Exploring SWWI Autumn

Lafayette & Iowa Counties

By Dee Nechkash

Favorable autumn weather in Wisconsin never lasts long enough, which is probably why it is the most coveted season for this state! The fall colors did not disappoint this year, although they only lasted a few short weeks. Whether you were looking for reflective surfaces to frame a photo of vibrant fall color or entire hillsides dotted in brilliant yellows, oranges and reds, you have plenty of opportunities in this region.

I spent an entire weekend on the road documenting the change of season. My husband and I ventured through parts of Lafayette and Iowa counties on Saturday, him with a fishing pole, me with my camera. He managed to reel in a perch, a large mouth bass and a small mouth bass, all from different bodies of water in the region. While he casted, I hunted for just the right locations to get the bold colors on the horizon.

We took a few Rustic Roads to start our trip. These lightly traveled country roads provide a serene, peaceful experience, no matter what the season. Find the PDF version of the guide here. The Rustic Roads program, started in 1975, now features 122 unique roadways.

Rustic Road Route 66 in Lafayette County meanders near the Wisconsin-Illinois border southeast of Hazel Green. We took Buncombe Road off of Hwy. 80 south of Hazel Green and slowly  wound through the deep valleys, crossing several waterways – the Galena River, the Scrabble Branch, the Bull Branch and the Coon Branch – and branching off to other winding country roads. Along the way we saw several fishermen enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery. We were not alone in our scenery drive and met others out catching the fall color, too.

Buncombe Road turned into Beebe Road, which climbs a steep hillside and levels out with a beautiful birds-eye view at the state border. We watched farmers harvesting soybeans, creating a dusty haze of progress. Doubling back to Kennedy Road, we sought out the tailings piles of an abandoned lead mine. A sign marked its location at a particularly scenic and windy spot in the road.

We headed northeast, aiming for Woodford, a community neither of us had explored in the past. The map showed a park along the Pecatonica River, which could meet both of our goals – reflective fall photos and fishing opportunities. Blackhawk Memorial County Park in Lafayette County was spectacular! If you didn’t know it was there, you’d drive by like we did the first time. As you enter the park, you are greeted with a lengthy memorial sign describing the bloody battle that took place nearby. A monument is placed at the exact location in the park with an area to sit and reflect.

This park was magical in its own way. A one-way road skirts the edges of two lakes and the Pecatonica River, showcasing some fantastic rustic campsites with waterfront access. Imagine setting up your tent with your fishing line casted just a few feet away! It is a hidden gem we anticipate returning to explore further!

Trekking northward, we drove to Argyle and nearby Yellowstone Lake State Park. This was the opposite of our last stop – it was teaming with crowds of people. We didn’t stay long because there wasn’t really anyplace to park and explore without swarms of people nearby. It probably isn’t usually like this, but the COVID virus has out-of-state visitors looking for destinations to escape their closed-down states.

Don’t get me wrong, the scenery was beautiful here! They have a great pull-off area with views of the whole lake and the speckled hillside beyond. There were boaters and swimmers enjoying the potentially last warm weekend of the year.

We did track down the Travel Wisconsin Selfie Stand while in the park. It is across from the main entrance. We snapped our picture, flicked a few of those Asian beetles off our clothes and got back on the road.

Taking some lesser-traveled routes, we wound our way through Iowa County (with a little bit of Dane County) toward Governor Dodge State Park just north of Dodgeville. This is one of our favorite state parks and we visit it often, usually with the kayaks and fishing poles. It is our favorite because of its proximity to our hometown (Platteville) and stand-out features like well-stocked lakes, multiple waterfalls, caves, prairies and excellent hiking trails for all levels. There are even horse trails and plenty of snowshoeing and cross country skiing options in winter. The ice fishing is favorable, too.

I left my husband to fish at Twin Valley Lake, the farthest one back from the entrance, then looped the park. I may have told him I’d be back in 30 minutes and knew that wasn’t going to be the case. I did text him when I made it to Cox Hollow Lake, approximately 35 minutes later! It was just more fishing time! The scenery was great around every bend and the shutter on my camera was doing a fantastic job documenting the beautiful scenery all around me. Another 45 minutes later and I headed back toward Twin Valley Lake. He had caught a fish, so he wasn’t upset. 

We weren’t done yet! We took Hwy. 23 north toward Spring Green and stopped at the Scenic Overlook to snap a few pictures. It wasn’t the best stop of the day; the House on the Rock viewpoints are all overgrown. The drive to Spring Green was fantastic, though. 

Our destination was Peck’s Landing, just across the Wisconsin River before you drive into Spring Green. It’s a spot that has long been my favorite place to go, and it was my first time taking my husband with. There are sandbars to explore as well as pools where fish got trapped. We caught some reflection photos and watched someone playing with their dog in the water. We even used another Travel Wisconsin Selfie Stand! It’s just a relaxing spot, even with a bunch of people hanging around. There is plenty of space to spread out. 

Our last stop of the day was Avoca. My husband’s family has a cabin on the Avoca Lake and we wanted to stop and check it out one more time before it got closed up for winter. The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway access point is near the west end of the lake and its prairie trails provided a fantastic spot for sunset photos. The sun’s rays through the tall grasses and tree branches was mesmerizing. 

It was a full day on the road, and we were ready to head home. We saw a few promising stops in the dimming light, ideas of where to stop tomorrow.