Take the Scenic Route

By Dee Nechkash

Maybe you’ve seen the brown “Rustic Road” sign and didn’t quite know what it meant, or saw it and told yourself you’d give it a try some other day when you had more time. These little gems scattered all across Wisconsin – 122 of them to be exact – are worth the detour.

These Rustic Roads are an opportunity to slow down, enjoy the natural and historical beauty of the area and view parts of Wisconsin that have been untouched by the fast-paced world we live in.

Only 61 of the state’s 72 counties have designated Rustic Roads. Every Rustic Road is unique, but they all have outstanding natural features, are lightly traveled, are not scheduled for any major improvements and are at least 2 miles long. Some are paved, but some are gravel or dirt. They provide a closer look at rugged terrain, native vegetation and/or wildlife and spectacular agricultural vista views. The maximum speed limit on a Rustic Road is 45 mph.

There are six Rustic Roads in the six-county region of Southwest Wisconsin.

Grant County

• Rustic Road 70: Approximately 10.1 miles from U.S. 61 at Liberty Ridge Road; portions of Hill Road, Ridge Road, Sleepy Hollow Road, Scenic Road to County E.
• Rustic Road 99: Approximately 3.4 miles along segments of River Lane, Slazing and Brewery Hollow roads forming a loop off WIS 133.
  • I personally love this segment! It’s a very hilly, curvy route between Potosi and the Mississippi River and leads to a great campground and boat landing at the Grant River Recreation Area. The Rustic Road loops back to the Wisconsin Great River Road, another beautiful driving route showcasing the small communities along the Mighty Mississippi.

Iowa County

• Rustic Road 75: Approximately 3.7 miles following portions of Ogden Road, Bromley Road and Turnbull Road between County A and County G in the town of Mifflin.
  • I took a chance and texted my boss that I would be a wee bit late because the frost was super pretty and I was road tripping around the area snapping pictures before work. Lucky for me, my boss knows I love photography. Plus we didn’t have anything urgent to attend to and I had a few hours of comp time to burn anyway. I made my way to this Rustic Road because it was close enough to home, but still someplace I hadn’t visited much. Ooo la la! Every little turn I took I was stopping to get out and take another picture. This little segment is beautiful in summer, too, but I especially love it in winter! Added bonus was all of the wildlife I saw – a herd of deer, a fox and many birds flitting in the fresh snow on the trees. I’ve previously been on this Rustic Road because there is a geocache hidden along it. (Not sure what a geocache is? Click HERE for more info.)

Lafayette County

• Rustic Road 66: Approximately 7.5 miles just off County W in the town of Benton, following portions of Buncombe, Kennedy, Beebe and Ensch roads. This route features an abandoned lead mine on Kennedy Road and winds through the Driftless valleys following the Galena River and crossing Scrabble Branch, Bull Branch and Coon Branch, all with fishing opportunities.
  • My husband and I ventured to this Rustic Road last fall and actually spent quite a bit of time in the area. Instead of just driving through, Corey brought his fishing gear and tested the waters, successfully reeling in a few fish. There are some beautiful landscapes in this ridge and valley route that meanders along a few different streams.

Vernon County

• Rustic Road 55: Approximately 2.8 miles of Tunnelville Road, beginning at its junction with WIS 131 to its intersection with County SS.
  • I haven’t visited this route recently, but when I lived in Viola, it was just a few miles away, but had the feeling of being a whole world away. Following the Kickapoo River, the terrain includes marshy areas, woods, hills and farmland. It is especially pretty decorated in autumn’s vibrant rainbow. Nearby fields are managed by Amish families and corn shocks are commonly seen all throughout Vernon County.
• Rustic Road 56: Approximately 8.6 miles encompassing portions of Dutch Hollow Road, Sand Hill Road, Hoff Valley Road and Lower Ridge Road.

I feel that Richland and Crawford Counties should have designated Rustic Roads. Maybe they just have too many to choose from. There are plenty of little-traveled roads with spectacular sandstone features that would warrant this rustic designation.

To view the interactive map and learn more about each route, go to https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/travel/road/rustic-roads/default.aspx.

I was fortunate enough to order one of the Rustic Roads printed guides in 2018 before they discontinued printing. Now you can download a PDF copy or access all of the information on the interactive Wisconsin DOT website, but, to me, nothing beats having the printed copy in the glove box when you need it! I’m definitely the paper map and hard copy brochure type of person. It just makes travel plans easier for me.

The Rustic Road guide also includes a checklist so you can keep track of which routes you’ve already visited. My tally is at 8 Rustic Roads throughout the state. I have so much more to explore!