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Discover Wisconsin's Driftless Region — dramatic bluffs, rivers, and towns the glaciers missed. Your comprehensive guide to southwestern Wisconsin's most scenic corner, featuring attractions, dining, outdoor recreation, and Big Sky Barnhouse's three properties perfectly positioned to explore it all.
The first time you crest a ridge along County Road C outside Spring Green and see the Wisconsin River valley unfolding below — deep green bluffs rolling toward the horizon, a red-tailed hawk riding a thermal above the sandbar — you understand why the Driftless Region inspires the kind of loyalty that brings people back year after year. This is the corner of Wisconsin that the glaciers skipped entirely, leaving behind a landscape of dramatic coulees, spring-fed streams, and narrow valleys that looks more like the Ozarks than the flat farmland most people picture when they think of the Upper Midwest.
The Driftless Region of Wisconsin stretches across the southwestern quarter of the state, covering thousands of square miles of unglaciated terrain between the Mississippi River and Madison. And right in the heart of it — just seven miles apart along the Wisconsin River — sit three Big Sky Barnhouse properties that make the perfect basecamp for exploring everything the Driftless has to offer. Whether you're planning a family reunion, a friends' getaway, or a couples' retreat, here's your insider guide to the region.
About 15,000 years ago, massive ice sheets bulldozed most of Wisconsin flat. But they left this pocket untouched — no one knows exactly why — creating a geological anomaly that stretches into parts of Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. The name "Driftless" comes from the absence of glacial drift, the sediment and rock debris that glaciers typically deposit across the landscape.
What that means for visitors is a landscape unlike anything else in the Midwest. Instead of prairie and gentle hills, you get 500-foot limestone bluffs, narrow winding valleys the locals call coulees, cave systems carved through karst bedrock, and cold-water trout streams fed by underground springs. The ridgetop roads offer views that stretch for miles, and every turn through a valley reveals a small farm, an Amish buggy on the shoulder, or a trout stream cutting through sandstone.
The Driftless food scene punches well above its weight for a rural area, driven by over 200 certified organic farms in Vernon County alone and a community of chefs who take local sourcing seriously.
Spring Green · 7 min from Arena
Serving prime steaks and classic Wisconsin supper club fare since 1966. Voted one of the top ten supper clubs in the state.
Spring Green · 15 min from Arena
Housed in a beautifully restored 1857 stone mill, serves a proper Wisconsin Friday Night Fish Fry with a full salad bar.
Spring Green · 8 min from Arena
Operates out of a restored 1910 cheese warehouse and serves creative, Wisconsin-style dishes daily with solid vegan and gluten-free options.
Spring Green · downtown
Works directly with small family farms and local makers. Owner Kyle is known for going out of his way to accommodate dietary preferences.
Viroqua · 30 min from Arena
The most talked-about restaurant in the broader Driftless Region. Menu changes daily based on what's available from roughly 200 organic farms they source from. People drive from Madison and Chicago for this place.
19 miles from Arena
Sits on a hillside overlooking the Wisconsin River. Their 30-acre vineyard is one of the Midwest's most recognized wine producers, and the tasting room is worth an afternoon.
Barneveld · 18 miles from Arena
Offers a more intimate tasting experience with local wines.
Soldiers Grove · 25 min from Arena
Brews with 80% local hops and malt in America's First Solar Village. A scenic drive through the valleys.
Arena · local
One of Wisconsin's oldest cheese plants. Makes mild, buttery cheeses made in the Wisconsin River valley.
10 miles south of Arena
5,270 acres of hills, bluffs, and deep valleys. Two lakes, a waterfall, and miles of hiking, biking, and horse trails make it an easy full-day destination.
8 miles from Arena
Features a historic shot tower, hiking trails, and a canoe launch on the Wisconsin River.
10 min from property
Managed by the Nature Conservancy, covers roughly 1,000 acres of rare dry prairie. The 1.6-mile trail to the bluff top rewards you with panoramic views of the river valley.
A few miles south of Arena
Rises 300 feet above the confluence of Honey Creek and the Wisconsin River. Quick but dramatic hike.
30 min from Arena
Near Ontario with 25+ miles of trails through dense hardwood forests with access to the Kickapoo River.
30 min from Arena
Features the Sugar Maple Trail — under 2 miles to Pictured Rock Cave and a small waterfall — plus the Sentinel Ridge Trail with panoramic views where the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers meet.
32 miles from Arena
Consistently rated one of the best state parks in the Midwest, with dramatic quartzite bluffs rising 500 feet above a clear blue lake.
The stretch of the Wisconsin River between Sauk Prairie and Spring Green is the most popular paddling segment on the entire Lower Wisconsin State Riverway — and the BSB properties sit right on it. The river flows at about 3 miles per hour here, gentle enough for beginners but scenic enough to keep experienced paddlers interested. The real draw is the sandbars: during normal water levels, this stretch has roughly 100 of them, many large enough to set up camp on for the night (free, no permit needed).
Spring Green
Offers day trips and multi-day adventures starting around $40 per person.
Spring Green
Operating since 1961, rents canoes, kayaks, and tubes. Cloth-bottomed tubes run about $25 for five hours on the water.
Arena
Rents canoes, paddle boards, and tubes from April through October. Grab lunch and a boat in the same stop.
After a day on the river, come back to the hot tub at the Spring Green property or the year-round indoor heated pool at Arena #2 — that combination of river day and evening soak is hard to beat.
For something different, the Kickapoo River — sometimes called the crookedest river in the world — meanders 125 miles through the Driftless about 30 minutes west. The section from Ontario to Rockton runs 22 miles through rock bluffs and mini-canyons along public land. Drifty's Canoe Rental in Ontario can set you up.
6 miles from Arena · Frank Lloyd Wright's 800-acre estate
A UNESCO World Heritage Site where Wright lived, worked, and taught for most of his life, designing the buildings to nestle into the Driftless hillside rather than sit on top of it. Tours run daily from May through October. The Riverview Terrace Cafe on the grounds is the only remaining Frank Lloyd Wright-designed restaurant in the world.
13 miles from Arena
An eccentric, sprawling complex built on a natural rock chimney featuring the Infinity Room (218 feet cantilevered over the valley), a carousel with 269 handcrafted creatures, and collections that take most of a day to walk through. Strange, wonderful, and unlike anything else you've seen.
7 miles from Arena · Classical theater
The country's second-largest outdoor theater devoted to classical works, performs in a 1,075-seat amphitheater set in 110 acres of hilly woods. Season runs June through November with nine rotating plays.
30 miles from Arena · Artists' colony
Thriving artists' colony with the highest per-capita artist concentration in Wisconsin. Visit Pendarvis for Cornish stone houses dating to the 1830s, then browse galleries and grab a craft cocktail at Eliza's Lounge.
30 miles from Arena · Foodie capital
The foodie capital of the region with its European-style public market and artist cooperatives.
34 miles from Arena
Offers Circus World Museum, the International Crane Foundation, and the quirky Dr. Evermor's Forevertron sculpture park.
The Driftless was made for driving with the windows down. The Great River Road — a designated All-American Road — follows the Mississippi for 250 miles along Wisconsin's western border, weaving through 30 small river towns with steep bluffs, bald eagles overhead, and limestone formations around every bend. Pick it up about 25 miles west of the Arena property.
Closer to home, Highway 60 runs 100 miles from Prairie du Chien through the bluffs and farmland east to Lodi — it's a beautiful afternoon drive from the barnhouse. And for something truly special, take Highway 33 west through Ontario and the Amish country around Cashton. The timber-covered hills, horse-drawn buggies, and lush green valleys make it one of the most photogenic drives in the state.
Late summer and early fall (August through mid-October) is the sweet spot. The river is perfect for paddling, the weather is comfortable for hiking, and the crowds thin out after Labor Day. Fall colors peak around mid-October and are spectacular — the unglaciated terrain creates deeper valleys that concentrate the color.
Apple season runs late August through October. Sunrise Orchards in Gays Mills (20 miles) has been growing apples on 300+ acres since 1913. Pick your own, grab an apple slush, and enjoy the rolling Driftless views. Oakwood Fruit Farm in Richland Center (25 miles) has been family-run for five generations and makes apple cider donuts worth the drive alone.
Summer (June through August) is prime for water recreation and outdoor theater season at APT. Bug activity peaks mid-June through mid-July, so plan accordingly.
Spring (April through May) brings ephemeral wildflower displays and bird migration — fewer tourists, beautiful landscapes, though river levels can be high.
Winter is quiet and peaceful, with opportunities for cross-country skiing and the serene beauty of snow on the bluffs.
Big Sky Barnhouse has three barndominiums right in the heart of the Driftless, all within 7 miles of each other between Arena and Spring Green. Each one sleeps 20-24 guests and comes loaded with amenities you won't find at a typical vacation rental — indoor pools, home theaters, playgrounds, game rooms, and more. If you're planning a family reunion, bachelor/bachelorette weekend, corporate retreat, or friends' getaway, these properties are purpose-built for large groups.
Sleeps 20 across 5 bedrooms on 100 private acres
This property has its own indoor zoo with llamas, ponies, peacocks, goats, and sheep, plus a swimming pool, hot tub, indoor pickleball and basketball courts, a movie theater, arcade, pool table, darts, and shuffleboard. If you're traveling with kids, this is the one.
Sleeps 20 across 6 bedrooms on 4 floors
The flagship Big Sky Barnhouse. Features an outdoor heated pool (June–September), indoor heated plunge pool (year-round), a 2,500 sq ft party shed with a commercial double-level playground, 9-hole mini golf, 100-inch home theater with 12 leather recliners, a home gym, and bonfire pit with outdoor dining. This is the one that got national media coverage from Realtor.com and Insider.
Sleeps 24 across 6 bedrooms with 4.5 bathrooms
The newest and largest. The standout is the indoor pool open year-round, making it a great pick for winter getaways or groups who want guaranteed pool access regardless of season. Starting from $1,375/night.
All three properties are centrally located to every attraction in this guide. Book directly at bigskybarnhouse.com for the best rates — no middleman, no service fees.
What is the Driftless Region?
The Driftless Region is an area of approximately 24,000 square miles spanning southwestern Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, and northwestern Illinois that was never covered by glaciers during the last ice age. The name refers to the absence of glacial "drift" — the sediment and debris that glaciers leave behind. The result is a landscape of deep valleys, limestone bluffs, caves, and spring-fed streams that's geologically unique in the Upper Midwest.
How far is the Driftless Region from Chicago and Minneapolis?
The Spring Green/Arena area — right where the Big Sky Barnhouse properties are located — is roughly 3 hours from both Madison (45 minutes), Milwaukee (2.5 hours), Chicago (3.5 hours), and Minneapolis (4 hours). It's a convenient weekend destination from any of these cities.
When is the best time to visit the Driftless Region?
Late August through mid-October offers the best combination of comfortable weather, lower crowds, peak fall colors (mid-October), apple picking season, and ideal conditions for hiking and paddling. Summer is best for river activities, and spring brings wildflower displays.
Can you camp on the Wisconsin River sandbars?
Yes — sandbar camping on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is free and requires no permit. During normal water levels, the stretch near Spring Green and Arena has roughly 100 sandbars, many large enough for camping. Bring everything you need and pack everything out.
What are the must-visit attractions near Spring Green, Wisconsin?
The top three are Taliesin (Frank Lloyd Wright's UNESCO World Heritage estate), The House on the Rock, and American Players Theatre — all within 15 minutes of town. Add Governor Dodge State Park, Wollersheim Winery, and a day on the Wisconsin River and you have a packed trip.
The Driftless Region is one of those rare places that feels undiscovered even though it's been drawing visitors for decades. The bluffs, the rivers, the food, the culture — it all comes together in a way that's hard to replicate. Ready to plan your Driftless getaway? Book directly for the best rates.
Planning a group trip?
Big Sky Barnhouse properties sleep 20-30+ guests across Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Indiana — private lakes, game barns, full kitchens, and enough space that nobody has to share a bathroom. Browse availability and see what fits your group.
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