Great River Bluffs and the Apple Blossom Drive

Most of Minnesota was flattened and smoothed by the great ice sheets of the last ice age, but this southeastern corner was spared. Geologists call it the Driftless Area, because it lacks the drift, the rock and soil, that glaciers leave behind. Without that flattening, ancient rivers carved the land into steep bluffs, deep valleys, and hidden coulees.

The result is a landscape of high wooded ridges and sharp drops to the Mississippi, with rare pockets of prairie clinging to the sunniest, driest slopes. It is a place that feels closer to the hills of Appalachia than to the flat farmland most people picture when they think of Minnesota.

The river below is the upper Mississippi, and this valley has been home to Native peoples for thousands of years, most recently the Dakota, whose homeland this is, and who knew the river long before the towns rose along it. The name Minnesota itself comes from the Dakota Mni Sota Makoce, the land where the waters reflect the clouds.

The fur trade, then steamboats, then railroads brought waves of newcomers to the valley, and towns like Winona grew as river ports shipping grain and lumber. From the bluff-top overlooks you can trace that whole story in the river channels, islands, and settlements laid out below.

The Apple Blossom Drive is named for the fruit country it passes through, a stretch of hillside orchards that burst into pink and white blossom in spring and hang heavy with apples in the fall. The road winds along the ridge tops with the river valley opening below, one of the most scenic short drives in the state.

It is a slow road, meant for savoring rather than speeding through, with pullouts and views around many bends. Spring blossom time and autumn color are the showpiece seasons, when the orchards and the surrounding bluffs are at their most striking.

The park's mix of forest, prairie, and river bluff supports a rich range of life. White-tailed deer and wild turkey move through the woods, and the bluffs are prime country for watching migrating hawks and eagles ride the updrafts along the river corridor, one of the great flyways of the continent.

Spring brings wildflowers and orchard bloom, summer deep green shade on the ridge trails, and fall a blaze of color across the bluffs that draws visitors from far around. Winter is quiet and open, the bare hills revealing the shape of the land and long views down the frozen river valley.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Great River Bluffs State Park and the Apple Blossom Drive, in the far southeastern corner of Minnesota near La Crescent and Winona, offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the state's driftless bluff country along the Mississippi River. The state park sits atop towering bluffs with breathtaking overlooks of the Mississippi River valley hundreds of feet below, while the nearby Apple Blossom Scenic Drive winds through orchard country and bluff-top vistas, especially beautiful when the apple trees bloom in spring. Together they showcase the region's dramatic river-and-bluff landscape. With their stunning overlooks and scenic drive, Great River Bluffs and the Apple Blossom Drive offer a beautiful destination in southeastern Minnesota.

You can take in breathtaking overlooks of the Mississippi River valley from atop the towering bluffs at Great River Bluffs State Park, hike the park's trails, camp, and picnic, and drive the scenic Apple Blossom Drive through orchard country and bluff-top vistas, especially lovely when the apple blossoms bloom in spring or the bluffs turn color in fall. The overlooks, the trails, and the scenic drive are highlights. With their spectacular river views, hiking, and scenic driving, Great River Bluffs and the Apple Blossom Drive offer a rewarding experience in southeastern Minnesota's bluff country.

Spring is famous for the Apple Blossom Drive when the orchards burst into bloom, typically in early May, a beautiful and popular time, while fall brings spectacular color to the bluffs, a favorite for the overlooks and drive, and summer offers lush greenery and pleasant hiking. Each season has its charm. Checking bloom timing for the apple blossoms is wise, as it varies. For the apple blossoms aim for spring, and for brilliant color, fall, at Great River Bluffs and the Apple Blossom Drive in southeastern Minnesota.

The overlooks sit atop high bluffs with steep drop-offs, so stay on marked trails and at designated overlooks, keep back from the edges, and watch children closely, as falls from the bluffs could be serious. Wear sturdy shoes on the trails, bring water, and watch for ticks in the warm months. On the scenic drive, mind the winding roads and pull off only at safe spots to enjoy views. Staying back from the bluff edges and driving carefully ensure a safe visit to Great River Bluffs and the Apple Blossom Drive in southeastern Minnesota.

Great River Bluffs and the Apple Blossom Drive are in the far southeastern corner of Minnesota near La Crescent and Winona along the Mississippi River, within reach of the Root River State Trail, Historic Forestville, Mystery Cave, and the bluff-country towns of the region. That makes Great River Bluffs and the Apple Blossom Drive a beautiful stop to combine with the Root River State Trail and the other attractions of southeastern Minnesota's bluff country on a visit to the state.