The Official Online Tourism Guide, Columbia County, Wisconsin!

County Road CS at Interstate 39/90/94 west of Poynette is the beginning point of these directions. Exit the Interstate onto Cty CS and proceed west. Take note of the bluffs in the distance as you drive on CS. You will reach a tri-section with Cty Rd V. After stopping at this intersection proceed straight ahead onto Cty V.

Immediately after crossing the intersection you will see a sign and driveway on your right for Bayview Lodge at N3135 Cty V. Turn in and check out this great picturesque year around facility. Food, Fun, Fishing, Motel, Lounge. Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner. Great view of Lake Wisconsin along with great food and refreshment.

Continue to follow Cty V thru the hamlet of Harmony Grove.

Cty V angles slightly to the left. On your left is Class Act Pizzeria and Ice Cream Parlor at N2696 Hwy V. Fantastic Pizza! Also Ice Cream, Salads, Sandwiches, Low-Carb Wraps, Fish, Chicken, Pastas, Deserts! Daily Specials! Hungry a lot? Hungry a little? Stop in at Class Act! Open 7 days, year around.

Continue to follow Cty V south out of Harmony Grove, watch for deer. In 1.5 miles Cty V will tri-sect with Cty Rd J. Stay on Cty V toward the right, the next mile of road is signed as Cty VJ, after which Cty V again turns right and leaves Cty VJ. Turn to the right (west) on Cty V toward the hamlet of Okee. You will drive up a hill and descend to a bluff and another T-intersection, follow Cty V to the right. Notice the second bluff across the field to your right. Continue to follow Cty V as it turns left (west) again. Watch to your left and you will see one of the large bays of Lake Wisconsin behind the homes.

At the next intersection Cty V will turn to the left (west) and cross a bridge and continue thru Okee. Cty V will intersect with State Hwy 113. Stop for the stop sign at hwy 113, then continue to follow Cty V straight across the intersection.

A half mile on Cty V and you will see the sign for Slack's Jams & Jellies. A tasty detour awaits you Monday thru Saturday (closed Sundays). Wisconsin's finest jams and jellies, fruit butter, speadable fruit, salsas, including fruit salsa, and more! Antiques, too. Turn right onto Slack Road, up the hill and around the curves to W12153. Enjoy!

Gibraltor Rock. Soon you will see a sign for Gibraltor Rock and County Road VA which leads to it. We recommend you decide before leaving home whether you wish to climb the trail to the top of Gibraltor Rock (and prepare accordingly) or whether you will view the cliff face of Gibraltor Rock from the highway. The climb to the top is on an old blacktop road at a steep grade. The walk up takes about 30 minutes at a leisurely but consistent pace. Only those of "average" or better health should attempt the climb. Persons with heart or lung conditions, physical problems or frailties, and those afraid of heights should NOT attempt the walk/climb to the top. For more information, visit the Gibraltor Rock section of Columbia County Tourism.com. If you decide to climb Gibraltor Rock allow a minimum of 1.5 hours...30 minutes up, 30 minutes at the top and 30 minutes down. Take a bottle of water and your camera, the views are fantastic!

If you choose to not climb Gibraltor Rock, simply continue to follow Cty V. At the stop sign turn left. Drive slowly and look to your left, you will see the cliff face of Gibraltor Rock. This next maneuver is a little tricky. The intersections of Cty Roads V, J, and JV all intersect together and form a triangle around a house. At that next intersection, turn to your right then stop at the stop sign. Then turn left on Cty J and at the very next intersection turn left on Cty JV. All this turning is around one house and you should be heading back toward Cty V. Gibraltor Rock should now be on your right side. At the intersection with Cty V continue straight, do not turn back toward Okee. Follow Cty V until you reach Lake Wisconsin and the intersection with State Hwy 188. If you made it here....Congratulations!!

Turn right onto Hwy 188 with the lake on your left. Travel about a mile to the intersection with Hwy 113. The Ferry Landing will be on your left. Turn left onto Hwy 113 and enter the Ferry Landing. Align your vehicle in one of the 3 lanes and await to board. Ferry Season is from April 15th to November 30th. There are refreshment stands open on each side of the river during the day, hours and days of operation may vary. Enjoy your ride on the ferry. You may get out of your vehicle and look around and take pictures.

Leave the ferry on the west side of the lake and go about 2 blocks to the stop sign and the intersection with Hwy 78. Turn right (north) onto Hwy 78 and drive thru Merrimac. In about 1.5 miles you will see the junction with Cty Rd U. Hwy 78 angles to the left and Cty U is almost a straight forward exit. Enter Cty U.

Cty U is a very scenic road. Many curves and hills, with a tree canopy over many portions. Watch for the many hills and bluffs. Enjoy this drive thru farm country along the Wisconsin River, which is on your right. Watch for breaks in the trees to observe the changing geography along the opposite shore line. At several locations you can look across the river and see rocky cliff walls, or dells, similar to those found upriver at the Wisconsin Dells.

In about a mile you will cross over the interstate highway, and after another mile Cty U will turn to the left at its junction with a township road named Reumann Road. Leave Cty U and proceed straight down Reumann Rd. Watch to your right as you will be driving adjacent to the backwaters of the Wisconsin River. In about two miles you will encounter Thunderbird Road to the right. Turn right on Thunderbird Road for about a mile. This road takes you to a small boat landing at which you may view the Wisconsin River. Once finished here, go back the way you came on Thunderbird Road to the stop sign on Reumann Road. Turn right (north) on Reumann Road and continue another 1.5 miles where you will re-join Cty U. Turn right onto Cty U norht toward Portage.

Continue on Cty U until you reach Hwy 33. Turn right on Hwy 33 to Portage. In about a mile you will cross the Wisconsin River bridge. If you wish to walk onto the bridge, it is best to cross and park on a city street, then walk back onto the bridge to enjoy the view.

Follow Hwy 33 in Portage to the first traffic lights downtown, which is the intersection with Hwy 16. Turn right on Hwy 16 and head south. (If you miss this turn, turn right at the second set of traffic lights, which is Hwy 51 and head south.) At the next set of traffic signals Hwy 16 will join with Hwy 51. Continue straight on Hwys 16 & 51 to the south. At this set of traffic lights you will cross the historic portage canal which joins the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. If you wish to park and learn more about the Canal, there is an informational sign at the canal. As you continue driving south thru Portage the dike for the Wisconsin River will be on your right. If you wish to walk along the dike and view the river, you may enter and park at a park on the right a couple of blocks after the traffic signals.

Continue south on Hwys 16 & 51 out of Portage. In about 2 miles Hwy 16 will leave to the left. Continue straight south on Hwy 51. You will pass a large electric generating station on the right, Alliant Energy's Columbia Station. About 1.5 miles past the generating station you will intersect with County Road VJ. Turn right onto Cty VJ. You will cross railroad tracks. Immediately after crossing the tracks turn right onto an access road for Lake Columbia. Lake Columbia is a man-made cooling lake for the Columbia Generating Station. The water is a balmy 80 to 85 degrees year around and fishermen love to open water fish here even in winter! You also will get a good view of the generating station and its large coal pile. After viewing Lake Columbia return to Cty VJ and turn right.

Continue west on Cty VJ. Soon Cty J will turn to the left and Cty V will continue straight. You continue straight on Cty V to the hamlet of Dekorra where there are a couple of township parks with covered tables, grills and portable toilets. Both parks are right on the shoreline of the Wisconsin River. When leaving Dekorra, Cty V makes a 90 degree turn to the left, stay on Cty V and follow it thru the curvy, hilly countryside. In a couple of miles you will again cross over the Interstate Highway and soon be driving with the Wisconsin River on your right. During warm weather you may see boats beached on sand bars in the middle of the river with swimmers and picnickers enjoying the river.

Shortly you will see a sign indicating a 45 mph curve. At this sign is the intersection of two town roads...Black Road to the left and Tipperary Road to the right. Turn right on Tipperary Road and continue straight west for a mile. Tipperary Road then turns to the left and follows the shore. There are many tree covered portions of this hilly, scenic road. A couple of township parks and boat landings provide opportunities to relax and view the water. At a public boat landing and park, Tipperary Road turns to the left.

Just before Tipperary Road makes the left turn, you will see Fox Glen/Bear Trail adjoining the road from the left. House of Angels Bed & Breakfast is here at N3352. If you miss the trail, you will also see their sign after you make the turn on Tipperary Road. House of Angels is an entirely different getaway experience at beautiful Lake Wisconsin! Tranquil surroundings. Spacious sleeping rooms, tastefully decorated, designed for your ultimate comfort. (608) 635-4066

Follow Tipperary Road as it turns to the left and eventually follows the shoreline.

Watch to your right and after driving about a tenth of a mile you will see The Escape at W10865 Tipperary Road. The Escape is decorated in a nautical theme inside and out. Look for the sign near the road featuring a floatation life ring and seagull....plus a small green lighthouse in the front yard! The Escape is a luxury get-away home offering a wide range of enjoyable experiences for families, groups of friends, romantic times for couples or peaceful time for individuals. Large sundeck, sandy beach area and view of the lake and magnificent sunsets...all included! Stop in and learn more from your host Carol Larson. (877) 224-2461

Tipperary Road soon rejoins Cty Rd V. Turn right (south) onto Cty V and cross Whalen's Grade. Whalen's Grade has parking areas along Cty Rd V as it crosses Whalen's Bay. On right is Whalen's Bay of Lake Wisconsin. On the left is Whalen's Marsh. You may wish to stop and view the various water fowl that inhabit the marsh.

After crossing Whalen's Grade continue straight to the top of the small hill which is the T-intersection of Cty Roads V and CS. This is where the Circle Tour directions began. If you started your tour here and wish to return to the Interstate, simply turn left onto Cty Rd CS and drive 3 miles back to the Interstate Highway.

If you started your Circle Tour at another entry point, you should continue to follow Cty Rd V and turn to the right on Cty V. (Go to the beginning of these directions and continue the Circle Tour until you reach the optional entry point where you began this tour.)

Thank You for visiting Columbia County! Be sure to return soon!

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