Croix National Scenic Riverway is through R-103’s lush hardwood canopy (far left) and a short drive beyond the northern end of R-101, both of which parallel the waterway.įorests of conifers and hardwoods blanket the landscape between Wisconsin’s northern border with Michigan and the Door County peninsula that juts out into Lake Michigan. In the Northwest region, the Smith Rapids Covered Bridge, one of two remaining covered bridges in Wisconsin, and a restored 1876 logging dam are key landmarks on R-105, northwest of Rhinelander. Historic buildings and sites such as old churches, schoolhouses and ethnic settlements are common along these routes throughout the state. Several more sylvan corridors ribbon through the north-country setting of the Chequamegon National Forest, many of which intersect regional hiking trails. Other scenic routes include a parallel lane along the Red Cedar River (R-89) south of Menomonie, a primitive stretch cut by small country streams (R-51) and a bucolic country road (R-92) whose shoulders are abloom with trilliums and other wildflowers each spring. Only 2 miles long, R-62 serves as the only access to Timms Hill County Park, Wisconsin’s highest point of land. ![]() Dense stands of hardwood forests guarantee brilliant displays of fall colors along this paved stretch that runs between Mercer and the Michigan border. Like many routes in this neck of the woods, it also offers the promise of a glimpse of the area’s wildlife. Croix River on its western border, the Northwest region is home to R-1, the state’s first Rustic Road, and R-100, the 100th road added since the program began.įrom Dodge County to Door County: R-106 runs through scenic farmland.įollowing a section of the Flambeau Trail, a transportation route used by Native Americans and early fur traders, R-100 winds northward through 13.5 miles of beautiful backcountry forests, lakes and waterways. Northwestīound on the north by Lake Superior and running along the St. Here’s a snapshot of some memorable off-the-beaten-path drives in each region. These local roads reveal the personality of each area and collectively express the character of the state. Road surfaces can be paved, dirt or gravel with a maximum speed limit of 45 mph, although some are restricted to only 25 mph.ĭivided into four regions, the Rustic Roads network showcases Wisconsin’s nature, history and culture along quaint and quiet country lanes. Each route is numbered in the order it was designated and is preceded with an “R” prefix. Croix rivers along the state’s western border east to Milwaukee and Door County along the shores of Lake Michigan. Photos by Tom Watson and Courtesy Craig Swedberg, Wisconsin Departments of Tourism and Transportation, and Door County Visitors Bureau.Ĭurrently, 117 Rustic Roads make up the network that includes 669 miles of routing through 59 counties, from the southern shores of Lake Superior to the Illinois border, and from the Mississippi and St. ![]() R-56 is among several country lanes that wind through Amish communities scattered throughout the central part of the state. This year the state’s Rustic Roads program celebrates 40 years of preserving the state’s remaining “scenic, lightly traveled country roads for the leisurely enjoyment of bikers, hikers and motorists,” as described by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.įorty years after designating the first Rustic Road, Wisconsin continues to preserve its roads less traveled. The 5-mile backcountry lane is R-1, the first Wisconsin stretch to be officially designated a Rustic Road back in 1975. The commemorative marker along the route attests to the fact that there is indeed something special about this particular roadway. It’s a gravel band laid out over hills and through valleys sculpted by glaciers, winding its way past woodlands, fields and a scattering of lakes - a landscape that offers a sense of embarking on a more relaxing journey to the uncluttered and less hectic northern reaches of the upper Midwest in years gone by. ![]() Highway 8, linking the state with Minnesota on the west and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the east, lies what seems at first to be just another nondescript county road. Smack dab in the middle of Wisconsin, a dozen miles south of U.S. Turn back the clock to a quieter time on 117 bucolic backcountry drives spanning nearly 700 miles in the upper Midwest
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