Northwest Illinois turns about a week later than the driftless country north of it and holds colour into the last days of October. This drive links the two best canopies in the region — the Mississippi bluffs above Savanna and the hardwood-and-pine along the Rock River — with an orchard in between and dinner at the far end. Leave at eight; you will need all of it.
West to east, roughly following Route 64 and then Route 2. Peak colour is usually mid to late October, and the overlooks are best in the first and last two hours of light.
Mississippi Palisades State Park
Start at the top of the bluffs while the river valley still has mist in it. Lookout Point and Ozzie’s Point face the Mississippi across miles of hardwood; the accessible overlooks give you most of the view without the climb.
Center Hill Orchard & Apiary
Fifteen miles inland in the Carroll County hills for apples, pears and honey picked to order. Availability shifts week to week through the autumn — a call ahead is the difference between a bag of fruit and a locked gate.
White Pines Forest State Park
The state’s northernmost natural white pine stand, which means dark evergreen against every colour the hardwoods are doing. Walk one of the creek trails, and drive at least one of the low fords for the sake of it.
Lowden-Miller State Forest
Two thousand two hundred and ninety-one acres of hardwood and pine along three and a half miles of the Rock River, with 22 miles of trail and six parking areas to choose a length from. The 1.5-mile self-guided nature trail is the efficient option. Check Illinois DNR notices — trails close briefly during firearm deer season.
Castle Rock State Park
Climb the staircase up the sandstone bluff for the widest view of the Rock River valley in autumn. Six miles of trail below it run through ravines that hold colour after the ridgetops have gone.
Lowden State Park
Time this one for golden hour. The bluff-top picnic ground and the Black Hawk statue look west over the river, which is the direction the light is coming from — the single best half hour of the day.
Maxson’s Riverside Restaurant & Pride of Oregon Riverboat
Dinner in a glass-enclosed dining room looking back across the river at the statue you were standing under an hour ago. Ask for the homemade orange rolls. The Pride of Oregon paddlewheeler runs seasonal lunch and dinner cruises from the same dock if you would rather eat moving.
The Whole Route
7 of the 7 stops are pinned below — tap a pin for the stop details.
