List of Wisconsin Scenic Byways

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Wisconsin Scenic Byways
Wisconsin Scenic Byway marker.svg
Highway marker for Wisconsin's scenic byways
Highway names
Interstates Interstate X (I-X)
US Highways U.S. Highway X (US X)
State (State Trunk) Highway X (STH-X or WIS X)
Rustic Roads Rustic Road RX
System links
Sign on Door County Coastal Byway Door County Coastal Byway March 2011.jpg
Sign on Door County Coastal Byway

The Wisconsin Scenic Byways are a system consisting of roads in the U.S. state of Wisconsin that travel through areas of scenic and historic interest. The intent of this system is to promote tourism and raise awareness of the communities along these routes. Wisconsin also has another system of scenic highways called Rustic Roads. There are five state-recognized scenic byways in Wisconsin, and three of them have also been designated National Scenic Byways. [1]

Contents

History

Byways

Door County Coastal Byway

Wisconsin Scenic Byway marker.svg

Door County Coastal Byway

Location Sturgeon BayNorthport
Length66 mi [2]  (106 km)
Door County Coastal Byway WisconsinHighway42Curvy.jpg
Door County Coastal Byway

The Door County Coastal Byway is a 66-mile (106 km) loop beginning and ending at the intersection of WIS 42 and WIS 57 by Sturgeon Bay. [2] The loop follows WIS 42 and WIS 57 along the coasts of Lake Michigan and Green Bay in Door County. [2] Highlights include orchards, vineyards, and forests. [2] Visitor attractions include shopping, several lighthouses, three state parks (Peninsula, Newport, and Whitefish Dunes), [3] and 10 county parks. [4] Natural highlights includes vistas from the Niagara Escarpment and shores of Lake Michigan or Green Bay. [5] The Ridges Sanctuary, a National Natural Landmark, is located near WIS 57 by Baileys Harbor. [3] Country magazine named the byway on their Top 10 Best Scenic Roads list in 2013. [6]

In February 2021, the byway was designated as a National Scenic Byway. [1]

Lower Wisconsin River Road

Wisconsin Scenic Byway marker.svg

Lower Wisconsin River Road

LocationNear LodiPrairie du Chien
Length100 mi [2]  (160 km)
The Lower Wisconsin River Road in Wauzeka Wauzeka Wisconsin WIS60.jpg
The Lower Wisconsin River Road in Wauzeka

The Lower Wisconsin River Road is a 100-mile-long (160 km) segment along WIS 60. Highlights of the route include Frank Lloyd Wright's buildings Taliesin (his summer home) and House on the Rock along with several battlefields for the Black Hawk War. [2]

Nicolet–Wolf River Scenic Byway

Wisconsin Scenic Byway marker.svg

Nicolet–Wolf River Scenic Byway

Location Forest, Langlade, Oneida and Vilas counties
Length145 mi [7]  (233 km)
ExistedAugust 22, 2017 [7] –present

The Nicolet–Wolf River Scenic Byway is a 145-mile-long (233 km) byway connecting the Nicolet National Forest with the Wolf River, a National Scenic River in Forest, Langlade, Oneida and Vilas counties. It follows WIS 55, WIS 32, WIS 52 and WIS 70. [7]

Wisconsin Great River Road

Wisconsin Scenic Byway marker.svg GreatRiverRoad.svg

Wisconsin Great River Road

Location KielerPrescott
Length250 mi [2]  (400 km)
Great River Road at Marshland MarshlandWisconsinSignWIS54.jpg
Great River Road at Marshland

The Wisconsin Great River Road consists of 250 miles (400 km) of highway along the Mississippi River on the Great River Road. It is the only All American Road designated in the state. [2] [1]

Wisconsin Lake Superior Byway

Wisconsin Scenic Byway marker.svg Lake Superior Circle Tour.svg

Wisconsin Lake Superior Byway

LocationNear Ashland
Wisconsin Lake Superior Byway at Cornucopia Cornucopia Wisconsin Sign WIS13.jpg
Wisconsin Lake Superior Byway at Cornucopia

The Wisconsin Lake Superior Byway is a 70-mile (110 km) segment of WIS 13 and the Lake Superior Circle Tour near the coast of Lake Superior through fishing towns. [2] Highlights include the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation. [2] In February 2021, the byway was designated as a National Scenic Byway. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great River Road</span> Highway designation

The Great River Road is a collection of state and local roads that follow the course of the Mississippi River through ten states of the United States. They are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. It formerly extended north into Canada, serving the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. The road is designated as both a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road in several states along the route.

A Pure Michigan Byway is the designation for a segment of the State Trunkline Highway System in the US state of Michigan that is a "scenic, recreational, or historic route that is representative of Michigan's natural and cultural heritage." The designation was created with the name Michigan Heritage Route by the state legislature on June 22, 1993, and since then six historic, seven recreational and seven scenic byways have been designated by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and another two have been proposed. These byways have been designated in both the Upper and Lower peninsulas of the state. The current name was adopted on December 30, 2014, and it references the Pure Michigan tourism marketing campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Scenic Byway</span> United States category of road

A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often less-traveled roads and promote tourism and economic development. The National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) is administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The Mount Evans Scenic Byway is a 49-mile (79 km) National Forest Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Clear Creek and Jefferson counties, Colorado, United States. The byway ascends to 14,140 feet (4,310 m) of elevation near the 14,271-foot (4,350 m) summit of Mount Evans, making it the highest paved road in North America The byway visits Echo Lake Park, the Mount Goliath Natural Area, the Dos Chappell Nature Center, and Summit Lake Park on its way to the summit. A fee is charged to travel State Highway 5 to the summit and vehicles over 30 feet (9.1 m) long are not allowed, although they are allowed on State Highway 103 which reaches its highest elevation of 11,020 feet (3,359 m) at Juniper Pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Highway 42</span> Highway in Wisconsin

State Trunk Highway 42 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs for 135 miles (217 km) north–south in northeast Wisconsin from Sheboygan to the ferry dock in Northport. Much of the highway is part of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour from the eastern junction with U.S. Highway 10 (US 10) in Manitowoc to its junction with WIS 57 in Sister Bay. WIS 42 parallels I-43 from Sheboygan to Manitowoc, and parallels WIS 57 throughout much of the route, particularly from Manitowoc to Sturgeon Bay, meeting the northern terminus of WIS 57 in Sister Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Highway 57</span> State highway in Wisconsin, United States

Wisconsin Highway 57 is a 191.82-mile-long (308.70 km) state highway in Wisconsin, United States. It runs from its southern terminus at Wisconsin Highway 59 in Milwaukee to its northern terminus at Wisconsin Highway 42 in Sister Bay. Much of WIS 57 parallels Interstate 43 (I-43) and WIS 42, particularly from Saukville to its northern terminus in Sister Bay. The highway is concurrent with I-43 for 12 miles (19 km) in Ozaukee County. Like most Wisconsin state highways, WIS 57 is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaway Trail</span>

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail, formerly named and commonly known as the Seaway Trail, is a 518-mile (834 km) National Scenic Byway in the northeastern United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in Pennsylvania. The trail consists of a series of designated roads and highways that travel along the Saint Lawrence Seaway—specifically, Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the Saint Lawrence River. It begins at the Ohio state line in rural Erie County, Pennsylvania, and travels through several cities and villages before ending at the Seaway International Bridge northeast of the village of Massena in St. Lawrence County, New York. It is maintained by the non-profit Seaway Trail, Inc.

The Rustic Road system is a system of Wisconsin scenic roads. They differ from the main trunkline highway system in that they are not meant to be major through routes, but lightly traveled local access, and are to meet minimum standards for natural features. Rustic roads have lower speed limits than those on other highway systems. Each route is marked by brown and yellow signs, with the route number on a small placard below the sign. The letter "R" prefix is followed by the number designation. Wisconsin is the only state to have a system of rustic roads. Wisconsin has a separate system of scenic byways following the development of a national system in the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway</span> Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway

The Lariat Loop National Scenic and Historic Byway is a National Scenic Byway and a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Jefferson County, Colorado, USA. The byway is a 40-mile (64 km) loop in the Front Range foothills west of Denver through Golden, Lookout Mountain Park, Genesee Park, Evergreen, Morrison, Red Rocks Park, and Dinosaur Ridge. The Lariat Loop connects to the Mount Evans Scenic Byway at Bergen Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowley's Ridge Parkway</span>

Crowley's Ridge Parkway is a 212.0-mile-long (341.2 km) National Scenic Byway in northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel along Crowley's Ridge in the United States. Motorists can access the parkway from US Route 49 (US 49) at its southern terminus near the Helena Bridge over the Mississippi River outside Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, or from Missouri Route 25 (Route 25) near Kennett, Missouri. The parkway runs along Crowley's Ridge, a unique geological formation, and also parts of the St. Francis National Forest, the Mississippi River and the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Along the route are many National Register of Historic Places properties, Civil War battlefields, parks, and other archeological and culturally significant points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trail of the Ancients</span> National Scenic Byways in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, United States

The Trail of the Ancients is a collection of National Scenic Byways located in the U.S. Four Corners states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. These byways comprise:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Road National Scenic Byway</span> National Scenic Byway and National Forest Scenic Byway in Iosco County, Michigan, United States

The River Road National Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway and National Forest Scenic Byway in the US state of Michigan. This 23+12-mile-long (37.8 km) byway follows M-65 and River Road; it extends eastward into the Huron National Forest and ends in the historic community of Oscoda near Lake Huron. The road parallels the historic Au Sable River which has historically been a major transportation route for floating Michigan's giant white pine from the forest to the saw mill towns on Lake Huron. Along its course, the roadway offers access to several recreational areas as well as the local scenery. The section of the River Road that follows M-65 was added to the State Trunkline Highway System in the 1930s. The River Road was given National Forest Scenic Byway status in 1988, and National Scenic Byway status in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System</span>

The Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System is the state highway system of the U.S. state of Wisconsin, including Wisconsin's segments of the Interstate Highway System and the United States Numbered Highway System, in addition to its other state trunk highways. These separate types of highways are respectively designated with an I-, US, or STH- prefix. The system also includes minor roads designated as Scenic Byways, four routes intended to promote tourism to scenic and historic areas of the state; and as Rustic Roads, lightly-traveled and often unpaved local roads which the state has deemed worthy of preservation and protection. The state highway system, altogether totaling 11,753 miles (18,915 km) across all of Wisconsin's 72 counties, is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway</span>

The High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway is a 127-mile-long (204 km) scenic highway in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs through the state's high desert country from the town of Burns to the unincorporated community of Fields. It was designated as an Oregon Scenic Byway in 2003. The highway is maintained by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). There are a number of points of interest along the route including several that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The South Platte River Trail Scenic and Historic Byway is a 19-mile (31 km) Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Sedgwick County, Colorado, USA. The byway follows the historic trails used during westward expansion. The route, which includes County Road 28 (CR 28) and U.S. Highway 138 (US 138), connects Ovid and Julesburg and encircles the South Platte River. It was designated a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway in 1991.

Minnesota Scenic Byways are a system of roads in the U.S. state of Minnesota which pass through areas of scenic, cultural, or recreational significance. There are currently 22 scenic byways in the system with a total length of 2,948 miles (4,744 km). Eight of these byways are also designated as National Scenic Byways, and the North Shore Scenic Drive is further designated as an All-American Road.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Willems, Devin (February 16, 2021). "Door County route among three Wisconsin routes that earn national designations". WeAreGreenBay.com. Green Bay, Wisconsin: WFRV-TV. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "Wisconsin Scenic Byways" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Bergin, Mary (September–October 2010). "Three Fall Drives in Wisconsin". Wisconsin Trails. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  4. Wisconsin Department of Tourism. "Door County Coastal Byway". Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  5. Door County. "Door County Coastal Byway". Door County. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  6. Beers, Darryl R. (2013). "Door County Coastal Byway". Country. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "Nicolet–Wolf River Scenic Byway Becomes Fifth Scenic Byway in the State". Antigo Times. August 22, 2017. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.