Wisconsin's Highest Points and Notable Terrain

Wisconsin's terrain is more varied than the "flat Midwest" stereotype — the Driftless Area's coulees, Devil's Lake's quartzite bluffs, and the Northern Highlands' lakes and ridges give the state genuine character.

Timms Hill (1,951 ft)
Wisconsin's highest point — a forested hill in Price County in the Northern Highlands. The summit has an observation tower giving views of the surrounding lake country (Timms Hill County Park surrounds the summit). The approach is a short walk from the parking area. Timms Hill is not dramatic but the surrounding lake-and-forest landscape is beautiful.

Rib Mountain (1,924 ft)
A quartzite monadnock near Wausau — Rib Mountain State Park protects the ancient quartzite mass, which has resisted erosion for billions of years. The observation tower gives views of the central Wisconsin plain. Granite Peak at Rib Mountain is one of the largest ski areas in the Midwest.

Devil's Lake Bluffs (500 ft above the lake)
The most dramatic terrain in Wisconsin — the West Bluff and East Bluff of quartzite rising 500 feet above Devil's Lake. The rock formations (Balanced Rock, Devil's Doorway) are the finest natural landmarks in Wisconsin. The views from the bluff trails of the lake and the Baraboo Hills are exceptional.

Baraboo Hills
The Baraboo Range of quartzite ridges surrounding Devil's Lake — the most continuous ridge terrain in southern Wisconsin. The International Crane Foundation (Baraboo — the only place in the world where all 15 crane species are kept) is in the valley below.

Rib Hill and the Driftless Coulees
The steep coulees (narrow valleys) of the Driftless Area in southwestern Wisconsin — the hills between the coulees reach 1,200–1,400 feet in Vernon, Crawford, and Richland Counties. The Mississippi River valley overlooks near Prairie du Chien give Wisconsin's finest river views.