Rocky Arbor State Park

Rocky Arbor State Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Entrance at Rocky Arbor State Park
Location	Wisconsin, United States
Nearest town	Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Coordinates	43°38′31″N 89°48′21″W
Area	244 acres (99 ha)
Authorized	1932
Governing body	Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Rocky Arbor State Park is a 244-acre (99 ha) Wisconsin state park in the Wisconsin Dells region. The park was established in 1932 to protect sandstone outcrops eroded into picturesque walls and ledges.

Natural history

The region is formed from Late Cambrian sandstone deposited 500 million years ago at the bottom of shallow inland seas. Much later the Wisconsin River flowed over this tract of land, carving channels into the sandstone. The river has since changed course, now running 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the east, leaving the rock walls of its former gorge exposed. A small creek now flows through the park, though in the opposite direction as the river once did.

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  Ranger Station
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  Sign
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  Outcrop

Recreation

Situated in a major tourist area, Rocky Arbor State Park has well-developed visitor amenities despite its small size. There is a campground with 89 campsites (18 of them with electrical hookups), showers, flush toilets, a playground, dump station, and picnic area. A single loop trail provides views of the rock ledges, with a spur trail to the campground. The park is open to vehicle traffic only in the summer. During the off-season visitors can park at the gate and enter the grounds on foot.

Sandstone outcrops jut from the greenery of a mixed pine forest in Rocky Arbor State Park.

Climate

Rocky Arbor State Park Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     63     −9 −13     67     −6 −14     84     4 −7     161     18 1     147     21 9     193     26 15     80     27 17     97     25 18     81     21 13     104     15 5     63     6 −1     63     −5 −9 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.5     16 9     2.6     21 7     3.3     39 19     6.3     64 34     5.8     70 48     7.6     79 59     3.1     81 63     3.8     77 64     3.2     70 55     4.1     59 41     2.5     43 30     2.5     23 16 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

References

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Rocky Arbor State Park signage, brochures, and website.

External links

• WDNR park website
• Park map