Scenic routes  › Minnesota

Apple Blossom Drive Scenic Byway

Winding its way through apple orchards that blanket the hillsides, this byway follows Highway 29 from La Crescent, Dakota, and Nodine. In springtime, the apple blossoms fill the air with flowery fragrance and picturesque views overlooking the Mississippi River. The fall foliage is just as scenic! Stop at the roadside stands for apples, cider, Indian corn, and pumpkins. Overlooking dazzling expansive views of the Mississippi River Valley, the 17-mile loop drive of the Apple Blossom Scenic Byway travels the magnificent bluff landscape of southern Minnesota. The loop route begins and ends at the Great River Road along the Mississippi River and the road winds its way through the massive apple orchards that blanket the hillsides. The biggest town on the Byway, La Crescent, claims to be the Apple Capital of Minnesota. The first orchards planted here in the 1850s grew and grew to spread out over the river bluffs. In spring, the route is filled with the flowery fragrance and picturesque views of thousands of apple blossoms. In the fall, while enjoying the area’s fall colors, you can pick apples and enjoy apple cider, along with Indian corn and pumpkins. As you climb a steep ascent at the beginning of the Byway and take several sharp turns in the road, you’ll find yourself on the top of the bluffs near pull-offs that offer some of the most magnificent vistas in the region. No matter the season, the scenic beauty is unsurpassed.

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