Apple Blossom Scenic Byway is a biker heaven. Picturesque bluffs and a quiet country road make biking in this region some of the best-mountain and road biking in the area. From atop the bluffs, you can smell the apple blossoms blooming in the spring and view the beautiful river valley below. The steep bluffs attract athletes from around the country that are looking for a challenge. They provide great training for those training for races or to simply stay in shape. In fact, the only American to win the Tour de France trained on these bluffs.
The La Crescent area has a variety of trails you can ride, both “on road” and state park systems. The newest trail in La Crescent is the Wagon Wheel Trail, offering an opportunity to bike through the backwaters of the Mississippi River. The Wagon Wheel Trail is historically named because early settlers came from the east over the river at this site. It’s now a multi-use recreational trail that in part runs adjacent to the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. This trail is paved and gravel, depending on which area is on the National Historic Register. Waterfowl and varied floral array are in abundance on this trail.
Riding Highway 16 south to Houston takes bikers to the Root River trail-head at the Houston Nature Center. The Root River Trail is southeast Minnesota’s paved trail network meandering along the Root River amid 300-foot bluffs. This 60- mile trail attracts thousands of outdoor enthusiasts each season.
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Hiking
The La Crescent area is a good place for hiking whether you seek flat areas like Shore Acres beside the Mississippi River or steep hills and bluffs. There is something here for everyone. Two walking and biking tour maps are available at City Hall and the Library on Main Street, the Chamber of Commerce office at 111 S Walnut Street, and at the La Crescent Historical Museum located at 328 S 3rd Street.
Hiking paths are available at all parks in the city, however Vetsch Park and Eagles Bluff Park offer spectacular hiking adventures with beautiful views of the Mississippi River Valley. Access to Eagles Bluff park is available at the trail-head located on Red Apple Drive. Access to Vetsch Park is at the west end of North Second Street,
