State Natural Area — Columbia County
Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area
Near Lodi, Wisconsin • Approx. 25 miles from Devil’s Lake State Park • State Park sticker required
Fast takeaway: Gibraltar Rock is a 66-acre natural area with 200-foot cliffs and panoramic views of the Wisconsin River valley. The Ice Age Trail leads from the parking lot to the summit. Open daily 6 a.m.–8 p.m. No pets, no food or drink, no rock climbing. A Wisconsin State Park sticker is required to park.
Gibraltar Rock is a flat-topped sandstone butte rising 200 feet above the surrounding landscape in Columbia County, about 25 miles from Devil’s Lake. At 1,234 feet above sea level, the summit looks out over the Wisconsin River valley, Lake Wisconsin, and the Baraboo Hills. The view is among the best in southern Wisconsin. The 66-acre natural area sits on the 1,000-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which provides the main route from the parking lot to the bluff top. The cliff face warms quickly in spring and attracts migrating raptors that ride the thermals — turkey vultures are a regular sight. The site was owned by Columbia County before transferring to the Wisconsin DNR in 2007 and was designated a State Natural Area in 1969.
Plan your visit
Location & Directions
From the junction of Highways 113 and 60 in Lodi, go north on Hwy 113 for 4.1 miles, then west on County Highway V for 1.1 miles, then south on Gibraltar Rock Road for 0.2 miles to the primary parking area. A second, smaller lot sits at the lower trailhead on the west side of the bluff — both are shown on the Ice Age Trail map. No roadside parking anywhere along the access road — vehicles may be fined or towed.
Access & Hours
Hours last verified April 2026. Note: Parking lots are not plowed in winter. Verify conditions before visiting in snow season.
Amenities
No facilities on site beyond the parking lot. Plan accordingly — nearest services are in Lodi.
Pass & Fee
A Wisconsin State Park sticker is required to park at Gibraltar Rock. This makes it one of a small number of SNAs with a paid parking requirement.
Pass requirement last verified April 2026. Verify before your visit.
Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is the primary route to the summit. From the parking lot it enters forest, then briefly intersects a mixed gravel and crumbling blacktop DNR access road before continuing through second-growth white pine, hickory, and oak. A series of 50 volunteer-built steps leads to the top. Just past the last step, a marked loop trail runs across the backside of the bluff — this is the bypass for thru-hikers or anyone who wants to cross the summit while staying away from the cliff edge. At the top, the cliffs drop 200 feet with no gates or handrails. The trail is dangerous in wet and icy conditions. Rock climbing is prohibited.
Parking
Two parking areas serve the site. The primary lot is on Gibraltar Rock Road at the upper trailhead. A second, smaller lot sits at the lower trailhead on the west side of the bluff — both are shown on the Ice Age Trail segment map. Either lot fills quickly on summer and fall weekends. Arriving before 9 a.m. is the most reliable strategy. Neither lot is plowed in winter.
No roadside parking — vehicles may be fined or towed.
On-the-ground details
Best Time to Visit
- Spring and fall offer the clearest long-distance views and the most comfortable hiking conditions.
- Spring brings migrating raptors — turkey vultures and hawks catch thermals off the warm cliff face, sometimes in large numbers.
- Summer weekends are the busiest. Crowds thin significantly on weekday mornings.
- Winter visits are possible but the parking lot is unplowed, and the trail is hazardous when icy — use traction devices.
Good to Know
- There are no restrooms on site. The nearest facilities are in Lodi, about 5 miles south.
- Pets, food, and beverages are not allowed anywhere in the natural area — this is stricter than most Wisconsin state parks.
- The bluff top is open and exposed. Wind can be significant, especially in spring and fall.
- A famous old cedar tree near the cliff edge is a well-known landmark — look for it on the bluff top.
Rules & Restrictions
Note: pets are allowed on most Wisconsin State Natural Areas, but Gibraltar Rock has a site-specific no-pets rule posted in the DNR Visitation Guidelines for this property.
- Pets are not allowed anywhere in the natural area.
- Food and beverages are not allowed in the natural area.
- Rock climbing is prohibited on the cliffs.
- Camping and campfires are prohibited.
- Drones are prohibited. Research or educational use may be permitted by the DNR SNA Program with prior approval.
- Geocaching is prohibited.
- Collecting of plants, animals, rocks, minerals, fossils, or other natural materials is prohibited. Scientific collection requires a DNR permit.
- Bicycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles are not permitted except on designated routes.
- Open daily 6 a.m.–8 p.m. Do not enter before or after posted hours.
Rules governed by Wisconsin Admin. Code NR 45. Contact the Wisconsin DNR for questions: dnr.wisconsin.gov.
Summit overlook with red chair
Ice Age Trail to the summit
The well-known cedar on the bluff top