Rocky Arbor State Park is a small 244 acre park 1.5 miles north of Wisconsin Dells. The park offers wooded campsites, a 1 mile hiking trail and picnic and playground area. The park is in an attractive setting by pine trees and sandstone bluffs. Hikers and campers will hear traffic from the interstate highway, most noticeable when the leaves are off of the trees. The small park is managed by Mirror Lake State Park.
Camping
Rocky Arbor State Park’s campground is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The campground has 89 wooded campsites, showers and flush toilets. Several campsites also have electricity.
Hiking Trail
The park has a 1-mile, self-guided nature trail which forms a small loop. The southern half of the trail travels along a wetland with interesting rock formations. At either end, hikers will find a wooden stair case that connects them to the upper half of the loop which winds along the top of the sandstone cliffs through oak and pine. A trail also leaves the loop to connect to the campground.
Notes: Mosquitos are prevalent on this trail in the summer. During the winter, traffic noise from the interstate can be heard and the staircases are generally snow-covered and can be hazardous.
Interesting Geology
From the DNR: The rock forming Rocky Arbor’s gorge is sandstone which geologists have aged at about 500 million years. The rock’s sand grains are thought to have been deposited by rivers draining into shallow seas. The seas receded and the sand compacted into sandstone.
Eons later, the Wisconsin River cut a gorge through this stone and thus formed the park’s picturesque rock walls and ledges.
The river has long since changed its course and now flows about a mile and a half to the east. The tiny stream that now occupies the gorge flows in the opposite direction that the mighty river did when it carved this scenic area.
Winter Use
Rock Arbor State Park is closed in the winter. This means the entrance road is gated and the park is not staffed. Snowshoeing and skiing are allowed within the park but winter visitors must park outside the gate. Park stickers are still required.
