A Postcard from the Moss: August 2024
Dells of the Eau Claire County Park
I love sending postcards when I travel, so once a month I share photos with a postcard-length blurb about a place I’ve recently visited.
Sometimes a beautiful place can’t compete with its own hype. That’s why even our most iconic National Parks get the occasional salty review from disappointed visitors. So after seeing gorgeous photos online of the rocks in the river at Dells of the Eau Claire County Park, I tried to temper my expectations before my visit.
Turns out, there was no need.
What I missed in the online photos was the scale of the rocks—these aren’t stepping stones across a gentle stream. The rhyolite outcroppings are massive slabs of rocks protruding out of a flowing river. If you’re surefooted, you can walk out onto the rocks and look down at the cascade of small waterfalls through the gorge.
Our group walked down to the river just before sunset. The past few days had been rainy, so golden light filtered through a foggy haze. No one else was around. We stared out at unobstructed views of the water and sipped cherry-infused whiskey.
It was absolutely perfect.
How to visit:
Dells of the Eau Claire County Park is located in Central Wisconsin, about a 25 minute drive east of Wausau. There is a campground with 28 sites, as well as a group campsite and several day use shelters. In addition to the park’s hiking trails, a segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail meanders along the river.
Wow, I've got to get there.