Wind through one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets on the Driftless Area Scenic Byway, a 160-mile journey across northeastern Iowa’s unglaciated landscape. Unlike the rest of the state’s famously flat terrain, this region escaped the last ice age’s bulldozing glaciers, leaving behind dramatic bluffs, deep valleys, cold-water trout streams, and limestone outcroppings that feel more Appalachian than Iowan.

The route threads through charming small towns like Decorah, home to a thriving arts scene and the famous Toppling Goliath Brewery, and McGregor, perched along the Mississippi River with stunning views of the river valley. Stop at Pikes Peak State Park for a breathtaking overlook where the Wisconsin River meets the Mississippi, or explore Effigy Mounds National Monument, where ancient Indigenous earthworks dot the bluffs above the river.

Rolling farmland gives way to forested ridgelines, spring-fed waterfalls, and winding creek bottoms alive with wildflowers. Watch for bald eagles soaring above the river corridors, especially in winter.

The best time to drive is late September through mid-October, when fall color transforms the hardwood forests into a patchwork of gold and crimson. Allow a full day to soak in every vista and hidden hollow along this unforgettable route.

Explore Nearby

• High Point Monument — State Park in New Jersey
• High Point State Park — State Park in New Jersey
• Cliff Ridge Hang Gliding Area — Public Land
• Stony Point Light — Lighthouse in New York
• Tarrytown Light — Lighthouse in New York