Northern Iowa River Run: Iowa Motorcycle Roads and Rides

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Northern Iowa River Run

State: Iowa

Submitted By: Anonymous

Date Submitted: Mar 00

Motorcycle Type: 76 Honda 750Four

Motorcycle Road Length: 62 Miles

Photo contributed by visitors in Aug 09: "Overlooking the city of Dubuque IA from 'Fenelon Place Elevator'."

Motorcycle Road 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.

Photo contributed by visitors in Mar 10: "Scenic look out in Guttenberg IA."

Motorcycle Road Quality:

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.

Motorcycle Roadside Amenities:

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.

Directions:

Start your drive in the town of Marquette, Iowa. Take route 17 south to the town of McGregor and then get on route 340 south. This road later changes names to route X56 and will run into route 52 which you want to take south until you approach Millville and get on 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.

Additional Information:

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather.

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Rob - 1996 Harley-Davidson

Posted 987 days ago

Great stretch of road! The roads to the north and south along the river are just as nice! A good day trip!!!