State Highway 26 serves as a north–south route in southeast Minnesota between La Crescent, MN and Lansing, IA.

Because it is located in the Driftless Area, the Mississippi carved out a deep river valley, leaving high undulating bluffs which loom 300 feet (91 m) above the highway.

Highway 26 continues north along the Mississippi River and the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad line towards Brownsville.

North of Brownsville, Highway 26 begins to turn inland away from the river.

[6] In August 2007, parts of Highway 26 were washed away by flooding or covered by landslides caused by unusually heavy rains.