From a 500-foot-high cliff in Nelson Dewey State Park, the view stretches across the Mississippi River. Wyalusing State Park sits 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin River and the Mississippi River. In Grant County, river landscapes meet steep slopes, sand terraces and wooded ridges.

Landscapes Along the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers

Along the Mississippi River, the Cassville Bluffs-Roe Unit features a rare, undeveloped cliff and a sand terrace. The terrace includes dry prairie and a savanna with Chinquapin oaks. The Blue River Bluffs offer a different river landscape: dry prairies and oak savannas lie on sand terraces above the floodplain of the lower Wisconsin River.

On the southern slope of the Lower Wisconsin River Valley, the Boscobel Bluffs include rare dry prairie and oak savanna woodlands. Farther east of the confluence of the Wisconsin River and the Mississippi River, Wyalusing Hardwood Forest occupies a ridge. Its wooded cliffs rise more than 400 feet above the Wisconsin River; the area is in Wyalusing State Park.

Adiantum Woods also shows how the landscape along the Wisconsin River changes: this species-rich, dry-mesic forest lies on a steep, north-facing slope that rises from the river’s south bank. Dewey Heights Prairie offers a different setting along the Mississippi. It covers 30 acres on a southwest-facing cliff at an elevation of 800 to 870 feet. A hiking trail crosses the area, which is also in Nelson Dewey State Park and offers views of the Mississippi River.

History in Homes and Collections

Stonefield brings together several aspects of agricultural history, including an agricultural village, a farmstead from the 1900s and the State Agricultural Museum. Stonefield also includes the former home of Nelson Dewey, Wisconsin’s first governor.

In Platteville, the Mitchell-Rountree Stone Cottage tells a longer story of home life. Built in 1838, it is considered the city’s oldest house and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can see furnishings, clothing, books and personal belongings of the Mitchell and Rountree families there. The items date from the 1820s to the 1950s.

The Grant County Historical Society features exhibits on the land and mining, historic quilts, Pleasant Ridge, local soldiers, sports and county businesses. The National Brewery Museum is housed in the restored Potosi Brewery Company in Potosi, Wisconsin. Together, these places offer different ways to explore regional history, from agriculture and family life to mining, business and brewing.

River Route and Trails

A historic automobile ferry route crossed the Mississippi River; Nelson Dewey used it in 1836. Since 2021, the Great River Road in Grant County has been designated an All-American Road. The two details point to different chapters in the river’s history: an earlier crossing route and a named road designation.

For activities on foot, Grant County has more than 40 miles of hiking and walking trails. The Mound View State Trail is also suitable for cyclists, inline skaters, walkers and joggers. With 57 miles of Mississippi shoreline, the river’s length is another notable feature of the region. Alongside cultural sites, trails and river landscapes offer different reasons to consider Grant County when planning a trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Platteville, Hazel Green, Boscobel, Dickeyville.

More destinations: Barron County, Oneida County, Vernon County, Green County.

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