Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway in Minnesota. Within Minnesota it covers roughly 85 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
Historic Bluff Country is an 88-mile National Scenic Byway through southeastern Minnesota's Driftless Area, the one part of the state the last ice age's glaciers missed. Running east on Route 16 from Dexter, at Interstate 90, to the Mississippi River, the byway was designated a National Scenic Byway in 2002 for its karst landscape of towering limestone bluffs, sinkholes, and the trout-filled Root River, all carved by water erosion rather than glacial scouring. The route passes through small towns known for antique shops and Amish tours, along with Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, where naturalists lead cave tours and costumed interpreters recreate life in an 1899 village. Canoeing, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and cycling are all popular along the Root and Mississippi Rivers, and the drive changes character with the seasons, from spring wildflowers to brilliant fall color on the bluffs. It's one of Minnesota's most geologically distinctive scenic byways.
- 88 miles, Dexter to the Mississippi River
- National Scenic Byway since 2002
- Driftless Area karst limestone bluffs
- Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park
- Root River trout fishing & canoeing
Designated for its scenic qualities
Plan a drive on Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway → Drive this route in Road SortiesTurn-by-turn on iPhone · App Store
Places to stop along Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park
Minnesota's longest cave, open for guided tours in season, plus a restored 1800s village where costumed staff run the general store.
WebsiteLanesboro
A brick river town settled in 1856, now known for bed-and-breakfasts, theater, and its spot on the Root River Trail.
WebsiteRoot River State Trail
A paved, mostly level trail of about 42 miles on an old rail bed through limestone bluffs and small towns, popular for biking.
Website
Where to Stay along Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
No campgrounds are listed close to Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway yet, but there are rooms near the route.
Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.
Photos of Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
What is a National Scenic Byway?
National Scenic Byways are roads recognized at the federal level for at least one outstanding quality — scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational — that gives travelers a reason to seek them out rather than just pass through.