Northern Iowa River Run

Motorcycle Route Author

By Guest (0 McR Points) on Feb 29, 2000

Rider Reviews

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Planefella

4 McR Points

July 16, 2016

One of the most gorgeous rides anywhere. For an…

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nihao76

21 McR Points

June 4, 2015

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Written Directions

Start your drive in the town of Marquette, Iowa. Take route 18 south to the town of McGregor and then get on route 340 south. This road later changes names to route County Route 56 and will run into route 52 (Near Guttenburg) which you want to take south until you approach Millville and get on County Hwy C9Y continuing south. Stay on this through N. Buena Vista, Balltown and Sherrill. Then when you get to route 52, take that south into Dubuque.

Scenery

This route takes you through some picture perfect little dairy and agriculture farms and along side the Mississippi River. You will see old river towns and many of the boats and barges that travel along the old Mississippi. Along the way you will travel next to some giant bluffs that give you a great view of the river valley.

Drive Enjoyment

You couldn't ask for a better motorcycle road in the Midwest. This road continually takes you up and down along a collection of bluffs that travel along side the Mississippi river. At some points you will have some awesome cliff-side driving that will give you a birds-eye view of the river. You have a good number of twists and turns along the way to keep you smiling when you're not smiling about the scenery.

Tourism Opportunities

Route amenities described from while traveling from north to south. Effigy Mounds National Monument, off of 76 just north of Marquette, there are 200 preserved Indian mounds that are about 2500 years old. The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Visitor Center educates you on the 200,000 acre wildlife preserve. This preserve hugs the Mississippi from as far north as Wabasha Minnesota to as far south as Rock Island Illinois. Town of McGregor: Offers a Main Street lined with shops and inns and is the home of the very first Ringling Brothers Circus which began shows in McGregor as early as the 1870s. Stop at Pikes Peak State Park for great views of the meeting of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. In the town of Guttenberg you will be able to take a walking tour and see the town's impressive collection of limestone buildings built in the middle of the 19th century. Also the River Front Park offers places to picnic and enjoy the view of the passing Mississippi River. There is also an observation platform that gives you a good look at 'Lock and Dam No. 10.' Just after you leave town there will be a scenic overlook perched on top of a bluff. In the town of North Buena Vista you'll see some impressive buildings constructed in a manner that allows them to cling to the side of limestone bluffs. Dubuque, Iowa's oldest town, has become a modern small city with plenty of hotels and restaurants to offer travelers. You may want to complete your trip with a visit to the Mississippi River Museum.