a rental car. The leaves were just starting to turn, and it was magnificent. Now, I'm jonesing to go back, and so I've penciled it in for next May.

Have any of you ridden it? Do you have any suggestions?

When I got home from the trip this month, I began to obsess about going back to ride it again. As I looked around my map collection, it became clear that I was thinking about it when I got home from the 2022 visit.



For an old guy like me, there's no substitute for poring over a paper map looking for roads, and this is only two of the four states that include parts of the Driftless. We used to go camping and fishing with my family in the Iowa portion when I was a kid, and I have nothing but positive memories of the area. FWIW, just about the only part of Iowa where one can fish for trout.

Other than childhood memories, why go there? Well, it's scenic. On weekdays anyway, the roads are quiet and fairly interesting. Tons of interesting destinations. For instance, there's a place that claims to be the best pie shop in the world! I looked at their menu, and found no rhubarb on it, so I'm dubious, but there's only one way to know for sure. There are wineries and breweries too! And since the largest part of the 24,000 square miles of the Driftless is within Wisconsin, you know there's cheese! Don't forget, this is also Peter Egan's stomping ground (IYKYK).

I'm going to use this thread to document my planning, similar to what I did with my Alps trip earlier this year. Any local knowledge you may have is welcome to the conversation.

To give you an idea what I'm looking for, below is a photo of the Wisconsin Gazetteer showing part of the Driftless, and in the image I've drawn a line around the lower Wisconsin River as it approaches the Mississippi. If you expand the image you can see these little white roads running up from the river into the hills on both sides. Some of those roads have to be fun! It looks to me like I'll need to ride there for maybe a week to get a good sampling of what's available. The image below is only a small sampling. If you scan up the page, you'll find an east-west road that reaches the Mississippi called Hwy 171. When I was there last, this was one of the recommended roads I tried, and it was surprisingly hilly, and even had some turns that could be called hairpins.

 

[Tally Whacker]

I will admit I have traveled to a number of the lesser states to sample their roads, but that's one region that has eluded me yet.

 

[Bzwrthy]

Based on multiple trips to Eau Claire, you should be able to find a solid walleye fry, beer cheese soup, and maybe some lefse in the area. No rhubarb is a sin in that neck of the woods

 

[budman]

Looks like it should fill your moto soul well.

 

[flying_hun]

I've been looking for some good riding videos of the area, and haven't found a bunch - yet. Mostly Harleys (well, they do come from Milwaukee), and frequently not that interesting, but this guy - on a Harley - does a pretty good job.

 

[Ridley]

Went to college in Wisconsin and fished a number of creeks in that area. So much more beautiful than people think. I really miss it.

 

[flying_hun]

Went to college in Wisconsin and fished a number of creeks in that area. So much more beautiful than people think. I really miss it.

Any suggestions on roads or specific areas to ride? FWIW, my niece is an alum of UW-Platteville.

 

[Ridley]

Any suggestions on roads or specific areas to ride? FWIW, my niece is an alum of UW-Platteville.

I graduated in 1997, it’s been a looooong time to remember anything like that. Sorry.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Paging Stratslinger.
I'm pretty sure he ducks out and rides that shit during his lunch.....

 

[craig1200]

I've been living out on the border of IL/WI for the past few years, and griping non-stop about burning up the center of my tires on these ruler-straight farm roads.

In an effort to curb my complaints, this is a route sent to me by a co-worker with family property out that way. I did a bit of the area when I went on a Slimey Crud run a couple of years ago, and the roads are well worth visiting if you have the time.

Starting in Prairie du Chien makes for a spectacular ride. You can hit the Mississippi bluffs, cut into the heart of the Kickapoo River Valley, and circle back on a single, legendary day loop.
The Lower Kickapoo River Loop is a highly recommended 92-mile paved route that runs along three rivers: the Mississippi, the Wisconsin, and the Kickapoo.

• Leg 1: The Mississippi Bluffs (Hwy 35 North)
  • Route: Depart Prairie du Chien heading north on WI-35 (The Great River Road) for 23 miles to Ferryville.
  • The Experience: Sweeping curves with towering limestone cliffs on your right and the wide Mississippi River on your left.
• Leg 2: The Driftless Ridges (County Hwy C East)
  • Route: At Ferryville, turn right (east) onto County Hwy C for 25 miles to Soldiers Grove.
  • The Experience: This is pure Driftless riding—tight, winding roller-coaster hills that climb out of the river coulees up onto the high farm ridges.
• Leg 3: The Kickapoo Valley (Hwy 131 South)
  • Route: From Soldiers Grove, turn right (south) onto WI-131 for 27 miles to Wauzeka.
  • The Experience: This road traces the floor of the Kickapoo River valley. It's smooth, rolling, and passes through the famous Apple Orchard Ridge near Gays Mills.
• Leg 4: The Wisconsin River Finish (Hwy 60 West)
  • Route: At Wauzeka, take WI-60 West for 17 miles back into Prairie du Chien.
  • The Experience: A gentle, relaxing stretch of wide curves right against the north bank of the Lower Wisconsin River.

Best Places to Pull Over

Orchard Ridge (Gays Mills): Stop at the hilltop orchards along Hwy 131 for some local treats and an expansive view of the Kickapoo valley.

Sugar Creek Winery (Ferryville): A beautiful spot nestled right off the Great River Road to stretch your legs.

St. Feriole Island (Prairie du Chien): Before or after your ride, cruise past the historic Villa Louis and catch the views directly on the Mississippi riverfront.
[Rich media excluded from paste]

Scenic Motorcycle Rides | Driftless Roads USA – United States

Driftless Roads USA has created amazing motorcycle tours across North America. Download a route and take an awesome ride!

www.driftlessroadsusa.com

Prairie Du Chien Chamber of Commerce -

prairieduchien.org

Driftless Wisconsin - Official Guide to Driftless Tourism - Driftless Wisconsin

Home at the heart of Driftless Wisconsin are Crawford County and Vernon County and the Kickapoo Valley which runs through each.

driftlesswisconsin.com

 

[flying_hun]

Starting in Prairie du Chien makes for a spectacular ride. You can hit the Mississippi bluffs, cut into the heart of the Kickapoo River Valley, and circle back on a single, legendary day loop.
The Lower Kickapoo River Loop is a highly recommended 92-mile paved route that runs along three rivers: the Mississippi, the Wisconsin, and the Kickapoo.

Thanks for this thoughtful response! We stayed in Prairie du Chien earlier this month, and I have childhood memories of the place. I'll check out the links you sent. Thanks again!

 

[OaklandF4i]

Kurt, I went to highschool in Winona MN on the Mississippi River. Back in the 80's, there was a large sportbike contigency/culture that included road racers and track officianados. That has all gone the way of the dodo bird.... literally. Can spend a month every summer in Minnesota and rarely, sometimes never, see a sport bike. A handful of BMWs and smattering of naked bikes. But back to your question....

You want to read and google the best of WI's "alphabet" roads for motorcycles, not driftless region. While technically correct, its the known vernacular. As you probably already know, WI names its county roads by letters of the alphabet. Like couty road B, or the really good goaty ones with two letters, ie BB. Many of the roads in Buffalo and Trempeaelau county would give the highway 9 area a run for its money. Though they are less traveled, and the pavement not in as good of condition due to winters. Roads that follow the coulees and rivers are favorable, and will often jump over into the next valley.

Had a great time as a teen dirving/riding Opels, Triumphs, Z's, VF750 intercepter and FZ600 out there........ more crashes that I should admit.

Edit: While the routes along the Mississippi are scenic, the roads are not thrilling. More like hwy 280 curvy, not mtn curvy. Go east, away from the big river to the smaller valleys for good riding.

 

[ThinkFast]

I grew up in Milwaukee and lived there until I as around 16, then my dad got a job in Ohio. Years later my wife and I moved to Milwaukee and lived there 8 years and she worked at the MoCo. Needless to say, I had a Harley.
Rode a lot all through that area. The Mississippi bluffs area is great riding, down to Galena IL is worth a look, too. Lake Pepin, a wide spot in the Mississippi River, used to have an amazing restaurant that drew people from as far away as the Twin Cities.

Did a lap around Lake Michigan once. Route 2 up on the northern shore is awesome, although a long way from the Driftless Area. Indian Dunes is a national park down on the south shore of Lake Michigan. Rode through there bunches of times with my brother and dad on our way to Michigan 500.

Anyway, you’ve gotta jam a lot of life into about 12 weeks or weekends when it’s not raining, snowing, or 90degF and 90% humidity. I’ll always have a soft spot for the Midwest - it’s the dirt I was born on. But since I’ve sold my snow blower I’ve never looked back and doubt I ever will.

 

[flying_hun]

Yeah, I was in Galena the last time I rode there. Cool place, but too crowded for me. Not going further east than Madison. I've heard references to Lake Pepin, and having been born in a city on the Mississippi, I'm familiar with the practice of calling areas between the dams "lakes". That practice applies to the Columbia too.

Any particular roads that stand out in your memory?

 

[ThinkFast]

18 runs east/west from Milwaukee to the river. Stretches of it are lovely, particularly West of Madison. After that, up and down the river road, which includes the bluffs area. Don’t recall which side of the river tho, been too long since I rode it. Just look for where it gets rolling and follow it.