Pickwick, MN

Tucked into the scenic bluff country of southeastern Minnesota, Pickwick is a quiet, close-knit hamlet of around 150 residents in Winona County. Set right where Big and Little Trout Creeks meet along County Road 7, the valley offers a peaceful, tucked-away atmosphere while keeping you just minutes from Highway 61 and the nearby river town of Winona. The defining centerpiece of the area is the historic Pickwick Mill, a six-story limestone landmark dating back to the late 1850s that gives the valley its distinct historic charm.

ATTRMcGhiever / CC BY-SA 4.0

Originally built to grind flour for the Union Army during the Civil War, the water-powered mill now operates as a preserved museum where its massive 20-foot waterwheel still turns. Today, daily life in Pickwick centers on the quiet beauty of the Driftless Area, with cold-water trout streams, wooded hillsides, and scenic valley drives. For folks looking to move to southeastern Minnesota, it offers a peaceful rural retreat with easy commutes to larger neighboring towns.