Roche-a-Cri State Park

Roche-a-Cri State Park is a natural area in Wisconsin centered around a large sandstone formation that rises about 300 feet (91 meters) above the surrounding landscape. The park covers roughly 605 acres and includes trails through forests of oak and pine trees, with stairs built into the rock face to reach the top.

The park was established as a protected area in 1948 to preserve the rock carvings and the natural formation itself. The sandstone formation took shape during the last ice age when a large glacial lake covered this region.

The site holds carvings made by Native Americans centuries ago that remain visible on the rock face today. These petroglyphs show figures and symbols that represent the people who lived in this region long before modern times.

The park has several miles of hiking trails with varying difficulty levels, and most paths are well-marked and easy to follow. Visitors should be prepared for changing weather and different ground conditions when walking the trails and climbing the stairs.

The rock formation emerged as an isolated island surrounded by a massive glacial lake that covered the region thousands of years ago. This unusual geological origin makes the formation a remarkable example of ice age landscape features.

Location: Adams County

Inception: 1948

Website: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/rocheacri

GPS coordinates: 44.00250,-89.81940

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:49