Wisconsin’s second most popular vacation destination (after Milwaukee) is the Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton area, which offers natural beauty, indoor and outdoor leisure opportunities, and other attractions. The term “dells” comes from the moniker given to the area by 18th-century French explorers on early maps; it alludes to the unusual gorges with rock formations carved by glacial meltwater along the Wisconsin River. Since the late 1800s, travelers have been drawn to the area’s slot canyons and high sandstone cliffs.
Dells Scenic River Walk
A riverside stroll along this quarter-mile paved promenade downtown is essential for catching a view of the breathtaking sandstone cliffs that give Wisconsin Dells its name. The Dells Scenic River Walk is free and accessible year-round, with seats, gaming tables, and interpretive signage discussing local history, culture, and geology. Look for the permanent outdoor display “Soul of the River,” which features photos of Wisconsin River history. During the winter holiday season, a large tree decked with strands of lights entices visitors; 80 other Christmas trees along the route.
Explore downtown Wisconsin Dells
Beyond the riverwalk, downtown Wisconsin Dells has stores, restaurants, arcades, and museums. Many boat cruises start here, and Elm Street Plaza is the center for outdoor music, fairs, and special events. Look for the large, bright mural of local art and you’ll be there.
Grab a block of Wisconsin Dairyland Fudge or the sweet treat of your dreams at Goody Goody Gumdrop, which has over 1,000 different varieties of sweets. The Museum of Root Beer offers a flight of thirst-quenchers, while Dells Distillery sells bottles of ginger brandy. For a fun pastime, bowl a few frames at Chalet Lanes or practice your throws at Asgard Axe and Tap.
H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum
Step inside Henry Hamilton Bennett’s historic studio, where he helped place Wisconsin Dells on the tourist map by promoting the natural beauty of the surrounding area via his landscape photographs. Built in 1875, his storefront and studio – the oldest operational business in town and possibly the oldest picture studio in the country – are currently held by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Take a journey back in time to learn about Bennett’s life and photographs. Historical exhibits also highlight the indigenous Ho-Chunk Nation and the area’s emergence as a tourist attraction.
Cameras, photo processing equipment, and Bennett’s original pictures are among the items on display; one of his most famous images is a stop-action snap of his kid jumping between two enormous rock formations in 1886.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
The Dells site of Ripley’s Believe It or Not showcases strange items and finds and is the franchise’s sole Midwest location. Recent visitors said touring the museum is especially enjoyable for families on a wet day; there are 13,000 square feet of curiosities spread across three floors and 11 halls of interactive displays and illusions. Keep an eye out for secret entrances and hidden chambers; guests who finish a treasure hunt will earn a reward. For extra indoor entertainment, get a combination ticket to the adjacent Wizard Quest, where children and adults work together to vanquish their opponents by playing fantasy games in a 30,000-square-foot labyrinth.
Dells Boat Tours
This long-standing tour operator oversees a fleet of 15 steel boats that go up and down the Wisconsin River, providing close-up views of unusual rock formations. From April to October, most trips run on a daily basis. The two main paths are the picturesque Upper Dells (above the Kilbourn Dam) and the Lower Dells’ highlights (below the dam). To view both levels, take the 50-minute Jet Boat Adventures across the Upper and Lower Dells, and be prepared to get wet.
The two-hour Upper Dells trip includes visits to Witches Gulch, a tiny canyon trek only accessible by boat, and Stand Rock, where a trained dog performed the cliff leap shown in H.H. Bennett’s iconic photograph.
Witches Gulch
This popular natural site is located in a tiny slot canyon on the Wisconsin River and may be reached by boat excursion. According to a Native American origin myth, the riverbed was built by a large snake, but this gorge was carved by a lesser serpent escaping its course. Witches Gulch was dubbed by photographer H.H. Bennett in the 1800s, maybe because to the strange rock formations or eerie fog that settles in the crevice. Today, a 2-mile circular route winds around the canyon on a wooden boardwalk so thin that you can touch both walls at the same time in certain points.
This short, picturesque road winds through a highly forested region with sheer sandstone cliffs covered with moss and tall trees that appear to sprout from out of the rock.