Rustic Road & Minocqua Fall Color Tours

A jaunt along Rustic Road 58, one of three such state-certified routes in the area, meanders through hardwood and fragrant pine forests, crosses two burbling creeks, one with two beaver lodges, then rolls through cedar lowlands. Rustic Road 60, north of Arbor Vitae, winds through a slice of the Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest, where you're bound to spot a plethora of wildlife, plus leads you past the Minocqua area's numerous sparkling, blue lakes.

In the fall, capture the breathtaking beauty of the bright reds, vivid yellows and warm oranges reflecting off the sparkling water of area lakes, arching over our three local state-certified rustic roads or along the hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails.

Generally, peak colors can be seen between the last two weeks of September to the first two weeks of October. Make plans to stay in the area while visiting the local Colorama celebrations, and you will be sure to experience the glory of the Northwoods in fall.

Stop by the Visitors Center for information about fall color tours, as well as trail and area maps.

Colorama

Tours

Grab a thermos of hot apple cider, a cozy sweater and take a drive-through nature's stunning fall fanfare.

Colorama Tour #1

This tour is approximately 13 miles long. Begin at Visitors Center and head north on Highway 51 to Highway 70 West turn left at stoplight and head down Hwy 70 West approximately 5 miles. Tour begins at highway 70 West at junction of MINCH Drive west and KILAWEE Road (approx. 5...

Colorama Tour #2

MINOCQUA COLORAMA TOUR #2 This tour is approximately 18 miles long. Begin at the Visitors Center and head north on Highway 51 to Highway 70 West turn left. Head down Highway 70 West approximately 5 miles. Tour begins at Highway 70 west at junction of MINCH Drive, west and...

Colorama Tour #3

MINOCQUA COLORAMA TOUR #3 This tour is approximately 15 miles. Begin at the Visitors Center and head north on Highway 51 about 1/4 of a mile and turn right onto Country Club Rd. (By Century 21) Wooded residential section. Keep right on COUNTRY CLUB Road past BRINKLAND....

Rustic

Roads

Rustic Roads

These rustic roads are a beautiful drive year-round, but the fall colors really make these rustic routes extra majestic.

Rustic Road 58

Fall in the Forest in Northern Wisconsin With approximately 9.6 miles of paved roadway, R-58 skirts many scenic Northwood’s lakes as it winds through scenic pine and hardwood forests. This route also crosses a railroad bed that was used in the 1800's as a mainline to Minocqua, which has now been converted to the Bearskin State Trail for hiking and biking.

Where Blue Lake Road intersects the Tomahawk River, you'll find an ideal spot to launch a canoe or kayak. The Northwood's beauty continues along Mercer Lake Road as it travels across two small creeks (one of which is home to two beaver lodges) and through cedar lowlands before intersecting with Hwy. 70.

Directions: Travel north on U.S. Hwy 51, just past Hazelhurst, and turn west onto Blue Lake Road. Blue Lake Road will turn into Mercer Lake Road, which will travel north to intersect Hwy. 70.

Click Here For Driving Directions

Rustic Road 59

Lakeside Fall Colors With a narrow gravel road bed that is much less traveled than Blue Lake Road, R-59 offers frequent glimpses of native wildlife, hidden flashes of early homesteading cabins and great views of shady, tall pines and colorful hardwoods. This trip is approximately 4.5 miles long.

Directions: Travel north on U.S. Hwy. 51, just past Hazelhurst. Turn west onto Blue Lake Road. Turn north onto Sutton Road (gravel). Sutton turns into Camp Pinemere Road, which intersects Hwy 70.

Click Here For Driving Directions

Rustic Road 60

Fall Colors by the Lake This winding route travels through the Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest. Canopies of coniferous and hardwood trees enhance the scenic beauty of R-60 as it passes near old logging camp sites, hiking trails and an old saw mill located in Star Lake. The entire stretch of this scenic drive traverses heavily wooded areas abundant with wildlife. R-60 offers frequent scenic vistas of numerous, clear Northwoods lakes and dense forestland.

Directions: Travel north on U.S. Hwy. 51, past Woodruff to County Road N. Travel east on County Road N to County Road K (Star Lake).

Click Here For Driving Directions

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Rustic Road & Minocqua Fall Color Tours