Tower Hill State Park in Wisconsin offers visitors scenic views along the Wisconsin River, rich natural habitats, and historic remnants of a 19th-century fire lookout tower.
Tower Hill State Park is located on the banks of the Wisconsin River near the town of Spring Green in Sauk County, Wisconsin. This park covers rugged bluff terrain with diverse hardwood forests and overlooks expansive river views, providing a mix of geological and ecological attractions. The park is historically notable for its fire lookout tower, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which helped detect wildfires in the region during its operational years. Today, the tower remains a favored viewpoint for park visitors, offering panoramic vistas of the river valley and surrounding forests.
The area supports a range of flora including oak, maple, and pine species, along with abundant wildlife such as white-tailed deer, migratory birds, and small mammals. Tower Hill State Park provides several miles of hiking trails that traverse the bluffs, riverbanks, and wooded areas. Popular activities include hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, and photography. The park's proximity to the Wisconsin River also allows for fishing and water-based recreation nearby.
Visitors are drawn to the park for its combination of natural beauty and historical significance, along with the chance to experience quiet wilderness close to Spring Green. The park's trails vary in length and difficulty, appealing to both casual walkers and more experienced hikers. Interpretive signage throughout the park shares insights about the local ecology and the legacy of the fire tower’s role in forest protection.
Historic Civilian Conservation Corps fire lookout tower
Scenic overlooks of the Wisconsin River and river valley
Diverse hardwood forest ecosystem with abundant wildlife
Well-maintained hiking trails with interpretive signage
A restored tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, offering expansive views over the Wisconsin River valley.
Several scenic viewpoints along bluff edges providing sweeping vistas of the river and surrounding forested hills.
Mature oak, maple, and pine forests support diverse wildlife and represent the natural Wisconsin bluff ecosystem.