Gilbraltor Rock State Natural Area, Wisconsin

 

After 70 Hiking Tips:  It is all about the view. The uphill walk through a woods of red oak and basswood, is pleasant enough, but the view at the top is splendid, well worth the trip. Though the path is steadily up, it is not steep.  While not handicapped accessible, it is not a difficult or long walk (0.75 miles one way),though it may be strenuous for some.  There are no toilets at the site.

This is a popular hike and may be crowded on the weekends.  We hiked it on Wednesday October 5, 2022, and had the view at the top and the trail pretty much to ourselves, though a large group of hikers did arrive just as we were leaving.

Combine this trip with the Palfrey’s Glen State Natural Area hike (see October 9th post) and stop for a picnic or ice cream in Merrimac. Then take the free ferry across the Wisconsin river on the way to Gilbraltor Rock (see Nearby below).

Details: Gilbraltor Rock State Natural Area is off of Highway V west of Highway 113 in Columbia County, Wisconsin.  This short hike is easily accessible from the Baraboo/ Wisconsin Dells area.  There is a small parking area at the base of the hiking trail and a sign.  The short hike climbs through a forest of Red Oak and Basswood to the top of a 200 foot butte which has beautiful views out over farm fields and woods in the Wisconsin River Valley.  The top of the butte is large and flat with plenty of space to sit on a nice warm stone under the cedar trees and enjoy the view.  This area attracts raptors which like to soar on the updrafts by the butte and, indeed, we did see quite a few turkey vultures circling above us and  landing in the treetops below where we could get a good view of their bald heads.



The trail is on the Ice Age hiking trail, a 1,000 mile trail that follows important geological sites throughout Wisconsin.

Link to Map

DNR Website

Nearby:

Palfrey’s Glen State Natural Area is on the other side of the Wisconsin River.   Do both short hikes in one day and take a lunch break in Merrimac. There is a toilet at this location.

The Village of Merrimac is right on Lake Wisconsin (a dammed up portion of the Wisconsin River) and makes a great stop for a picnic by the lake at Memorial Park (107 Front Street) or an ice cream at the ferry landing.  After lunch, take the free ferry across Lake Wisconsin and proceed to the Gilbraltor Rock trailhead, only a few miles away. Unfortunately, on a Wednesday in October, no open restrooms were found in Merrimac.

Merrimac Ferry



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Battle Creek Regional Park

Image
After 70 Hiking Tip: This hike is paved and fairly level though there are other trails in the park that are unpaved.  Check the website in the fall in case there are park closures for hunting.  In 2022, the park has areas closed from October 10-21 and 31 - Nov 2. Nearby:  I recommend Los Ocampo Restaurant and Bar for lunch.  1751 Suburban Avenue (just by the I94 and White Bear Avenue intersection) Great food and comfortable, quiet and roomy location. Description: Battle Creek Regional Park is part of the Ramsey County Park system.  It is a very accessible park, both in terms of walking surface and access from St. Paul - less than 5 miles east of downtown.  There are two main entrances to the park.  The west entrance is just off of Highway 61, but accessed via Winthrop Street.  This part of the park is hilly with trails winding through the woods and up the bluffs as well as the County Regional Trail that follows Battle Creek through a ravine and...
Read more

Afton State Park - South River Loop

Image
After 70 Hiking Tip:  Afton is hilly. Steps and/or a steep climb are required to reach the river. To avoid, try the trails between the parking lots and the group camp that follow the oak savanna (end of the trail described in this post). Hike Description : Afton State Park is on the St Croix River just east and a bit south of St. Paul, Minnesota.  It is a lovely park with a varied terrain of hills, ravines and flat riverside for hiking.  Oak woodland and restored oak savanna and an old farmstead provide a variety of landscape. We hiked the South River Trail on October 7, 2022, -  3.8 miles according to All Trails.  The trail starts at the parking lot and goes pretty much straight down to the river on a sloping path with steps.  This is the least pretty part of the park to me, deep shade from trees and not much to look at, though there is one nice overlook of the St Croix River and surrounding Hills. At the bottom of the hill a small creek runs into the St ...
Read more

Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area

Image
  After 70 Hiking Tip: Bring a hiking pole and boots. Hike Description:  Parfrey’s Glen is Wisconsin’s first state natural area.  It is a narrow ravine carved from towering sandstone cliffs with the babbling Parfrey’s Glen Creek at its base.  State natural areas preserve unique habitats and in this case the glen’s cool, shady and moist environment shelters many unique and some rare plants for this part of Wisconsin as well as some rare bugs in the creek. It is a beautiful area with great huge quartzite boulders at stream level and trees growing out of the cliff sides above.  Mosses and ferns and a wide variety of other plants grow along the path and on the walls of the gorge.  There are a lot of liverworts growing on the walls.  I’ve heard of liverworts before but had never seen them, so that was exciting for me. I hiked this trail with my women’s hiking group (all over 70) on October 5, 2022. The trail starts at a small parking lot off of County Highw...
Read more