| Apple Blossom Scenic Drive |
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Distance:
19 miles Routing: Reckognition: State Comments: As the name implies, noted for passing through apple orchards, which blossom in the spring. Known by this name a long time before it became an official scenic byway |
| Avenue of Pines |
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Distance:
46 miles Routing: MN 46 Reckognition: State, National Forest Service Comments: Also a national forest scenic byway and signed with the standard marker. According to a apocryphal story, MN 46 got it's name because it was 46 miles long. I find that hard to believe because Minnesota has never been know for having specific rational for assigning numbers, and the number was assigned along with a hundred others at the great renumbering of '33. The name came from the red pines planted along the road in the 1930's. Scenery: Mixed aspen, birch, and younger pine trees on either end. In the middle, the red pines. Little sign of civilization except in Squaw Lake and on either end. |
| Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway |
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Distance
47 miles Routing: All of MN 38 Reckognition: State, National, National Forest Service Comments: Has been called Minnesota's most scenic highway. One of the oldest byways, and the most developed as far as promotion and interpretation. There are numerous numbered pulloffs referenced in a nice full color brochure. Also functions as a major logging road. I've seen a logo design that's "coloured in", but I don't know when or if it will appear on the signs. |
| Glacial Ridge Trail |
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Distance
220 miles Routing: Back roads in the Willmar & Alexandria area. Reckognition: State Comments: This is a good area of the state to view evidence of glacial activity such as lakes, drumlins, and eskers. The Glacial Ridge Trail is now also a scenic byway. Older signs are still common and are square without the "Scenic Byway" line at the bottom . |
| Grand Rounds Scenic Byway |
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Distance:
53 miles Routing: Various Minneapolis parkways Reckognition: State, National Comments: The only urban national scenic byway. Has distinctive mercury vapor streetlamps. Passes by Minnehaha Falls, Lake Calhoun, and other Minneapolis landmarks. A series of parkways traveling 3/4 of the way around the city, including all of the major lakes. Still a major gap in the northeastern section; plans to finish it have been talked about for decades. The northeast is a highly developed, unattractive industrial part of town, so don't expect anything soon. |
| Great River Road: Minnesota |
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Distance: Routing: Various state and local roads along the Mississippi River Reckognition: State, National Comments: As the name implies, the Great River Road (GRR) closely follows the Missisippi, the "Great River" from it's source to it's mouth. The original concept when it was first proposed was a parkway on new alignment, like the Natchez Trace, however it was instead routed on pre-existing roads. There are generally two Great River Roads: A national route, and a state route on the opposite side of the river. North of Prescott their is only the single national route. |
| Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway |
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Distance:
88 miles Routing: All of MN 16 Reckognition: State, National Comments: Former section of US 16. Eastern section follows the Root River Valley, a deep, V shaped valley in the unglaciated "driftless area". A popular bicycle trail and canoe route is also in the valley. The fine text on the sign reads:"Historic Bluff Country- Minnesota 16". Scenery: Western section: Rolling farmland. Eastern Section: Wooded bluffs and small tourist oriented towns. |
| Lake Country Scenic Byway |
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Distance
88 miles Routing: MN 34 east of Detroit Lakes, US 71 from MN 34 to Itasca Park Reckognition: State Comments: Near the Heartland state bicycle trail. The text on the bottom of the sign reads "Explore the Road to Itasca... and Beyond". Scenery: Mixed farms and decidous woods on the western end, more coniferous woods on the northern and eastern end. Passes by many lakes, with the usual cabins and resorts. |
| Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway |
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Distance
287 miles Routing: Trunk highways and back roads along the Minnesota River Reckognition: State, National Designated: State 1996, National 2002 Comments: A National Scenic Byway. Significant portions are gravel. Passes through or near 8 different state parks. Long term plans include a state trail near it. Scenery: Many farms mixed in with decidous woods along the river. |
| North Shore Scenic Drive |
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Distance
144 miles Routing: Duluth city streets, St. Louis County 61, MN 61 north of Two Harbors Reckognition: State, National All American Road, northern half also National Forest Service. Comments: Passes through beautiful areas, but north of Two Harbors it's function as a major thoroughfare seriously degrades the scenic qualities because of the heavy traffic and the design standards necessary for safety. County 61 section is the most like the road was in days gone by and has a 50mph speed limit. A new full color sign has been designed that is less abstract, but I've only seen one example in downtown Duluth. Scenery: Passes between the Sawtooth "Mountains" and the lake. Mixed coniferouis and decidous woods. A steady stream of resorts and tourist development on the south end; the northern end is much more natural. Mn/DOT has been moving the road back from the lake in recent years, so there are very few clear views of the lake. To see the lake, try Flood Bay State Wayside for an up close view, or Palisade Head or the Baptism River Rest Area for views on top of a cliff. |
| Otter Tail Scenic Byway |
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Distance:
150 miles Routing: Back roads in the Alexandria / Fergus Falls area Reckognition: State Comments: The county and the byway are named after Otter Tail lake. Scenery: Gently rolling terrain. Mixed lakes, decidous woods, resorts, and farms. In other words, stereotypical west-central Minnesota. |
| Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway |
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Distance:
48 miles Routing: Back roads north of Brainerd Reckognition: State Designated: 1998 Comments: Paul Bunyan was a lumberjack of tall tales in the northern US. In a major resort area. Originally thought up primarily to jusify paving the shoulders on County 16. The text at the bottom reads: "Crow Wing County". |
| Rushing Rapids Parkway |
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Distance:
9 miles Routing: MN 210 Reckognition: State Comments: Runs mostly through Jay Cooke State Park, and has a 30-40 mph speed limit. I like the basic design pf the marker. Very stylistic, but they should have used a more subdued color for the water so it doesn't look like toxic waste runoff. The water is brown colored due to tannic acid from trees, but not red! In the background you can see the signature suspension bridge in the park that's used by pedestrians. Rushing Rapids refers to the St. Louis River, which runs through the park and can even be whitewater rafted. Scenery: Rolling hills and coniferous forests. Trees come up very close to the road, which has numerous sharp turns. Occasional views of the river, but it's better to pull off at the main park entrance. |
| Scenic Highway |
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Distance:
28 miles Routing: Cass County 10 and Beltrami County 39 from US 2 to Blackduck. Reckognition: State, National Forest Service Comments: Kind of a shorter "Avenue of Pines" in the same general area and the same kind of scenery. Crosses the Mississippi, and passes the site of an old CCC camp which now has interpretive displays. |
| Shooting Star Scenic Byway |
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Distance:
26 miles Routing: MN 56 south of I-90 Reckognition: State Comments: Comments: The Shooting Star Bicycle Trail will soon parallel a portion of this road. Shooting Star is an endangered wildflower only found in the state along the road.. Scenery: Typical farms mixed in with occasional woods. Totally forgetable any time but when flowers blossom in June and July. |
| Skyline Parkway |
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Distance:
38 miles Routing: Duluth city street along the western fringe of the city Reckognition: State Designated: 1998 Comments: Used to have green center striping. Older markers were green on white. Starts at the southwestern end near Jay Cooke State Park as a gravel road, and continues to the northeastern edge of the city. Has been known by that name for many years before it was reckonized by the tourist council. Scenery: Hilly parkland in an mostly urban setting with striking aerial views of Duluth. |
| Superior National Forest Scenic Byway |
| Distance: Routing: County 110 and County 15 from Aurora to the Silver Bay Reckognition: State Comments: The newest byway, portions of which are just being completed. Signs feature a pine cone and branch. Connects a mining town on the Iron Range to a port town on the North Shore. Silver Bay was built in the 1950's as a company town for Reserve Mining Company, but has been devastated by the decline of that industry and hasn't sucessfully transitioned to tourism. |
| Veterans Evergreen Memorial Drive |
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Distance
50 miles Routing: MN 23 east of I-35 Reckognition: State General Comments: A scenic, esoteric alternate to I-35 to Duluth. Like the C. Elmer Anderson highway, billboards are prohibited by state law. Dedicated to the veterans of Carlton, Pine, and St. Louis counties. Passes by Jay Cooke State Park, as well as several waysides. Scenery: Mostly coniferous forest amid small hills. A few farms and several very small towns, and a short urban section in Duluth on the east end. |
| Waters of the Dancing Sky Scenic Byway |
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Distance
191 miles Routing: MN 11 from Karlstad to east of International Falls Comments: One of the longer scenic byways, and one of the most remote, the byway runs east and west just south of the Canadien Border in the northwestern part of the state. The name refers to the northern lights, and the sign shows the lights reflecting off a lake. Minnesota is the best place in the lower 48 to view them, since northeastern Minnesota is relatively close to the magnetic north pole, and has few artificial lights. A marker with coloured lights has been designed, but I don't know when or if it will appear in the field. |
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