Winding Through Southern Wisconsin's Most Scenic Byways For The Best Fall Colors
Southern Wisconsin's topography is a mix of farmland, hilly forests of the "Driftless" area and open prairie.
our region experience fall colors a bit later than Door County or Northwoods. This year's autumn leaf show might not live up to our usual multi-hued pageantry due to the lack of rain the region has experienced in the last month and a half. According to the Wisconsin DNR.
Those vivid leaf colors visible in the Autumn derive from three pigments. These are red from the presence of Anthocyanin (like cherries and apples) brown, yellow and orange come from Caratenoid (seen in corn and carrots) and green is of course Chlorophyll. And each tree has its' own signature color Oak leaves typically are red, brown or russet while the oft photographed Sugar maple: display a show-stopping orange-red. Birches leaves are bright yellow a great contrast to their white and black bark.
Lakesedition's 2024 Fall Color Tour features five popular destinations for weekend "Leafers." For updates of peak color across Wisconsin visit Travel Wisconsin.
Choose A Southern Wisconsin Leaf Adventure
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HWY 60 from Sauk City to Spring Green
Total Trip 22 Miles
Take HWY 12/60 heading west out of Sauk City. Farm fields meet highway's edge as distant wooded bluffs border the land in the distance. As HWY 60 approaches Casell Road note how the riparian forest land closes in with the bluffs now much closer to the road towering above.
Cross Plains To Sauk City, rock outcroppings, along HWY 78
Total Trip 17 Miles
A classic fall tour, its' popularity indicated by the number of it seems it's not coincidence
that a lot of Harley couples on the weekend winding through HWY 78 between Mt. Horeb and Sauk City. Maybe they just using HWY 78 as a shortcut to Sauk City? But likely not. This is the eastern edge of the "Driftless" a mix of low hills and steeper bluffs closer to Sauk City.
From Whitewater Lake To Eagle through Kettle Moraine
Total Trip 19 Miles
Plunge into the dense dark woods of the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit (KMSF) from Whitewater Lake northeast To Eagle.
Take State Park Rd North & East to Kettle Moraine Drive 1.9 1.9
Alternative: Take Kettle Moraine Dr north to 2nd intersection with State Park Rd 1.3
Turn Right (E) on Kettle Moraine Drive to County H 4.9 6.8
Turn Left (N) on County H thru LaGrange to Hwy 59 in Palmyra 7.1 13.9
Stay Straight (Northeast) on Hwy 59/Main St/County H to Hwy 67 in Eagle.
From New Glarus to Yellowstone State Park, Blanchardville
Total Trip 14 Miles
After a warm Bavarian Pretzel For Two (house-made beer cheese dip) at the Ott Haus Pub & Grill (406 2nd Street New Glarus,) find your way to HWY 39 west to HWY 78 west. A top of the world experience as HWY 78 heads along the Driftless ridgetops of this scenic tour. The farms along the way expand down into small wooded valleys as the road heads southwest to Blanchardville. This is a challenging drive as 78 is very curvy and at 55 mph. Please slowdown on the curves and watch for farmers on the road this time of year for the harvest.
