Wisconsin Dells
A sandstone gorge on the Wisconsin River, photographed into fame in the 1800s and now surrounded by water parks.
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The gorge is real and came first: the Wisconsin River cut through soft Cambrian sandstone leaving narrow walls, ledges and side canyons, and H. H. Bennett photographed it from the 1860s in images that circulated nationally and made the place a destination before any attraction was built - his 1888 photograph of his son jumping to Stand Rock was an early demonstration of stop-motion photography. Boat tours still run the Upper and Lower Dells with landings in the side canyons. What has grown around it since is a dense concentration of indoor and outdoor water parks, which is what most visitors now come for and which gives the town its self-applied title of waterpark capital.
What you actually see
- A sandstone gorge - narrow walls and side canyons on the river.
- Boat tours with canyon landings - Upper and Lower Dells.
- H. H. Bennett's photographs - which made the place famous.
- A very dense water park concentration - the modern draw.
When to go
May to September for boats; indoor parks run year round. A full day.
Honest expectations
The town is heavily commercial and the gorge is a small part of what is on offer. Summer crowds and prices are high. Boat tours run seasonally and are weather-dependent. Traffic on the strip is slow.
Nearby
Devil's Lake State Park is south; Baraboo and Circus World are between.
What to pack for Wisconsin Dells
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.