Wisconsin has so many great roads and drives, and the designated byways are among the best. Scenic byways run along coastlines, through forests, and other areas of note. In this episode, Eric and Ana discuss Wisconsin’s five state-designated scenic byways, with guests Jon Jarosh talking about the Door County Coastal Byway, Mary Motiff showcasing the Lake Superior Scenic Byway, and our own Josh Ostermann helping to illustrate the other three: the Lower Wisconsin River State Scenic Byway, the Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway, and of course, Wisconsin’s segment of the Great River Road. You’ll be ready to hit the road and take in the sights after you listen, plus we’re showcasing the Door County and Lake Superior Byways on an upcoming episode of Discover Wisconsin!
The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Fond du Lac County; https://bit.ly/3Lms7ob
The Cabin is also presented by Jolly Good Soda, available in all your classic favorite flavors that we remember from childhood. The diet line offers 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 sugars, and no caffeine – perfect for mixers or just enjoying on a warm summer day (or any day, for that matter); always Wisconsin-based, you can follow @jollygoodsoda on social for the latest on new flavors, fun promotions, and more. Learn more here; https://bit.ly/3TSFYY4
Campfire Conversation:
Eric and Ana discuss Wisconsin’s five designed scenic byways and why each is a beautiful drive, with a little help from our friends. Jon Jarosh from Destination Door County joins for a look at the Door County Coastal Byway, 66 miles of beauty and charming towns on the Door Peninsula along Highways 42 and 57, from Sturgeon Bay north to beautiful coasts, state and county parks, and towns like Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay, Ellison Bay, Gills Rock, Baileys Harbor, and Jacksonport. Mary Motiff from Bayfield County (and the mayor of its county seat, Washburn) joins for the Lake Superior Scenic Byway conversation. The Byway covers 70 miles along Highway 13 in Bayfield County, showing off the beauty of the northern coast of the state from near Ashland through Washburn and Bayfield over to Cornucopia, Port Wing, and Herbster with beaches, forest, orchards, wineries, and even the first National Tribal Park in the nation along the way. Josh Ostermann joins Eric and Ana in The Cabin for a look at the others (yes, pizza gets a mention.) The Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway is the newest, covering 145 miles through the Nicolet National Forest and along the beautiful Wolf River, which has a National Scenic River designation. It winds through Forest, Langlade, Oneida and Vilas Counties along segments of Highways 55, 52, 32, and 70 with connections to a wide variety of multi-use, all-season trails. The Lower Wisconsin River State Scenic Byway covers 100 miles along Highway 60 from Lodi to Bridgeport by Prairie du Chien, giving you a nice cross-section of Wisconsin’s incredible Driftless Area and the shifting courses of the Wisconsin River and its valley. Finally, Wisconsin’s segment of the Great River Road gets covered as it runs along the Mississippi River from East Dubuque to Prescott. This multi-state byway actually begins in Minnesota and follows the Mississippi River for 10 states until it ends in New Orleans, Louisiana, but Wisconsin’s segment is the most scenic (by many measures, not just ours!) It covers 250 miles, much of it along Highway 35, through 33 river towns. These include some of the oldest settlements in the state, the dynamic city of La Crosse as well as Prairie du Chien (the only place where two state designated scenic byways meet) and charming smaller towns like Trempealeau, Stockholm, Pepin, Alma, Fountain City, and Potosi. You can enjoy many scenic overlooks, with some great birding opportunities including bald eagles. All in all, Wisconsin’s five designated scenic byways provide over 600 miles of road trip beauty and fun. Be sure to check out our Discover Wisconsin episode on the two coastal byways coming up!
Links to more:
Door County Coastal Byway: https://doorcountycoastalbyway.org/
Lake Superior Scenic Byway: https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/855/Scenic-Byway and https://www.bayfield.org/
Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway: https://nicoletwolfriverbyway.com/
Lower Wisconsin River Road Scenic Byway:
https://www.facebook.com/Scenic60
or
http://statetrunktour.com/routes/60-2/
Wisconsin’s Great River Road: