Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells is a city in Wisconsin that stretches across four counties - Adams, Columbia, Juneau, and Sauk - and sits at an elevation of 909 feet (277 meters) above sea level. The town runs along the Wisconsin River, where deep sandstone gorges cut through the terrain and give the place its recognizable character.

The Wisconsin Hydraulic Company founded the settlement in 1856, naming it Kilbourn City after an early railroad advocate. In 1931, the town took its current name to highlight the distinctive rock formations along the river.

The Ho-Chunk people called this area Nįįš hakiisųc, a name referring to the rock formations along the river. Visitors today see these pale sandstone walls throughout the town, a reminder of the long connection indigenous communities had with this landscape.

The town spreads across several counties, which means some services and regulations may differ depending on location. Visitors get around best by car, as the place stretches along the river and many areas are hard to reach on foot.

French explorers gave the area the name dalles because of the sandstone channels along the river carved by glacial erosion. The term referred to flat stone slabs often found in riverbeds, shaped here by glacial meltwater.

Location: Adams County

Location: Columbia County

Location: Juneau County

Location: Sauk County

Inception: 1857

Elevation above the sea: 277 m

Shares border with: Lake Delton

Website: https://citywd.org

GPS coordinates: 43.62661,-89.77456

Latest update: December 12, 2025 22:14