Maiden Rock Bluff

On the western edge of Wisconsin, just an hour south of Hudson is a 400-foot limestone cliff called Maiden Rock Bluff. When standing on Maiden Rock Bluff, you’ll have a stunning panoramic view of Wisconsin’s Great River Road and the Mississippi River. It’s a beautiful and serene spot and still a bit of a hidden gem. One evening, while on the Lands’ End Heritage Tour, Sean and I decided to try and find it. I packed a little picnic and we sat on the bluff, watching the sunset.

As you enter the tiny village of Stockholm, turn north onto Spring Street (also called County Road J). Drive up the hill for about a mile until you see County Road E on your left. Wind your way up Cty Rd E for another mile. Turn left onto Long Lane. It’s a gravel road that deadends at the Maiden Rock parking lot.

After parking, you’ll walk back down the road you just came on and you’ll see a narrow, two-lane, dirt road on your left. This path will take you all the way to Maiden Rock Bluff. For the first mile or so, you’ll walk through open field, with tall prairie grass on either side of you. The last little stretch will bring you next to some huge oaks trees and you’ll see the bluff overlooking the Mississippi.

A word to the wise, check out the predicted wind gusts if you’re planning on having a picnic up here. We didn’t even think about it and when we got to the bluff, it was super breezy. We had to pile our bags onto the picnic blanket so that it didn’t blow off the cliff!

Despite the wind, I really enjoyed our visit to Maiden Rock Bluff and I would highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the area. It’s a great place to relax and take in Wisconsin’s views! I loved watching the cars pass on the Great River Road below us and the sailboats cruising along the Mississippi. We even saw a pair of bald eagles soaring around in the distance!