There’s almost no end to the beautiful spots you can discover in Wisconsin. The state is home to sweeping Lake Michigan shores, vast wild wetlands, rugged limestone bluffs, and plenty of postcard-worthy farmland. It’s easy to take in a big swath of this natural beauty with a Wisconsin road trip. Gas up your car – here’s a scenic road trip that will help anyone fall in love with the beautiful places in Wisconsin. Before you head out to these scenic drives in Wisconsin, make sure to get prepared with our Road Trip Essentials Packing List & Guide.

The Route
Google
The drive covers about 60 miles and takes about an hour and a half to complete, although you’ll want to allow a half-day or more to take in the sights. See a Google Map of the route.
1. Lion’s Den Gorge, Ozaukee County
511 High Bluff Dr, Grafton, WI 53024, USA
Google / Kevin Kellar
We’ll start this road trip on the shores of Lake Michigan. Located just south of the charming city of Port Washington, Lion’s Den Gorge is considered an "ecological jewel" within the Ozaukee County park system.
Google / Enoch Rasmussen
The gorge represents one of the last stretches of undeveloped bluff land along the Lake Michigan shoreline in this region. The 100-foot bluffs offer tremendous views, high above a rocky beach.

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2 . Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit, Washington County
Kewaskum, WI 53040, USA
Google / Sweet Calming
Heading inland, this road trip will pass through some scenic farm country, before heading into an iconic state forest. Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit is part of a 56,000-acre state forest that follows the path of the last glacier. The topography is rugged and unique and this section offers some nice hiking trails, as well as a pleasant swimming beach.
3. Dodge County Ledge Park
N7403 Park Rd, Horicon, WI 53032, USA
Google / Nick Thierer
This scenic park is located right on a rock ledge called the Niagara Escarpment. It’s a geologic feature that extends all the way to Niagara Falls. Here, the park offers a look at small caves and rock formations.
4. Horicon Marsh, Horicon
W4279 Headquarters Rd, Mayville, WI 53050, USA
Google / Melissa Mularski
This incredible marsh sees vast numbers of migratory birds pass through every year. The marsh is a silted-up glacial lake and it’s the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.
5. Edgewater Park, Beaver Dam
Beaver Dam, WI 53916, USA
Google / Christian Francois
We’ll finish this road trip at a destination that’s so common in Wisconsin, it could almost be taken for granted – an inland lake. Wisconsin has more than 11,000 lakes – this lake is called Beaver Dam Lake and Edgewater Park on the lake’s east shore is a pleasant place to end the drive.

Are you in love yet? This road trip just scratches the surface of Wisconsin’s natural beauty. Here are some more unforgettable road trips for your Wisconsin bucket list.

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More to Explore

Beautiful Places In Wisconsin

William Suphan | December 02, 2022

What are some natural wonders in Wisconsin?

Natural wonders in Wisconsin include:

  • Cave of the Mounds. These caves are a National Natural Landmark in Blue Mounds that are visited by over 100,000 people each year.
  • Devils Lake State Park. The otherworldly rock formations in this park near Baraboo have names like Devils Doorway and Balanced Rock.
  • Big Manitou Falls. These falls in Pattison State Park are 165 feet tall, which is two feet shorter than Niagara Falls. 
  • Interstate State Park. This is the oldest state park in Wisconsin and contains the beautiful Dalles of the St. Croix River. 

Learn more about these and other natural wonders in Wisconsin.  

What are the most beautiful nature preserves in Wisconsin?

The most beautiful nature preserves in Wisconsin are:

  • Heckrodt Wetland Reserve. This is a 76-acre preserve in Menasha with thick forests, marshes, wetlands, prairies, and other habitats.
  • Newell and Ann Meyer Nature Preserve. Located in East Troy, these 200 acres are filled with oak woodlands, savannahs, wetlands, and prairies.
  • Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve. The bluffs here are up to 100 feet tall and line the shore of Lake Michigan.
  • Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve. This preserve spans over 1,500 acres near Two Rivers and is comprised of conifer forests, wetlands, and prairies.

Discover more about these and several more of the most beautiful nature preserves in Wisconsin. 

What are the best state parks in Wisconsin?

These are some of the best state parks in Wisconsin:

  • Council Grounds State Park. Located near Merrill, this little park is only 509 acres but has a beautiful lake and many campsites.
  • Peninsula State Park. There are eight miles of shoreline here and over 400 campsites. Locals come here for hiking, cycling, and more.
  • Rib Mountain State Park. This lovely area features many hiking trails and has gorgeous views from its valley overlooks.
  • Brunet Island State Park. This idyllic park rests on the corner of the Chippewa and Fisher Rivers and features many lagoons.

Find out more about these and a few more of the best state parks in Wisconsin. 

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