Explore Minnesota’s Byways

Ah, the open road!  For the road-cheery traveler, the phrase “road trip” is a musical one.  Many the world over are familiar with the lyrics and the lure of the timeless tune “Route 66”, which has been remade countless times.  Though if you’ve actually been on Route 66, you might also know that every wanderin’ road is not paved in golden memories.  From the Steppes, to the Great Wall, it is intrinsically human to traverse great divides, be they across a state or a country.  

What draws us hither over and through hill and dale?  Perhaps it’s the difference in the quality of light in one part of the country, or the curve of a range of mountains in another.  Whatever it is that beckons, it can and has been quantified by an association dedicated to cultivating and curating the most breathtaking byways of our country.

Eight of Minnesota’s byways have been designated as “National Scenic Byways” by the Federal Highway Administration under their National Scenic Byways Program.  Minnesota's designated byways, which traverse 21 transportation corridors, draw the eye pleasingly with majestic bluffs gazing down at ribbon-like rivers, winnowing waterfalls, prairies made for contemplation and renewal, metropolitan parks, and woods with cameo lakes, for mile upon mile.

The Rolling Museum

It would be unjust to assume that the appeal of Minnesota’s byways lies strictly in their natural or scenic beauty.  These rolling museums offer a movable feast of historic and cultural sites, as well as recreational experiences.

Spotlight: Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway

Named for the legendary lumberjack so awe-inspiring in scale that his very footprints created the area’s lakes, this resort region, abounding with history and beauty, is both a thoroughfare and a bike trail (amply equipped with well-apportioned and smooth shoulders).  From birding to hiking, golfing, to a day at the boutiques, this drive is well stocked with something for just about every taste.  Look out for the water tower in Pequot Lakes, painted to look like Paul's fishing bobber!

Spotlight: Garrison Minnesota Scenic Byways

Replete with natural and historical reference points, this 80-mile route plies along the western shore of huge Mille Lacs, where farm country takes over from the North Woods.  Spectacular views of Mille Lacs (Minnesota’s second largest lake) are necklaced by historical mines and museums (Croft Mine Historic Park and the Cuyuna Range Historical Museum, showcasing exhibits on the indigenous Band of Ojibwe), hiking trails and cross-country skiing paths, and the Mille Lacs Kathio and Father Hennepin State Parks.  Cultural artifacts, such as the jumbo-sized Dala Horse in Mora, lend a nod to the region’s Swedish heritage.  And for the fishing enthusiast, world-class walleye fishing can be found at Mille Lacs.  

Spotlight: Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway

To step back in time, one need only choose to explore this scenic byway.  The unhurried pace of another time continues here, where it is quite common for neighbors to salute one another as they drive by and the casual visitor is often taken aback by the genuine hospitality freely doled out along the way.  The Minnesota River begins at Big Stone Lake and chaperones this drive as it makes its way to Belle Plaine.

The history buff will note the ample spots that designate Dakota Indian heritage and relay the sorrowful story of the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War.  For the true history lover, the history is preserved at the Lower Sioux Agency, Fort Ridgely and Lac qui Parle Mission, as well as at the Treaty Site History Center in St. Peter.  Throughout the year, New Ulm revels in its German heritage with several German festivals.

Take a spin at one of the many small-town eateries or cut along the Minnesota River in a canoe (it’s one of the few such rivers in southwestern Minnesota).   Birders will find several species of note, from the majestic bald eagle to the tiny yellow-throated warbler.  The Minnesota River Valley is the site of many birding hotspots, with several wildlife refuges and state parks (such as Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, Lac qui Parle State Park or one of the five other state parks that span the river).