Follow the panoramic Root River Valley to the Mississippi River. The scenery along the western end of the Bluff Country Scenic Byway showcases Minnesota's rich and rolling farmland, while the eastern part of the route winds toward the Great River Road along a beautiful trout stream and canoe route through spectacular tree-covered bluffs featuring limestone palisades and rich hardwoods.
This valley was untouched by the glaciers and has weathered gradually over time to create a magnificent pastoral setting dotted with small towns, quaint and historic lodgings, and a recreational bike and hiking trail.
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Archaeological Qualities of the Bluff Country Scenic Byway
The Huta Wakpa and the Cahheomonah people who were native to the Driftless Area along the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway realized its virtues as they found good hunting ground and resources for making tools. As a result, many Native American sites were once located all along the byway.
Now, many of these sites have been lost by time and nature. Still in existence is the Grand Meadow Quarry Site. This natural bed of chert provided materials for Native American arrowheads and tools for 10,000 years. Archaeological interpretation for visitors is limited to stories of the past and the occasional piece of chert that might be discovered in the forest.
Cultural Qualities of the Bluff Country Scenic Byway
Among the small Minnesota communities of the Historic Bluff area, a trail to the past defines today's cultures. Some of these cultures, such as the Old Order Amish population, have changed little since first settling here. Others have evolved and yet keep a firm hold on their heritage. The descendants of Norwegians and Germans still celebrate many of the same events that their ancestors did 150 years ago.
Little is left, however, of the Native American culture that once dominated the lands along the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway. At one time, the Winnebago and the Dakota developed celebrations and rituals around the Root River. The few nations that survive appreciate cultural sites and sacred places in Bluff Country, and archaeological sites provide a look at places that were important to these cultures.
The settlers who built the towns in Bluff Country were industrious. Towns flourished, and their downtown sections contained splendid architecture that can be observed today. The attitude of growth amid small-town life is still present in byway towns.
Meanwhile, the past is untouched in Amish communities, where people live without electricity, automobiles, and many of the cultural ideals that most Americans hold. Amish buggies can be seen near Harmony, Preston, and Lanesboro. Furniture created by Amish craftspeople can be found at shops in byway towns.
Historical Qualities of the Bluff Country Scenic Byway
When southeastern Minnesota was settled, little towns sprang up as the centers of agricultural trade and social activity. Farmers congregated to sell their crops and buy needed supplies, while grain was stored in silos or grain elevators such as the one in Preston that once belonged to the Milwaukee Elevator Company. This grain elevator is now a rest stop for travelers along the Root River Trail.
The towns profited from agricultural success, and now many of them display historic districts and buildings with elaborate architecture. Many of the buildings, including churches, libraries, and banks, are available to travelers as they explore history on the byway.
As a result of a successful farming industry, mills began to appear in Bluff Country. In Lanesboro, a dam on the river provided power for three flour mills. The commercial district thrived there from the 1860s through the 1920s, and visitors today can tour these brick buildings and the shops and restaurants inside them.
Towns along the byway also benefited from the coming of the railroad. The entire town of Wykoff was platted and settled when the railroad passed through. The old Southern Minnesota Depot in Rushford now serves as a trail center. When the railroad left, the tracks lay in disrepair for many years until they were converted to the Root River Trail.
Natural Qualities of the Bluff Country Scenic Byway
Deep river valleys, sinkholes, caves, and bluffs are all natural features of the Bluff Country Scenic Byway that travelers will want to explore. The Root River flows along the byway, calling to explorers from a tree-lined bank. The route celebrates its natural qualities with trails, parks, and places to stop and learn more about byway surroundings.
Unique habitats are found throughout the area. Labeled as Scientific and Natural Areas, these places can support unusual plant and animal species because natural features of the land remained unchanged while the rest of the state was changed by glaciers.
The caves and underground streams along the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway are a result of karst terrain, which is created when rainwater is absorbed into the ground to dissolve the calcite limestone beneath the ground. As this thick layer of limestone weakens, sinkholes form. Streams that continue to flow through the dissolved limestone create caves and caverns.
The Mystery Cave and Niagara Cave are two places where you can see the results of a few streams and a little rainwater. You may also want a good look at a sinkhole. The nearby city of Fountain is known as the Sinkhole Capital of the United States.
If you'd like to get out of the caves and enjoy nature above ground, the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway offers forests, rivers, and bluffs. The Root River and the Richard J. Dorer Memorial State Forest provide places to enjoy the greenery of trees and the sunlight as it sparkles on moving water.
Maple, oak, and birch create a setting for bird-watching, and in the fall, their colors draw audiences from miles around. As the Root River flows along the byway and separates into two branches, canoe access points allow you to get a closer look.
Recreational Qualities of the Bluff Country Scenic Byway
The forests, the trails, and the river are the central places for recreation on the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway. And because most of the byway goes through these places, recreation is never far away. State parks and natural areas provide places for hiking, camping, and exploring. With two caves within the byway vicinity, spelunking is a skill that every traveler will want to develop.
Most travelers like to explore places with unique names and histories. The Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park has both. Not only do visitors have the opportunity to go spelunking in the Mystery Cave, but they also are able to explore the site of one of Minnesota's oldest communities, Forestville.
Two state trails on the byway are the perfect place for bikers, hikers, and, in wintertime, cross-country skiers. The Root River State Trail and the Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail connect to provide miles of scenic trail for visitors to enjoy. Along the way, signs give information about the surrounding area.
Perhaps the most inviting trail on the byway is one made of water. The Root River is perfect for an afternoon or a day in a canoe. The Root River is not just a waterway, but also home to a population of trout. Anglers enjoy the wooded atmosphere of the Root River as they try to tempt a prize-winning fish. The Root River is central to many of the activities along the byway, but even if you stray from the riverside, you'll be sure to find something to do.
Find more useful information related to Minnesota's Bluff Country Scenic Byway:
- Minnesota Scenic Drives: The Bluff Country Scenic Byway is just one of the scenic byways in Minnesota. Check out the others.
- Preston, Spring Valley: Find out what there is to do in these cities along the Bluff Country Scenic Drive.
- Scenic Drives: Are you interested in scenic drives beyond Minnesota? Here are more than 100 scenic drives throughout the United States.
- How to Drive Economically: Fuel economy is a major concern when you're on a driving trip. Learn how to get better gas mileage.
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