Your Are Welcome To Take The Adams County Road Tour

Take a relaxing drive throughout scenic Adams County and enjoy many breathtaking views. The history of Adams County begins with the native peoples who lived there when the first Europeans reached Wisconsin. In 1838, the Menominee allowed a frontiersman, Jared Walsworth, and his Menominee wife to build a cabin, trading post and lodging house near their village, which is now the Town of New Haven. Jared was the first white settler in Adams. Further settlement was officially prohibited in what became Adams County. In 1848 WI was admitted to the union and the first State legislature organized a new county, naming it in honor of the second President of the U.S., John Adams. This first Adams County was located entirely west of the WI River in what is now southern Juneau County. In 1853 legislation changed the boundaries of Adams County to include what's now both Juneau and Adams County.

    We’ll begin our tour leaving Mauston and heading East on Hwy 82. Approximately 2 miles from town you'll pass 19th Ave. (R) which crosses the Lemonweir River and the area known as The Mills. Proceeding on Hwy 82 you'll pass Wisconsin's one of a kind Dude Ranch and Conference Center just minutes from I 90/94 exit.  Flowing south from the Castle Rock Dam, the Wisconsin River forms the border between Juneau and Adams County. Many islands and sandbars are found in this part of the river, making it easy to see why the Wisconsin River was once called the "river of a thousand isles." Majestic Castle Rock rises on the west bank of the river. It is a remnant "Sea Stack" of ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin, which once covered this entire area. You will cross the Hwy 82 Bridge that spans the river.  Before the bridge was opened in 1955, a ferry operated by Henry Kingsbury, crossed the river at this point. Two miles downstream, the Lemonweir River flows into the Wisconsin along the west bank. Just as you cross the bridge you'll take a sharp left onto Cry Z taking you along the river thru the White Creek and Quincy Township areas. The Quincy Bluff permits a birds-eye view of the WI River and the Lone Rock mesa. Hiking trails follow the crest. There are dozens of rock formations throughout the county.

 In the 1920's this area had been in the grips of a serious agricultural depression. Much of the farm land was abandoned and became part of the extensive holdings of the Georgia Pacific and Consolidated

Paper Companies, the two largest landowners in the county. Between 1933 and 1941, Adams County farmers planted nearly 350,000 trees and were among the first farmers in the nation to utilize shelterbelts to control soil erosion.

 In 1948 two dams were constructed on the WI River - the Castle Rock and Petenwell Dams that created the second and fourth largest inland lakes in the State of Wisconsin.

Along the way you'll pass the entrance to the Castle Rock Dam. Experience first hand the WI River Dam, CR Lake, the fisherman and wildlife and don't forget to take some photos. Cty Z eventually skirts Castle Rock Lake shoreline on the west with many businesses dotting the landscape on the east. You are able to find a lakeside fine dining spot, overlooking beautiful Castle Rock Lake, by turning L on Dover Shores Road.

 Continuing north on Cty Z you'll pass the 141-acre Castle Rock Park. The newest golf course and condominium development in the region is located on the E and W side of 20th Ave. in Strongs Prairie. In the late 1860's immigrants from Norway discovered the fertile sand loam of Strongs Prairie and in 1854 founded one of the first Norwegian settlements in Wisconsin. Return to Z north to Hwy 21, turn left, and continue to the WI River Bridge. A public wayside and boat launch near the bridge you can view the Petenwell Dam from this location or travel to the dam by crossing the bridge and taking a right on the first blacktop road. You'll reach the entrance in approximately 2 miles. Return to Hwy 21 and proceed east to Z and follow A north.

 As you continue north thru the Monroe Center area, pass Cry C turn left on Big Horn Drive, where you'll see the $1.6 million expansion at Adams County Petenwell 431 acre Park. Turn right on Apache Avenue in Rome and you'll pass Lakes Arrowhead and Sherwood. When you reach Hwy 13 proceed south. Between Rome and Big Flats is the oldest surface rock in the county. The quartzite Dyracuse Mound lies within the Dyracuse Motorcycle Recreational Area. The conical shaped seven hills are often referred to as "tips buttes" but are named Sisters.

 Adams County lies mostly in the Driftless Area and the last glaciations never touched most of this region. The Colburn Wildlife Area is located east between Hwy G and Hwy 13. The 540-acre Roche-A-Cri Mound Park has the sheerest cliff face in Wisconsin. The 303 steps to the summit give you a breathtaking 120-mile view!

 Friendship is an inspiring name for a community. New Yorkers who hailed from the village of Friendship, Alleghany County, NY, Friendship in Adams, WI was an ideal village site. One of the most notable visitors via the wagon route was, women's rights advocate Susan B. Anthony, who lectured in favor of equal rights amendment. Fifty years later, in 1912, Adams was one of few WI counties to vote in favor of women's suffrage in a state referendum.

By the turn of the 19th century, Adams County had over 9,000 people, nearly all of who were gripped by railroad fever. The North Western Railroad its track one mile south of Friendship, then built a railroad yard and depot in the jack pine barrens. Railroad workers came to settle and occupied a hastily constructed village; it was incorporated and named Adams. Adams County took part in one of American railroading's proudest moments. This was one of the many booms in tourism that occurred in this century. The Chicago & Northwestern railroad inaugurated "The 400" which came through Adams County and continued to run until the 1960's. South from Adams-Friendship on Hwy 13 approximately 2 miles is E Turn right on F and right on 14th Drive. Turn left to the end, then left again and you'll get a view of Lone Rock and Rattlesnake Bluffs. There's a 7200 square-foot lodge nestled on a 230 acre preserve just E of Hwy 13 off Cty E. As you continue on Cty E you'll come to another small community, Grand Marsh, the home of the famous Annual Corn N' Tater Festival.

 Continuing south on Hwy. 13 will take you along the WI River through Easton to Hwy. 82 E. Many smaller lakes dot the landscape on your route to Marquette County. Hwy 13 S will take you thru Springville, Dell Prairie and eventually into the famous WI Dells Recreational Region. If you decide to take an Upper Dells boat trip there are three canyons to view in Adams County. These beautiful canyons are sure to catch your attention. On your return trips to our region we encourage you to explore many more of our back roads, trails, streams, rivers and lakes.