Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route


The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route extends for in southwestern Illinois, travelling through the floodplain of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. The route has been officially designated as a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration. The route coincides with a portion of the Great River Road.

Route description

The north end of the route is at Pere Marquette State Park, located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. The south end of the route is at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The cities and villages of Grafton, Chautauqua, Elsah, Alton, East Alton, Wood River and Hartford are located along the route.
The Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail parallels the route between Pere Marquette State Park and Alton. The Confluence Bike Trail parallels the route from Alton south to Hartford. Other major points of interest along the Route include Piasa Park, the Clark Bridge in Alton, and the National Great Rivers Museum at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam.

History

The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route was designated as an Illinois State Scenic Byway on June 8, 1998. It was later added to the National Scenic Byway program on June 15, 2000 with an addition that extended the existing byway from East Alton south to New Poag Road. In May 2007, the Illinois Bureau of Tourism announced that the route was officially chosen as one of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois".