The Driftless Area is a unique geologic feature of the upper Mississippi River. Four major glaciers passed through the upper Midwest in geologic time; flattening hills, filling in valleys and leveling the landscape, but none of them touched the Driftless Area of what is now SW Wisconsin, SE Minnesota and NE Iowa. The result is a highly dissected land of ridges, valleys, trout streams and rivers. The landscape is dotted with small family farms, wooded hillsides and rural communities.

This bike tour takes it all in with a mix of paved and gravel roads, long ascents to ridges followed by equally long descents into valleys. It crosses the Mississippi River twice and passes Amish farms, bakeries and buggies. Average daily distance is 50 miles, but with numerous campgrounds, hotels and B&Bs along the way, the options for changing up the daily ride are endless. You will be challenged physically by the hills and rewarded endlessly by the scenery and small town friendliness.

Driftless Area Bikepacking